GLIN==> Corrected Press Release: "Ohio Clean Marina/Boater Kick Off "

[Nancy Cruickshank <cruickshank.3@osu.edu>]

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2004

OHIO CLEAN MARINAS PROGRAM KICK-OFF

AT NORTH AMERICAN IN-WATER BOAT SHOW

SANDUSKY, OH As a collaborative effort to improve the quality of Ohio's
waterways, the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Ohio Department of Natural
Resources (ODNR), Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), Ohio
Department of Health, Ohio Department of Commerce, U.S. Coast Guard, and
the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association (LEMTA) will kick off their Ohio
Clean Marinas Program at the North American In-Water Boat Show at Cedar
Point on Saturday, September 18, 2004 at 2:00 p.m.  

The Ohio Clean Marinas Program is a proactive partnership that encourages
marinas and boaters to use best management practices to keep Ohio's coast
and inland waterways clean. This kick-off is the first time the Program
will be accepting pledges from marinas to become Clean Marinas,said Leroy
Hushak, who administers the Clean Marinas Program.

The Program housed under Ohio Sea Grant will be launched Saturday at the
Ohio Clean Marinas booth by ODNR's Director, Sam Speck, who will be
representing Governor Bob Taft.

This program should benefit the local environment and economy around each
of the Clean Marinas, emphasized Speck. As a voluntary program, the Ohio
Clean Marinas Program is a model for collaboration between government,
the private sector, and academia,

Marinas that take the program pledge will be instructed through
workshops, a corresponding guidebook, and web site information.

There are over 100 best management practices marinas will need to comply
with within a year in order to be designated as Clean Marinas,stated Jeff
Reutter, Director of Ohio Sea Grant.  Attending a workshop like the
one on November 8th will be the first step to becoming a clean
marina.

Besides being recognized as a Clean Marina, participating marinas will
obtain priority for incentive grants, be able to use the clean marinas
logo for advertising, and participate in the Clean Marinas Education and
Awareness Program, said Hushak.

For additional information, check out the Ohio Clean Marinas website
at
www.ohiocleanmarina.osu.edu

For Additional Information Contact:

Leroy Hushak, Ohio Clean Marinas Program    614.292.3548   (after Tuesday September 14 use cell number 614.531.1679)

-or-

Jill Jentes Banicki, Ohio Sea Grant        614.292.8949