PORT LUDLOW — Port Ludlow Marina has been designated as the first marina in Jefferson County to be certified as both an EnviroStar and a Clean Marina, county officials said.
The county’s Environmental Health division of Public Health made the announcement in conjunction with Puget Sound Keepers Alliance after extensive inspection of the marina facility, which uses environmentally conscious practices.
EnviroStars is a voluntary regional program recognizing businesses in the dental, car repair, dry cleaning, landscaping, and marina industries in Jefferson King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Whatcom counties for efforts in preventing hazardous waste.
Clean Marina Washington was created in 2005 as an expansion of the EnviroStars program.
The marina’s applauded practices extend from the convenience store’s extensive recycling program to the fuel dock’s no-spill policy.
It’s an achievement marina manager Kori Ward has wanted to reach since she took on supervision of the more than 300-slip marina five years ago.
“We believe we really look out for the environment, and I heard two years ago that marinas were going this way,” said Ward, who has worked at the marina — which is owned and operated by Port Ludlow Associates for the Resort at Port Ludlow — for 16 years.
“That was my first goal when I became manager.”
No-spillage policy
She said she has enforced a no-spillage policy at the fuel dock.
Ward said the program started with the purchase of environmentally safe products.
Today, she said, she has found that customers appreciate the marina staff’s efforts.
Boaters can use the marina’s stationary and portable pump-out systems, which encourage and ensure safe disposal of septic waste.
Another practice is the use of absorbent fuel “donuts” and cloths that prevent back-splashes and drips while fueling a boat’s tank at the fuel dock.
Other practices include an extensive recycling of glass, paper, plastic and Styrofoam in a unit adjoining the marina’s convenience store.
Marina stands out
Anita Hicklin, who is in charge of the EnviroStars program for the county’s Environmental Health office, said the marina staff has been exemplary in all phases of the program.
“It really makes them stand out, because they went above the regulations that are required of them,” Hicklin said.
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, which has a mission of protecting and preserving Puget Sound by tracking down and stopping discharge of toxic pollutants into the water, assisted Hicklin in helping to certify Ludlow’s as a Clean Marina.
The alliance actively monitors and patrols the waters of Puget Sound to detect and document sources of illegal pollution.
Hicklin said the marina’s cleaning and spill-prevention program including a “no suds” policy for boat cleaning, and staff training for drip and spill prevention.
Contractors hired at the marina are urged to use containment to avoid water pollution, Hicklin said.
In the event of a fuel spill, marina employees have been trained to respond with booms and absorbent pads.
A cleaner that is less toxic than many is used throughout the facility, Hicklin said.
The marina also educates boaters about using spill prevention devices, she said.
“They require everyone to have proper storage of hazardous materials, such as paints and batteries.”
A centralized inventory system also is used to prevent waste.
The EnviroStar program certifies companies’ efforts to reduce pollution and hazardous waste, and identifies them as environmentally responsible businesses.
Jefferson County now has 10 EnviroStars-certified businesses in the automotive, dental, printing and transportation, and marina industry. They are listed on the EnviroStars Web site at www. envirostars. org.
For more information about Clean Marinas Washington, check www.cleanmarinawashington.org/.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
