The States Organization for Boating Access presented the Maryland Department of Natural Resources the "State Clean Vessel Act Program Excellence Award" for the year 2000. The award recognizes excellence over time and outstanding service to state residents in implementing the provisions of the Clean Vessel Act of 1992.
"Maryland established the first boating sewage pumpout program in the country, which served as a model for other states Clean Vessel Act programs. The pumpout program received sport fish restoration funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said Bob Sousa, the Services Federal Aid chief for the northeast.
The Maryland Clean Vessel Act (CVA) program is managed by Don ONeill, who is responsible for a large part of the programs success in maintaining high standards and a commitment to the boating public, according to Sousa.
ONeill praised the programs partners: "Maryland is lucky to have a progressive marina industry, and with funding from CVA and the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we cant miss. The public and private partnership inherent in CVA really represents government at its best.
The award was presented at the annual conference of the States Organization for Boating Access, held November 7-11, 2000, in Wilmington, N.C.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides financial assistance to states through the CVA. This funding is used to build and maintain pumpout stations, pumpout boats, and dumping stations that enable recreational boaters to dispose of their sewage in a safe and responsible fashion, thus keeping it out of the nations waterways.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, conserves and restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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