MMTA Supports Coalition to Preserve Outer Brewster
Ed Lofgren (center) joins the Coalition at the State House Press Conference. Lofgren, owner of Hingham's 3A Marine Service is a Director, Past President and Chair of MMTA. |
On Monday October 17th a press conference, led by Save the Harbor/Save The Bay, was held at the State House in Boston during which an unprecedented coalition of recreational boaters and anglers, marine trades and business owners, conservationists and environmental groups united to voice their opposition to draft plans to place an LNG facility on Outer Brewster at the entrance of Boston Harbor within the recently designated Boston Harbor Island National Park.
If you are interested in learning more about MMTA's position on this issue, visit the member's only section of www.boatMA.com. For copies of the Joint Statement in opposition to the proposed Outer Brewster LNG terminal in the Boston Harbor Islands national park and recreation area visit: www.savetheharbor.org.
MMTA member Lou Gainor of Nautical Talk Radio is also hosting an online forum and poll on the Outer Brewster LNG proposal. You can participate in the poll at www.nauticaltalk.com/html/current_poll.html.
MASSACHUSETTS MARINE SHRINK WRAP
RECYCLING PROGRAM ENTERS 4TH YEAR!
In 2006 the Massachusetts Marine Shrink Wrap Recycling Program will be coordinated by E. L. Harvey and Sons, Inc., a recycling service provider located in Westborough, Massachusetts. Haley & Aldrich, Inc., an engineering and environmental consulting firm based in Boston, MA, will provide limited technical assistance in 2006.
Marine shrink-wrap is used to protect boats from winter weather, sunshine, and other elements that might be harmful during the dry-docking season. It has been identified by marina owners, the American Plastics Council, and others as a growing waste disposal problem for the marina industry, local landfills, and waste combustion facilities. Considering that an estimated 130 tons of shrink wrap are sold along the Massachusetts coastline, the potential recycling opportunities are considerable. The American Plastics Council has supported efforts to collect the polyethylene marine shrink wrap material which can be recycled into a number of end uses, such as plastic lumber or landscaping products.
In 2005, over 48 tons of white marine shrink wrap were collected for recycling from 22 sites on the north and south shores of Boston, in southeastern Massachusetts, and on Cape Cod and the island of Martha's Vineyard.
Pricing and marketing materials will be developed over the next couple of months by E. L. Harvey & Sons and should be ready for distribution in January 2006. If you wish to be added to the mailing list for 2006 Marine Shrink Wrap Recycling Program marketing materials, please contact: Thomas Lynch, E. L. Harvey & Sons, Inc., 68 Hopkinton Road, Westborough, MA 01581 Telephone: (508) 836-3042 or Email: tlynch@elharvey.com
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATOR FOCUS
As part of our ongoing series, this issue of MMTA ENews highlights State Rep Paul Kujawski (D-Worcester) for his sponsorship of House Bill 4153, An Act Relative to Gate Shows. Adoption of H4153 would permit certain gate shows access to the new Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
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STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAUL KUJAWSKI
State House
Room 466
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: 617-722-2017
E-Mail: Rep.PaulKujawski@hou.state.ma.us
Party Affiliation - DEMOCRAT
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DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Eighth Worcester. - Consisting of the towns of Douglas and Dudley, precinct 4, of the town of Oxford, precinct 3, of the town of Uxbridge, and the town of Webster, all in the county of Worcester.
EDUCATION: Bartlett High School; North Adams State College, B.A.
PROFESSION: Legislator.
ORGANIZATIONS: Webster Little League (coach); Webster Pop Warner (coach); Webster Polish American Veterans Association; Webster-Dudley Boys and Girls Club (Board of Directors).
PUBLIC OFFICE: Webster Democratic Town Committee; Webster School Committee (1976-1994, Chair, 12 years); Bartlett Junior & Senior High School Building Committee; Mass. House (1994-present). Committees on which the legislator serves: House Committee on Rules Joint Committee on Education Joint Committee on Election Laws.
A MESSAGE FOR MARINA OPERATORS, BOATYARDS & YACHT CLUBS
FROM THE OFFICE OF COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
REGARDING MARINE INDUSTRY SURVEY & CLEAN MARINA PROGRAM
The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is a non-regulatory agency committed to assisting marinas and boatyards in implementing responsible environmental management practices, reducing impacts to water quality and helping them achieve environmental compliance with local, state and federal environmental regulations. CZM has developed the Massachusetts Clean Marina Guide and continues to provide technical assistance and education to help marina operators and boaters control their nonpoint source pollution (NPS).
