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FORT LAUDERDALE – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),
together with the Clean Boating Partnership, joined more than 150
community leaders, including State Representative Jack Sieler and Mayor Jim
Naugle, to welcome the Lauderdale Marine Center in Fort Lauderdale into DEP’s
Florida Clean Marina Program. The facility, the largest in Florida, was
designated the state’s 150th Clean Marina and 28th Clean Boatyard – a milestone
number for the program. Currently, there are more Clean Marinas in Florida than
any other state.
“Protecting Florida’s aquatic resources requires more than just the
professionals at DEP; we need the assistance of concerned citizens and private
industry to truly accomplish our environmental priorities,” said DEP Chief of
Staff Kelly Layman. “DEP Secretary Mike Sole and the entire team are please to
celebrate this milestone moment with the Lauderdale Marine Center being the
state’s 150th Clean Marina and the 28th Clean Boatyard.”
The Clean Marina Program is a public/private partnership between the State of
Florida and the marine industry and administered by DEP. Through the Clean
Boating Partnership, the Clean Marina Program works with marine facilities to
adopt environmentally friendly practices beyond standard regulatory
requirements.
“The Clean Boating Partnership is pleased to welcome Lauderdale Marine Center
into the family of Clean Marinas,” said Clean Boating Partnership Vice-Chair
Mark Leslie of the Titusville Municipal Marina. “Each designation of a facility
allows us to further safeguard the waters we all enjoy.”
The Lauderdale Marine Center, which is the 11th Clean Marina in Broward
County, can accommodate a variety of vessels, has more than 1,600 feet of
riverfront dockage, 110 floating slips as well as all of the necessary resources
to repair, refit or refurbish vessels. To become a Clean Marina, the Lauderdale
Marine Center employed best management practices, installed pumpout hookups at
each slip and developed a petroleum spill recovery plan, all which ensures
Florida’s water resources are protected from potential harm.
“We are excited to be designated the 150th Florida Clean Marina,” said
Lauderdale Marine Center Manager Jim Parks. “We want to continue to be a leader
in protecting the environment and ensure that Florida’s resources are available
for generations to come.”
The Clean Boating Partnership is a consortium of industry leaders who
contribute time and input to the Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine
Retailer and Clean Boater programs, which DEP administers, to protect Florida’s
waterways. To date, the Clean Marina program has recognized 154 Clean Marinas,
28 Clean Boatyards and four Clean Marine Retailers.
Florida's marine industry represents a total economic output of more than
$18.4 billion and represents related employment estimated at more than 220,000
jobs. With more than one million registered motorized vessels in Florida,
environmental education within marine industries is the first step towards
safeguarding the state’s natural resources. By providing ‘green’ education and
alternatives, the Florida Clean Marina Program helps ensure a sustainable future
for the environment and the billion-dollar marine industry.
For more information on the Florida Clean Marina Program, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina.
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