A Focus On Marine Industry State & Federal Regulations

Massachusetts Storm Water Management Changes

From The Desk of Jamy Buchanan Madeja, Esq.

The existing Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Storm Water Management Policy Manual has been undergoing revisions for years. However, DEP has just now informed us it will now be issued as official regulations instead. The regulations are expected to be published for public comment in a few weeks, with a final effective date sometime this summer. While the existing policies are familiar, the language will change as it becomes official regulation and therefore interpretations may well change in important ways, as well.

So far, it is our understanding that the intention of the new regulations is to use the existing wetlands regulatory process to require more recharge of storm water to groundwater and, in critical areas, a higher level of pretreatment. It is not expected that existing facilities will be required to make any operational or structural changes until such time as they seek to redevelop their sites or to obtain new wetlands approvals. At that time, when such facilities go in for the usual Order of Conditions from the local Conservation Commission, the facilities are likely to be expected to meet a standard of "the maximum extent practicable" recharging storm water to ground water, doing storm water quality treatment and addressing peak discharge. Improving the local conditions would also be expected. An example would be improving management of storm water at the times of peak discharge to reduce local flooding conditions.

The impact of the new regulations on marinas and boatyards and our members' facilities is, of course, MMTA's special focus. Our Government Relations and Legal Counsel, Jamy B. Madeja, Esq., will be participating in the DEP's public process on MMTA's behalf, including a special meeting at DEP-Boston on MONDAY, March 12 at 2:30pm.

Any MMTA member who wishes to be more fully informed, or who wishes to recommend a consultant or engineer to participate in MMTA's informal technical advisory work group, is welcome to contact her at 617-227-8410 or jmadeja@buchananassociates.com. We would welcome the added expertise and appreciate very much the volunteer spirit.

N.E. Marine Trades Association Environmental Task Force Update

Since late 2006 volunteers from the MMTA have participated in a new working group called the New England Marine Trades Environmental Task Force. The mission of this group, populated by a few representatives from each of the New England State Marine Trade Associations, is to engage and communicate with EPA-Region 1 in order to accurately interpret and clarify various federal environmental regulations as they pertain to marinas and boatyards. In doing so, the Task Force intends to pass along clear, concise information to its respective members and encourage increased environmental regulatory compliance.

Formed shortly after two Rhode Island facilities were cited with six-figure fines by the EPA for non compliance in the areas of reporting, Clean Water Act violations and RCRA, this group of volunteers is regularly communicating with EPA officials and requesting regulatory clarity, explanations and advice.

Below you will find two (2) letters. The first is from the Task Force, chaired by CT's Grant Westerson, which asks for specific clarifications pertaining to Pressure washing practices, the classification of boat owner waste at a marina and for direction on the possibility of aggregating marina and boatyard information for the purpose of characterizing certain waste streams generated. Below you will find the full text of each letter: please review them carefully as they contain many helpful clarifications and cautions that should guide our collective best management practices.
DT: December 14, 2007
FR: New England Marine Trades Association
TO: Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
RE: Marina Environmental Compliance

Dear Mr. Varney:

In response to EPA's recent enforcement initiative at marinas in New England, please be assured that the marina and boatyard industry is responding as rapidly as possible to assess and improve its environmental compliance. At the same time, the Marine Trades Associations in each state in New England are attempting to make their respective members aware of the seriousness of this initiative and provide them with the tools that they require to properly address these issues. EPA has gotten the industrys attention.

Although we do not have an accurate accounting of the number of marinas and boatyards that have fully assessed their environmental compliance, taken corrective action and implemented environmental management systems, we do know that a significant number of marinas have completed this work. We are also aware that several of these marinas have achieved, or are within (literally) weeks of achieving, Clean Marina status as a result of this effort. We are aware of dozens (if not more) of others that are in the process of doing so.

Also, in response to EPA's recent determination that boat bottom wash water must be collected and properly managed, please be advised that a substantial number of marina owners throughout New England have spent the past six months actively evaluating the available alternatives. To date we are aware that systems in Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts and California have been inspected and evaluated. In addition, vendors of the available systems, and licensed disposal facilities have been contacted. Pilot studies and sampling and analysis of the wash water have been and continue to be performed. It is our intention to share this information with our membership.