To help us improve our Clean Marina Program, CZM is conducting a survey of Massachusetts's marinas and boatyards to provide direct feedback to CZM. This survey will help us develop targeted technical assistance and training opportunities and to identify emerging regulatory challenges facing Massachusetts's marinas. CZM has also convened an industry focus group, consisting of industry representatives and Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, to help develop this survey and to assist in its distribution to marina operators, boat yards and yacht clubs.
CZM has hired the consulting firm Fuss & O'Neill, Inc. to help us conduct this survey project. Below is a survey form that we ask you to complete and return:
Via E-mail to: cleanmarina@fando.com
or
Fax to 401-861-3070, ATTN: Terry McCormack
A PDF formatted version of this survey is also available for download and printing at the Members Only Section of BoatMA.com
Your input is essential to help CZM identify your needs and support your efforts to achieve environmental compliance and improve and protect water quality in Massachusetts. Please contact Stephen McKenna, CZM Program Manager at (508) 362-1760 if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for your participation in this effort.
Sincerely,
Stephen McKenna, Coastal Zone Management, Coastal Nonpoint Program
| SURVEY ADMINISTERED BY MMTA MEMBER: |  |
MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN MARINA PROGRAM SURVEY FORM
e-mail response to cleanmarina@fando.com or
fax to 401-861-3081 attention Terry McCormack.
1. A Massachusetts Clean Marina Program would minimally provide Marina's with
targeted technical assistance to help with environmental regulations and
compliance. Does your facility have a need for technical assistance regarding
environmental regulations? Remember, this assistance is not enforcement - CZM
and its partners are not regulatory agencies.
[] Yes [] No [] Don't Know
Please check the issues of concern.
[] Hazardous materials and/or waste [] Underground Storage Tanks
[] Pressure Washing [] Other wastewater (bilge,test tank)
[] Oil Spill Planning (SPCC / Spill Response) [] Tier II Reports (Rights to Know)
[] Control of VOCs [] Stormwater Permits/Planning
[] Fueling [] Pumpouts/Boat Sewage
[] Solid Waste
2. What types of technical assistance would be most helpful toward
achieving compliance? Please check all that apply.
[] Workshops [] One-on-one site visits
[] Training classes [] Other _________________
3. Would you be interested in attending workshops designed to help marina owners and
operators understand: if yes, check appropriate boxes:
[] Environmental Regulations [] Funding assistance
[] Clean Marina Ops and Management
[] Benefits of a Marina Environmental Management Plan
[] Other (please list)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Other than lack of technical expertise, what are the issues that impact your
ability to comply with these regulations:
Please check all that apply.
[] Personnel [] Money
[] Time [] No knowledge of issue
[] Other limitations
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Are you interested in participating in a Clean Marina Certification Program
that goes beyond environmental compliance? Please check.
[] No Interest [] Little Interest
[] Some Interest [] Interested
[] Very Interested
6. Would you expect a Clean Marina Certification to be a business advantage?
[] Yes [] No
If yes, how? Please check.
[] Reduction of fines (favorability with regulating agencies)
[] A decrease in regulatory visits
[] Increase in Business (selling environmental services/products)
[] Community awareness (god neighbor)
[] Lower insurance costs
[] Others______________________________________________________
7. Additional comments:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
FIBERGLASS FUEL TANK SAFETY ALERT FROM
NEWLY REFORMULATED GASOLINE WITH ETHANOL COULD RUPTURE OLD FIBERGLASS GAS TANKS
EXPLOSION HAZARD AND SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE EVIDENCED ON LARGE, OLDER VESSELS
For the complete text of this BoatUS news release, please visit: http://www.boatus.com/news/releases.asp
Older fiberglass fuel tanks may fail as a result of recent gasoline reformulations that are using increased concentrations of the fuel additive ethanol. BoatUS believes that as a result of industry-wide changes in fiberglass resin formulations in the mid 1980's, the problem appears to be limited to tanks manufactured prior to this date. Diesel fuel systems are not affected.
