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Clean Marina Certification Process

  1. Contact your Clean Marina Coordinator
  2. Sign a pledge statement
  3. Complete all units in the Clean Marina Resource Guide
  4. Marina staff perform self-evaluation using Certification Checklist
  5. Schedule final site visit
  6. Advisory Board reviews Checklist
  7. Receive Illinois Clean Marina Certification
  8. Once approved, maintain Clean Marina status

Step 1: Contact your Clean Marina Coordinator

The Clean Marina Coordinator will provide you with all program documents and instructions and will be your contact for any questions you have along the way.

Stephanie Mueller
Clean Marina Coordinator
Illinois Department of Natural Resources 
Coastal Management Program
160 N. LaSalle St., S-703
Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 773-882-5423
Email: stephanie.mueller@illinois.gov 

https://dnr.illinois.gov/cmp/illinoiscleanmarina.html

 

Step 2: Sign a Pledge Statement

Email the signed pledge to the Illinois Clean Marina Coordinator, listed in Step 1.

Display a copy of the pledge in a public area so that your customers will be aware of your commitment to the environment. The Illinois Clean Marina Program will include your marina or boatyard’s name on our list of pledged facilities, both in public displays and online.

 

Step 3: Complete all units of the Clean Marina Resource Guide

This training tool will help you and your staff choose the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for your marina. The tool was developed by the Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio Clean Marina Programs for use in the Great Lakes. Illinois specific sections have been added.

www.cleanmarinaclassroom.org

 

Step 4: Marina staff members perform self-evaluation using Certification Checklist

Conduct a self‐evaluation of your facility using the Clean Marina Program Checklist and Guidebook. 

Guidebook can be found here: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/cmp/Documents/GuidebookChapters.pdf

To achieve Clean Marina status, a marina or boatyard must implement:

  • 100% of all applicable mandatory law and regulation BMPs (denoted by “M” on the checklist) 

  • 100% of all applicable program‐required BMPs (denoted by “P”)

  • A minimum of 50% of applicable program‐recommended BMPs (denoted by “R”)

By doing so, certified marinas demonstrate that they understand and intend to comply with state and federal requirements for marina or boatyard operations. In the event that it is not feasible to implement a particular program‐required BMP, you may earn credit to meet the certification criteria by noting additional practices you employ that are listed in the program guidebook.

Do not be discouraged if you are having difficulty meeting the minimum score on the self-evaluation checklist. We want you to become an Illinois Clean Marina and can help you identify ways to achieve the minimum standards. Please contact the Illinois Clean Marina Coordinator for assistance. If the coordinator cannot answer your questions directly, he or she will put you in touch with one of the program’s technical team members to provide the information you need. In addition, we are willing to participate with you in an informal site visit and assessment of your facility to provide comments and recommendations for the implementation of appropriate BMPs for you to incorporate to reach the minimum program certification requirements.

 

Step 6: Schedule final site visit

A site review team appointed by the Illinois Clean Marina Program will visit your facility to verify the items checked on the checklist.

 

Step 7: Sign Clean Marina Certification Contract, receive Illinois Clean Marina Certification status

The Clean Marina Program Coordinator will give you a Certification Contract to sign once site verification is complete. 

Once the signed contract is received, the Illinois Clean Marina Program staff will help you prepare a news release recognizing your demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship. You will be authorized to use the Illinois Clean Marina logo on your letterhead and in your advertising. You will receive an Illinois Clean Marina certificate and a Clean Marina flag to fly on your property. Your marina or boatyard will also be listed in Illinois Clean Marina publications, on the program and Great Lakes Clean Marina Network websites, and in public displays.

 

Step 8: Once approved, maintain Clean Marina status

Every fifth year, a program representative will contact you to set up a meeting to reaffirm your clean marina status. The Clean Marina Program may periodically update the BMP guidebook or checklist due to new information or changes in rules and regulations. You will be notified of program updates or changes in certification criteria. However, you are responsible for ensuring that your facility is in compliance with all current, applicable state and federal rules and regulations.