All of the states Marine Trade Associations within EPA Region One have now formed a group with the goal of effectively and efficiently compiling, evaluating and disseminating information about these environmental compliance issues to marinas and boatyards throughout New England, many of whom are very small businesses. Another goal of this group is to provide a single point of contact with EPA to keep you apprised of our ongoing efforts and to work with EPA on the resolution of issues specific to our industry, as they may arise. The current plan is for representatives of each State's Trade Association to establish a workshop and training/informational seminar schedule to give members a plan for implementing the steps necessary to come into compliance. The first of the planning sessions is set for January 9, 2007 at the Newton Holiday Inn.

We fully recognize that it is the responsibility of our industry to understand and comply with the environmental laws and regulations that may affect it. However, as we develop training seminars and begin disseminating information, it is critically important that we convey accurate information to our members. We ask for your staff's cooperation in assisting us in achieving this goal. In those cases where a State has been delegated authority to administer a federal program, we will also seek assistance from that State.

Examples of the type of industry specific assistance that we seek from EPA include:

RCRA Questions:

1) Marinas are in the unique situation of having their customers perform work on their own boats on marina property. These activities generate wastes that are left at the marina. We have received guidance in the past that wastes generated by private boat owners are considered household hazardous waste and are excluded from regulation under RCRA. However, we have also been advised that once the waste enters a marina's dumpster, the waste is subject to the hazardous waste regulations. This is a significant problem for marinas because our facilities are normally not staffed full time making policing of our customer's actions virtually impossible. We need a definitive answer as to how these wastes must be managed so that a plan can be developed and disseminated to our customers.

2) Many maintenance processes performed at marinas are virtually identical. For example, the bottom paints used by the marinas are supplied by a limited number of manufacturers and the application of those paints is the same. Therefore, we expect several waste streams to be classified identically. As individual waste streams are analyzed to confirm the classification of some of these waste streams, we expect to build a database which will confirm the homogeneity of the specific waste streams for classification purposes. We believe that at some point enough data will be collected to support the use of industry wide generator knowledge and would like EPA's input on a Waste Analysis Plan that would substantiate the use of generator knowledge for some of these waste streams in the future.

CWA Question:

3) The investment in wash water treatment and recirculation systems will be a substantial investment for any marina. Before that investment is made we need clear and consistent guidance from EPA and our State environmental agencies to ensure that those systems will meet all applicable regulations, now and in the foreseeable future. One of the many concerns we have is the level of treatment that will be required in a wash water recycling system before the water can be reused. Another concern is that the levels of contaminates that can be discharged to a sanitary sewer system may change in the foreseeable future. If EPA or our State environmental agencies are aware of pending changes we need to understand them before significant investments are made for these systems.

There are many other nuance and smaller issues that would be resolved to better insure compliance in marinas which we hope will be ironed out thru the process. We look forward to your continued support and to a better and stronger relationship as we move forward.

Best wishes during the holiday season.
Grant W. Westerson, Chairman

DT: February 2, 2007
FR: Office of the Regional Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 1
TO: New England Marine Trades Association

Dear Mr. Westerson:

Thank you for your letter dated December 14, 2006. We are pleased that you and your organization remain committed to helping New England's marinas and boatyards comply with environmental regulations. In particular, it is encouraging that your organization has established a task force in this regard. We also appreciate that you plan to keep the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) apprised of the results of this work, and we look forward to these future communications. Your leadership, of which this effort is indicative, will play a key role in timely resolution of the compliance issues marinas face. Please continue to let us know how we can continue to support your efforts.

In response to your questions and concerns, I have consulted with my staff in each of the regulatory program areas you raised, and below is our response.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
You requested clarification of federal RCRA regulations in certain areas, and those clarifications are outlined below. Please bear in mind that in New England, each state is authorized to administer the RCRA program, and may have regulations, and interpretations of regulations, that are more stringent than the federal regulations. We are simply advising you regarding our interpretation of the minimum federal requirements. You should check with each state regarding any more stringent requirements or interpretations that may apply.