The fiberglass fuel tanks in question were standard equipment on some Hatteras, Bertram and possibly other boats. While the investigation is still in the preliminary stage, BoatUS believes that reformulations made to gasoline in the Long Island Sound area that replaced MTBE (Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether) in late 2004 with a 10% concentration of ethanol is causing the additive to "attack" the resin in the old fiberglass tanks. The results are weakened tank walls and bottoms with the potential to leak. Anytime gasoline leaks into the bilge, there is a significant risk of an explosion.
BoatU.S. is asking boaters for any firsthand reports or other information they may have on the issue and is doing additional testing to evaluate the extent of the problem. "We'd like to know if other gasoline reformulations with lesser concentrations of ethanol react with the resin, perhaps at a slower pace," said Fort.
The increasing use of ethanol has largely been the result of federal and state efforts to replace MTBE, a potential carcinogen, with a safer alternative. MTBE and ethanol oxygenate fuel to help reduce harmful emissions when running cold engines just after startup. BoatU.S. has no reports from other states using lesser concentrations of ethanol. "Many well-regarded boat manufacturers have used fiberglass tanks reliably for years," said Fort. "But unforeseen by these builders, the new reformulation in New York and Connecticut includes a high percentage of ethanol. And unfortunately, gasoline with ethanol is the only fuel available to boaters in these areas," he added. Some stations in New Jersey may also be using ethanol-enhanced fuel.
Until it fully understands the extent of the issue, BoatU.S. is recommending that any early 1980's or older vessel with fiberglass gas tanks be stored empty over the winter.
If you have any information on the issue, please contact Fort at 703-461-2878, ext. 3033 or email CFort@BoatUS.com.
EXPANSION PLANS? LET MMTA HELP
Are you seeking to expand your facility to increase the supply of slips, moorings or upland storage? Are you re-applying for statewide permits, licenses or participating in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process? If the answer is yes, please contact MMTA because we would like to offer you a letter of support to any and all project reviewers. Feel free to contact: Leona Roach (Leona.Roach@boatMA.com or 781.826.1570) or Jamy Buchanan Madeja (jmadeja@buchananassociates.com or 617-227-8410)
Upcoming Marine Industry Events
Know of an event that you think should be included? Drop us a line at Leona.Roach@boatMA.com
MMTA-STAPLES BUSINESS ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
Deep discounts and dedicated customer service typically reserved for much larger corporations are now available to MMTA members.
How Do I Enroll?
It's easy. Visit the MMTA Members Only Section at www.BoatMA.com and click on the STAPLES LOGO.
Forgot YOUR MMTA Members Only Password? Remember they are case sensitive:
Username: MMTA
Password: hightide
After you complete the online enrollment, an MMTA-Staples Account Manager will contact you to complete the registration process and assist with any questions you have about getting started. It's That Easy!
E-MAIL CHANGES?
Unlike the US Post Office, the cyberspace postmaster does not forward your e-mail. Has your e-mail address changed? If so, be sure to let us know so you won't miss an issue of MMTA ENews: Send a notice of any email address changes or requests to opt out of future mailings to: webmaster@boatMA.com
ADVERTISE ON BOATMA.COM
THE BEST PROMOTIONAL VALUE FOR YOUR MARINE BUSINESS!
If you do ANY advertising, this is THE place to be! Only for MMTA members, the BOATMA.com web site draws thousands of boaters every single day. There is no better place to get exposure for your marine trades business! Consider adding your BANNER AD to the site as the boat show season is just around the corner when the BoatMA.com site experiences a huge jump in viewers.
MMTA also invites you to sponsor an ENews Brief. We will feature an image and some text about your company right at the top of a ENews Brief like this one, which is sent to all MMTA members. What a great business-to-business opportunity!
Email webmaster@boatma.com or call David Watson, the BoatMA.com webmaster, at 508-240-2533 to sign up today!
SHARE THE WEALTH!
Like what you have read? PLEASE share these ENews briefs with colleagues and staff of MMTA member firms. While emails are sent to one contact at a Member Firm, all employees of member firms can benefit from this information.
HAVE AN ITEM FOR ENEWS? Drop us a line at: Leona.Roach@BoatMA.co
MEMBERSHIPS SUPPORT MMTA
Do you know a firm that should be a Full or Associate member of MMTA? We want your referrals for membership: just drop a note to Membership Committee Chairman Niven Damon at Niven@nivendamon.com or signup on-line.
New Member applications submitted and approved at the December Board meeting will be eligible for a 13 month membership!
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