Yacht Clubs of Maryland
….to provide a means for close and frequent interaction and mutual support among member Yacht Clubs.…..
Amber lighthouse yacht club
pasadena
Baltimore Yacht Club
Baltimore
 Member Clubs
March 19, 2010
Belvedere Yacht Club
Arnold
Testimony to the House Environmental Matters Committee
Bodkin Yacht Club
Pasadena
Boumi Shrine Yacht Club
Statewide
Bush River Yacht Club
Abingdon
Bowleys point yacht club
Middle river
Charlestown yacht club
charlestown
Chesapeake Commodores Club
Statewide
Crescent Yacht Club
Baltimore
Eastern Yacht Club
Baltimore
Galloway Yacht Club
Baltimore
Glenmar Sailing Association
Essex
Goose Harbor Yacht Club
Chase
Great Oak YachT Club
Chestertown
Kent Island Yacht Club
Chester
Key Yacht Club
Baltimore
Marley Boat Club
Pasadena
Maryland cruising club
Sparrows point
Maryland Yacht Club
Pasadena
MIDDLE RIVER YACHT CLUB
Essex
Miles River Yacht Club
Saint Michaels
Why we OPPOSE HB 1257: This bill eliminates a realistic pollution control alternative for boaters,
creates potential unintended consequences, and provides no appreciable benefit to the Chesapeake
Bay
1. No Discharge Zone (NDZ) designation has no effect on boaters except to take away their option to
discharge treated waste, as is done and will continue to be done by municipal sewage treatment
systems on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Harmful discharges from boats, such as oil, anti
freeze, and raw sewage are already prohibited.
2. No Discharge Zone designation has no effect on any other source of Bay pollution.
3. NDZ designation could help in certain low flow areas with high concentrations of boats. The
science is unclear on how much this would help regarding discharge of treated waste. What would
help more in these areas is better enforcement of existing laws prohibiting discharge of raw
sewage.
4. There is no way to detect or enforce raw sewage discharges on the open waters of the
Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries.
5. Widely available pump out facilities in combination with high quality on board treatment
technology is the best way to ensure boaters minimize raw waste discharges to the Chesapeake Bay.
Experienced boaters know that pump-out stations alone will not foster full compliance.
6. It is not a matter of boater education. Boaters are well aware of the ecosystem, discharge laws,
and pump-out stations but on the open water often are faced with pump overboard or overflow into the
boat. On a hot summer day, miles from a pump out station, guests on board, and time at a premium, we
know the choice many people will make.
7. There are also boaters who simply do not want to be inconvenienced by pump outs. Since the
likelihood of getting caught is essentially zero, an NDZ designation and huge fines won't change their
behavior but a convenient on board treatment system might.
North East River Yacht Clib
North East
North Point Yacht Club
Sparrows Point
Otter Point Yacht Club
Abingdon
Outcast Yacht Club
Elkton
Red Eye Yacht Club
Baltimore
Riverside Yacht Club
Baltimore
8. Out in the open flowing water of a large estuary like the Chesapeake Bay, boat discharge of treated
waste from a high quality system will have no measurable effect on the ecosystem and is a much
better choice than raw sewage.
YCM supports limited NDZ designation for certain bodies of water where the circumstances make
practical and scientific sense as well as improved oversight and enforcement of existing laws. We
strongly recommend a no vote on HB 1257 and development of alternative legislation to improve
oversight and enforcement of existing laws and regulations. YCM speaks for thousands of Maryland
boaters.
Sue Haven Yacht Club
Baltimore
Ventnor Yacht Club
Pasadena
Veterans Yacht Club
StateWIDE
Wellwood Yacht Club
Charlestown
White Rocks Yacht Club
Glen Burnie
Sincerely,
Daniel G. Miller
Commodore, Yacht Clubs of Maryland
1815 Park Ave.
Halethorpe, MD 21227
commodore@yachtclubsofmaryland.org