Household Hazardous Waste Exemption
The federal regulations found at 40 C.F.R. § 261.4(b) (l) exclude household hazardous waste from RCRA Subtitle C regulation. Once a household hazardous waste is excluded from the federal regulations, it remains excluded throughout the entire waste management cycle as long as it is managed in accordance with applicable RCRA Subtitle D regulations governing nonhazardous wastes, and/or state law, and is not mixed with non-excluded hazardous wastes. Forty C.F.R. § 261.4(b) (1) further defines a household to include day-use recreation areas. Thus, household hazardous wastes generated by private boat owners who use a marina as a day-use recreation area are within this exclusion from federal regulation. Wastes from boat maintenance activities such as paint scraping may fall within this exemption, if this is allowed by the relevant state, provided that the work is conducted on private boats by private boat owners.

In our view, the exemption does not apply to wastes generated by marina staff or contractors, including wastes from work on marina-owned boats, wastes from work on commercial boats such as commercial fishing boats, and wastes from work by marina staff or contractors on private boats. We regard all such wastes as commercial non-household wastes since the wastes are generated by a commercial operation. The generation is not occurring within a household. The EPA interpretation which includes paint scraping wastes from contractor work done within a home as within the household hazardous waste exemption, thus does not apply. Rather, such operations are similar to those in which work is done on a personal automobile at a commercial shop or dry cleaning is done at a hotel. These are both activities to which the household hazardous waste exemption does not apply.

Any household hazardous waste mixed with non-exempt hazardous waste, such as commercial hazardous waste, loses its exemption and is regulated [45 Fed. Reg. 33084, 33099 (May 19, 1980)]. The exemption is also inapplicable to hazardous waste that is abandoned, or for which the generator is unknown. For these reasons, boat owners placing household hazardous waste into marina-owned dumpsters creates a complex issue. It may not be possible to prove that any hazardous waste within a dumpster is exempt household waste. You should consult with each authorized state about the interpretations that apply. A state may require that the private boat owner remove the waste to his residence in order to maintain the exemption. A good practice in such a case would be for the private boat owner to dispose of this waste only during a household hazardous waste collection day. Another possible option would be to have a dumpster dedicated/limited to receiving private boat owners' wastes, with appropriate signs and controls. Whether waste in such a dumpster would remain within the household hazardous waste exemption is a matter of interpretation to be decided by each state.

As you may know, a growing trend is that many marinas are conducting a "closed" operation, whereby no customer do-it-yourself maintenance and repair work is allowed. This not only avoids the problems discussed above, but also avoids potential contamination of the marina property. Under various environmental laws, marina owners and operators are liable for addressing any such contamination, even if it results from activities by private boat owners.

Waste Analysis
If non-exempt (commercial) wastes are generated at a marina, the marina must determine whether the wastes are hazardous, so as then to manage any hazardous wastes in accordance with the hazardous waste requirements (40 C.F.R. § 262.11). The determination may be made based on sampling or knowledge of the waste. See id. There are no regulations specifically requiring the use of a Waste Analysis Plan to document generator knowledge as the method of waste determination. However, documenting the basis for the use of generator knowledge is a prudent practice. A database of analyses for various manufacturers' products may be of use to your members, as are Material Safety Data Sheets, and would be a good starting point to document knowledge of the waste. But keep in mind that waste determinations are dependent on how the specific generator, in this case the individual marina, uses the material. For example, wastes may be mixed with other materials or wastes, or may be cross-contaminated during use. Accordingly, marinas need to exercise caution in using a database, including being precise in making comparisons with database information. Additional documentation at the marina level, possibly including sampling, may be necessary to make a valid waste determination. In general, a hazardous waste generator should rely on knowledge of the waste only if he/she has a solid basis for being confident that a waste is not hazardous in his/her particular circumstances. We would be pleased to answer any further questions on what additional types of documentation may be appropriate.

Clean Water Act
You cited the need for clear and consistent guidance from EPA and states to ensure that certain pressure wash systems meet all applicable regulations now and in the foreseeable future. We can help accomplish this result by working with you in identifying best management practices and common issues that marina owners typically must address when making investment decisions in this area. This information should help marina owners make good decisions regarding pressure wash water control technology investments. For legal reasons, however, we are not able to endorse any specific technology for achieving compliance. Currently, there is a great deal of work going on among the various marine trades associations, state environmental agencies and EPA to identify these best practices and common issues. Through our joint efforts, we anticipate that a list of these practices and issues will be available for the marina community later this year.

