November 12, 2002

Dredging is a Drag for Marinas

Environmental regulations that involve dredging and disposal of dredged material are the toughest for marinas to deal with. That's just one of the findings of a recents survey conducted by Applied Technology & Management, Inc., a leading environmental, coastal, and water resources engineering firm. The survey, entitled "Marine Regulations: Your Two Cents" examines the opinions of private marina owners and operators, and municipal marina authority officials regarding current environmental regulations.

More that half (52%) of survey respondents indicate that dredging regulations are hardest to comply with, while another 31% say regulations associated with the disposal of dredged material are the most challenging. Other stringent regulations, according to respondents, include manatee protection, submerged land protection, and water quality.

Three-quarters of survey respondents report that, in general, environmental regulations go overboard. Two-thirds of respondents say there are a number of unnecessary environmental regulations, including codes that govern land use, natural resources, wildlife, and existing facilities. However, there is less of a concensus in terms of what regulatory agencies are most difficult to deal with. For example, more that a third (35%) rate the US Army Corps of Engineers as most cooperative, but more than a quarter (27%) say that same agency is the most uncooperative.

Only 10% of respondents report that marinas need additional regulations. Suggestions include mandatory training for employees and licenses for boaters.