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Celebrate Earth Day
with care

Earth Day is being celebrated today in the area of Oahu known as the Ala Wai Watershed, with an emphasis on partnering on stewardship.

The Army Corps of Engineers, together with the Ala Wai Watershed Association and the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources, are offering educational presentations, exhibits, tours and interactive activities for the public at the Pacific Regional Visitor Center in Fort DeRussy and at the Waikiki Natatorium.

But because I imagine boaters in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor -- the watershed's terminus -- will more likely be using their boats than staying on shore, perhaps they will celebrate Earth Day by following the BoatUS Foundation's "Top 10 Tips for Filling Up at the Pump."

As a part of the foundation's National Clean Fueling Campaign "Help Stop the Drops" that seeks to prevent unintentional fuel spills by working with boaters and marinas to adopt smart fueling habits, boaters are asked to:

» Know how much fuel your boat holds and how much fuel you need. This will help you avoid overfilling your tanks.

» Turn off engines and electronics, and extinguish all open flames, such as stoves or cigarettes.

» Before you start pumping fuel, put passengers ashore and close all hatches, ports and doors so fumes do not collect in the bilge or cabin.

» Maintain consistent contact between the fuel nozzle and the deck fill -- and if refilling a portable fuel tank, remove it from the boat and fill it on the dock. Both measures prevent sparking.

» Use an absorbent pad or donut around the deck fill to catch backsplash and attach a temporary collection device to your hull to catch overflow from the tank vent.

» Hold on to the nozzle and don't rely on the hands-free clip or automatic shut-off device. They often don't react in time.

» Fuel slowly, and listen for a change in tone as the tank gets full.

» Fuel stored underground at the marina and pumped into your boat's tanks will expand on a hot summer day, so resist topping off.

» If a few drops hit the water, do not use detergents to disperse a spill. This is more harmful to the environment than if left untreated. Besides, it's against the law.

» After fueling, turn your blower on for 3 to 5 minutes and sniff for fumes.

"A few drops here, a little splash there -- collectively over time, fuel spills add up," said Margaret Podlich, Assistant VP for the BoatUS Foundation.

"By following these top 10 tips, you'll avoid embarrassment, environmental damage and potential costly fines that can accompany fuel spills," she added.

And remember, under federal law, you are required to report a fuel or oil spill, no matter how small, if it is enough to cause a sheen on the surface of the water.

So, what better way to celebrate Earth Day and avoid a fine than to practice keeping petroleum products out of our waterways?