Regarding your concerns about the level of treatment required in a wash water recycling system, at this time there are no federal limitations on the amount of pollutants that can be discharged into a municipal sewer system from bottom boat washing. If the municipality does have an approved pretreatment program, however, there may be local limitations that the discharge must meet prior to discharge. Since local limitations are site-specific to each municipality, they will differ from one Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) to another. Although local limitations are usually in place for five to ten years, they may change based on revisions to water quality, NPDES permit limits and/or sludge disposal practices. In general, the likelihood of a high frequency of such changes is minimal; however, for each situation it is unknown. It would thus be best for each marina owner who is interested in this information to consult with their local POTW for a useful perspective.

Other Areas of Concern
As you consider various areas of focus with respect to your training activities, you may also wish to include air quality and other regulatory programs in your outreach, as well as pollution prevention. Certain activities may require marinas and boatyards to comply with state or federal air quality regulations, or obtain a permit. These activities include: cleaning or degreasing parts using solvents; fiberglass and aluminum boat manufacturing and repair; painting; sanding, scraping, or similar operations that generate dust; operation of refrigeration units that use Chlorofluorocarbons; installation and/or operation of fuel-burning equipment such as boilers and generators; and any of the above activities that generate objectionable odors and smoke. To determine whether they are subject to these regulations, facilities need to be able to accurately estimate their actual and potential emissions of air pollutants, including air toxics. Facilities which dispense fuel are also likely to be subject to state air quality requirements to install vapor recovery systems, maintain the systems and keep records. There are also many opportunities for your members to save money and achieve compliance by pollution prevention, such as improved handling of toxic materials and use of less-toxic substitutes.

As you know, a variety of environmental assistance tools have been developed in New England through partnerships established among the various marine trades associations, state environmental agencies and EPA. These include many marina owner workshops, guidance materials such as the clean marina guides, and the Regional Marina Website at (http://www.epa.eov/reeionl/topics/water/marinas.html). We encourage you to ask your members to use these tools as we continue our joint efforts to improve compliance among New England's marinas.

In closing, we commend you on your plans to help New England's marinas and boatyards address the critical issues they face in complying with environmental regulations. As questions arise, we are eager to provide answers as part of our strategic efforts to help marinas comply with environmental regulations. We value our partnership, and we hope you will continue to count on our support. Our efforts will significantly improve both New England's industry and the environment.

Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator

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EPA-Region 1 Marinas

FREE Marina Industry Regulatory Compliance Workshops

MARCH 28 & 29, 2007
FREE WORKSHOPS: MARINA INDUSTRY REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Meeting The Challenges of Pressure Washing, Storm Water & Hazardous Waste Material Management

Wednesday, March 28 @ Danversport Yacht Club

OR

Thursday, March 29 @ White's of Westport

Click Here To Register For Free Marina Compliance Workshops

Patrick Administration EOEA Management Team Appointments

Secretary Bowles Names Additional Members of EOEA Management Team

In February, Secretary of Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles announced three new members of the management team for the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA). Ken Kimmell was appointed as EOEA's General Counsel. Ken's private practice experience includes environmental and land use law. Greg Watson was named Assistant Secretary for Clean Energy Technology and will serve as EOEA's main point of contact for the clean energy entrepreneurial community. Finally, Lisa Capone was named EOEA Press Secretary, bringing her experience as a reporter, editor, and columnist for State House News Service, Boston Globe North, and other publications.

MA Executive Office of Environmental Affairs

Bruce Carlisle Named Acting Director of Coastal Zone Management

On January 29, Ian Bowles, Secretary of Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) officially named CZM's Assistant Director, Bruce Carlisle, as Acting Director of CZM. Bruce has been with CZM for 13 years, previously serving as the manager of CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program, as well as a policy and technical specialist in wetlands, water quality, and habitat issues. Bruce and holds a Masters in Environmental Policy from Tufts University.

MA Office of Coastal Zone Management

NMMA Encourages Industry Comment on Proposed Harmful Marine Diesel Rule

On March 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposal of a new rule that, if enacted, will negatively impact U.S.-based megayacht builders and large sportfishing boat manufacturers alike.

