August 3, 2018
MONTPELIER, Vt – With just shy of 500 square miles of water, Lake Champlain is what a boater’s dreams are made of. Yet, boat traffic can result in pollution from sewage, fuel and other contaminants. Burlington Marina is joining the effort to do its part for the Lake all boaters enjoy.
In August, Burlington Community Boathouse Marina will become the Vermont Green Business Program’s newest member, after having achieved environmental standards that protect Lake Champlain. The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation will present Burlington Boathouse Marina with their certificate of achievement on the docks of the Marina on August 10, 2018.
“The Burlington Community Boathouse Marina set the goal of joining the Vermont Green Business Program as a Clean Marina in 2014. Since then, we have evaluated our operations and conducted the necessary changes to qualify as a Green Business,” said Burlington Marina Harbor Master, Erin Moreau. “We not only wanted the certification, but most importantly, we wanted to lead by example on how we interact with our greatest natural resource, Lake Champlain. We understand how fundamentally important our collective actions are in keeping Lake Champlain a place we want to enjoy and recreate in. As a marina, it is imperative we recognize our direct relationship to the lake and the importance in protecting these waters. We are honored to be recognized as a Vermont Green Business!”
The Vermont Green Business Program uses its Clean Marina Standards to require systems, devices and notices to be installed on docks to help prevent water pollution. To achieve Green Business Program member status, Burlington Marina took on initiatives such as offering free pump-outs to all boaters and employing best practices for fuel handling. Burlington Marina joins several other marinas that are a part of the Green Business Program, including Champlain Marina, Marina at Marble Island, North Hero Marina, Point Bay Marina and Shelburne Shipyard.
The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Vermont Green Business Program is a statewide assistance and recognition program for Vermont businesses and organizations. Over 230 Vermont businesses are members. To learn more about the Vermont Green Business Program, or to join, visit dec.vermont.gov/environmental-assistance/green-business.