Homer Harbor becomes first certified ‘clean’

• Statewide program celebrates pro-active efforts in Homer to protect Alaska’s marine environment
Staff report

HOMER TRIBUNE/Naomi Klouda - Rachel Lord, Cook Inletkeeper’s water monitoring coordinator, Homer Harbormaster Bryan Hawkins and Deputy Harbormaster Matt Clarke, show the Alaska Clean Harbors flag granted to Homer. It is the first city in Alaska to complete the program.

After two years of working with Alaska Clean Harbors, from help developing the program and through the certification process, the ACH Advisory Committee certified the Homer Harbor in October as the first Alaska Clean Harbor in the state. The Advisory Committee, the certifying body for the program, includes representatives from Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources, Cook Inletkeeper, Green Star, Marine Exchange of Alaska, and the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators.
Alaska Clean Harbors is a voluntary program providing valuable pollution prevention tools for local communities to protect the marine resources that support our coastal economies. Through participation in the program, harbormasters complete a self-evaluation of 88 best management practices (BMP) for their facility. They then work with ACH to improve their score and meet program criteria by implementing new BMP, leading to an improved commitment to pollution prevention, increased waste reduction, substantial long-term cost savings and ongoing promotion of clean boating.
Homer Harbor Deputy Harbormaster Matt Clarke spearheaded the Homer Harbor application process with the support of Bryan Hawkins, Harbormaster, and the Homer City Council. Examples of best management practices implemented during 2011 include an upgrade of all ramp signage to include environmental rules and practices, establishing used zinc collection stations at the tops of both tidal grids, and creating a new Alaska Clean Harbors page on the City’s Port & Harbor website as outreach for their customers. 
Bryan Hawkins, Homer Harbormaster, says of Homer’s involvement: “I’m very proud of Homer harbor for taking this on. We have taken a lead role in taking action towards environmental stewardship. Clean Harbors are just the beginning, the most logical starting place as our harbors are the gateways to the ocean. Clean oceans are the goal and it starts right here in our harbors as a grass roots education process.”  
The Seward Harbor and Burkeshore Marina (Big Lake) are currently in the process of applying for Alaska Clean Harbor certification, and the city of Valdez signed a resolution in 2011 to begin pursuit of certification. Rachel Lord, coordinator for Alaska Clean Harbors, says there is a lot of enthusiasm for the program around the state. “We attend the annual harbormaster’s conference every year [since 2009] and continue to see both need and enthusiasm for this program around the state. Through Alaska Clean Harbors we provide much needed assistance on pollution prevention for harbor staff and for boaters to ensure a productive marine environment for all future generations.”
Rachel Lord presented the Homer Harbor with their award at the Monday night Homer City Council meeting. More information about Alaska Clean Harbors can be found at their website: www.alaskacleanharbors.org.