The Clean Locomotive and Marine Diesel Rule would set stringent emission standards and require the use of advanced after-treatment technology to reduce emissions on engines 2,000kW and larger—which sets the bar too low and establishes a bad precedent for the ruling to eventually extend, encompassing smaller, high-performance engines as well.

Not only will large yacht builders such as Palmer Johnson, Burger Boat Co. and Westport Shipyards be affected by this rule, but it could also impact the large sportfishing builders like Ocean Yachts, Viking, Hatteras and Bertram, which could, at some point in the future, offer engines larger than 2,000 kW on their sportfishing yachts 75 feet and above.

The proposed standards intend to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) from these marine diesel engines through a three-part program: (1) Tightening emission standards for existing vessels when they are re-manufactured; (2) Setting near-term, engine-out emission standards, referred to as Tier 3 standards, for newly-built marine diesel engines; and (3) Setting longer-term standards, referred to as Tier 4 standards, for newly-built marine diesel engines that reflect the application of high-efficiency after treatment technology.

NMMA is encouraging all its Boatbuilder members to submit comments to the EPA on this proposed ruling. Comments will be accepted for 90 days, beginning the day this proposal is published in the Federal Register.

All comments should be identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0190 and submitted via internet, e-mail, mail or hand delivery. Public hearings will also be held in Seattle and Chicago after publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register. For more information, contact NMMA director of Environmental Safety & Compliance John McKnight at (202) 737-9757; jmcknight@nmma.org. More information will follow as the draft regulations become available.

Click Here to View The Clean Locomotive & Marine Diesel Rule

MRAA News

MRAA and U.S. Power Squadrons Sign MOU Pledging Cooperation

On Saturday, February 24, the Marine Retailers Association of America and the United States Power Squadrons signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the annual meeting of the USPS in Jacksonville, Florida pledging to cooperate and work together to further mutual goals of encouraging and promoting recreational boating safety and the enjoyment of boating throughout the U.S.

According to the MOU, MRAA will be responsible to provide contacts within marine retailing which are willing to promote USPS boating safety classes and civic service projects, to post key boating information on the MRAA web-site (www.mraasafeboating.com), and to provide appropriate MRAA produced safety materials to the USPS. Editors Note: The following letter was sent in response to a speech that Commandant Allen made to the National Conference of State Legislatures in December of 2006. In this speech, Commandant Allen suggested mandatory operator licensing for boaters.

Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20593

Dear Admiral Allen:

We are writing on behalf of the 3,500 members of MRAA to express our strong opposition to recent comments made regarding a proposal of the Coast Guard to license recreational boaters. MRAA is the national trade association of small businesses which sell and service new and used boats and operate marinas and accessory stores.

MRAA has long supported the activities of the Coast Guard, especially the very important work of the Office of Boating Safety, in part, by serving on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council and testifying before Congress in support of the Coast Guard budget. During this time we have seen the hard work of many organizations and individuals pay off with significant reductions in boating fatalities and water-related accidents even with an expansion in the definition of fatality without a re-statement of prior year's statistics. At the same time of this dramatic reduction in fatalities, the number of boats and the number of Americans who enjoy recreational boating have increased three fold.

We continue to look forward to working with the Coast Guard to maintain the fatality decline line, but we do not believe now is the time to initiate a mandatory licensing program. A national boating license program does nothing to improve boating safety or reduce terrorism, but does place a huge burden on the American public. We are also concerned that forcing states to impose a licensing program would be an unfunded mandate that is both unfair and a violation of states rights. MRAA does believe it is imperative that all other avenues of gaining safety on the water be explored and suggests dealers can do more to encourage boat operator education and to promote year-long safety awareness programs.

With a better educated boating public, MRAA believes the waters of America can remain safe and free for all to enjoy. We look forward to continuing our outstanding relationship with the Coast Guard. If there is anything MRAA and our members can do to help improve boating safety, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Phil Keeter, President
Robert Soucy, Chairman

Marine Retailer's Assn Safe Boating

Marine Tech Spring Training: Early Bird Registration Extended!

MARCH 21-31, 2007 MMTET/AMTECH WORKSHOPS @ MASSASOIT CC CANTON CAMPUS

Wednesday, March 21: Management Training for Marine Businesses

Thursday, March 22: Troubleshooting-Marine Engines & Electrical

Friday, March 23: Computers & Introduction to Engine Diagnostics

Saturday, March 24: Electrical Systems: Troubleshooting & Theory

Tuesday, March 27: Sterndrive System Troubleshooting & Repair

Wednesday, March 28: Outboard Systems Troubleshooting Made Simple

Thursday, March 29: Outboard Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) Technology

Friday, March 30: 4-Stroke Outboard Systems & Troubleshooting

Saturday, March 31: Outboard Hands-On Lab Session Summary

All Full Day Courses Held @ Massasoit Community College's Canton Campus

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION RATES EXTENDED

$ 150 MMTA Member - $200 Non Member

Register For MMTET-AMTECH Workshops Here:

Coast Guard Auxiliary Passes Resolution Urging Mandatory Boating Safety Education

In their continuing effort to help save lives, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary recently passed a resolution urging state legislatures to require mandatory boating safety education, regardless of age.

The non-binding resolution, which was passed unanimously at the Auxiliary National Training Conference in St. Louis, supplements a resolution passed in 2003. That resolution suggested that boating safety education be required for anyone under the age of sixteen operating a power boat or personal watercraft.

The latest resolution cites continuing evidence that indicates approximately 80 percent of fatalities occur on boats whose operators have not received any form of boating safety education. Moreover, statistics indicate that the average age of someone involved in a boating fatality is around 38 years old, and thus, those states who require mandatory classes for younger boaters have seen little or no impact on their boating fatality statistics.

The majority of states who have some form of mandatory education tend to base the requirements on the operator's date of birth (i.e. anyone born after January 1, 1986 would be required to take a class). Anyone born before the statutory date is exempt from the mandatory class requirements. Furthermore, some states like California, still have no form of mandatory education requirement.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary urges all boaters, including sailors and paddle craft operators, to take a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Over 27,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org or www.axupa.org

To find a boating safety class in your area, click here

Dock and Pier Management Inventory for New England

The NOAA Coastal Services Center has released the free report, Residential Docks and Piers: Inventory of Laws, Regulations, and Policies for the New England Region. Coastal managers throughout the nation face challenges in managing the aesthetic, environmental, navigational, and public-access impacts of dock and pier growth. Through easy-to-use tables, this publication compares state strategies for managing residential docks and piers.


Note: MMTA has not verified that the material contained in the above report is complete nor accurate. Whenever possible consult current regulations and laws governing your facility or service-or consult an environmental compliance professional.

Free Inventory of Laws, Regulations & Policies

N.O.A.A. is 200 !

In 2007, NOAA celebrates its 200th anniversary. NOAA was created in 1807 by President Thomas Jefferson to provide nautical charts to the American maritime community. Efforts to protect fisheries date back to 1871 and, in 1882, the USS Albatross became the first government research vessel built exclusively for fisheries and oceanographic research.

Today, NOAA's Office of Coast Survey holds more than 20,000 historical nautical charts and continually updates its collection of 1,000 current charts. NOAA also operates a system of 16 satellites and the National Weather Service, and oversees coastal management. NOAA researchers and employees work daily to enhance weather forecasts; provide longer warning lead times for natural disasters; and enhance our understanding and management of our climate, oceans, and atmosphere.

See the NOAA Celebrates 200 Years website for details.

NOAA Celebrates 200 Years

Upcoming Events

MARCH 26-31, 2007 ADVANCE MARINA MANAGEMENT COURSE By IMI
Newport, RI
www.marinaassociation.org

APRIL 2, 2007- PROMOTING NEW ENGLAND'S MARINE ECONOMY FORUM
Roger Williams University School of Law
Bristol, RI
www.rwu.edu/Administration/marineforum/agenda/

MAY 3, 2007 - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SPRING FUNDRAISER
Boston, MA
http://www.bfit.edu

MAY 6 - 8, 2007 - AMERICAN BOATING CONGRESS
Washington, DC
www.nmma.org/abc

MAY 9-11, 2007 - WORKING WATERWAYS & WATERFRONTS
Norfolk, Virginia
www.wateraccess2007.com

MAY 4, 2007 - FUTURE OF MASSACHUSETTS BEACHES: RELOCATE, NOURISH OR LOSE THEM
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
www.whoi.edu/seagrant

Home Page of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association

Links Of Interest

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