APPLICATION INFORMATION
2005 BLUE WAVE CAMPAIGN
I. THE PROGRAM
The Blue Wave Campaign is America’s first environmental certification program for beaches. The criteria for the program has been created by a group of experts and is reviewed and updated every few beach seasons. Each applicant beach must meet specific criteria in the following areas of responsible beach management:
- Water Quality
- Beach and Intertidal Conditions
- Hazards
- Services
- Habitat Conservation
- Public Information/Education
- Erosion Management
II. DURATION AND GUIDELINES Blue Wave certification is valid for one year only. The certification season officially starts on Memorial Day, 2005 and continues through the high-use season, however, beaches may continue to participate until Memorial Day of the following year.
Successful applicants must display the flag, kiosk, and boundary markers in a highly trafficked section of the beach for the entire season (summer, winter, or year round, as applicable). If a beach closes during the season because of adverse environmental, health or safety conditions, the CBC requires that the administrating authority (i.e., applicant organization or designee) lower the flag within 24 hours. The flag may be flown again once the beach is reopened or it regains compliance with local ordinances.
III. QUARTERLY REPORTS A quarterly status report is required for the 2005/06 season. Participating beaches agree to submit quarterly reports documenting the status of blue wave criteria. A CBC quarterly report form will be provided 30 days prior to deadline.
IV. WHO IS ELIGIBLE Applicants for certification may include beach municipalities, local authorities, tourism boards, homeowners associations, chambers of commerce, hotels, resorts, and others representing a beach community. Each application requires a general sponsor (applicant) as well as representation by three organizations – one from the governmental sector, one non-profit civic or environmental group, and one for-profit business or business consortium. To be eligible an applicant must submit all required information to Clean Beaches Council by the specified program deadlines.
2005 BLUE WAVE CAMPAIGN
TIMELINE |
| September 2004 | Blue Wave Campaign applications distributed |
| November 30, 2004 | Blue Wave early bird applications due |
| March 1, 2005 | Blue Wave regular applications due |
January 2005 –
April 2005 | Blue Wave inspection and audits conducted |
| May 1, 2005 | Blue Wave certification letters and materials mailed |
| June 2005 | Media campaign begins |
July 2005 –
October 2005 | Mid-season inspection conducted |
| September 2005 | Blue Wave outreach report published 1st Quarterly Report due
(June – August reporting Application period for 2006-07 season begins |
| October 2005 | Blue Wave audit report sent to beaches |
| December 2005 | 2ndQuarterly Report due (September – November) |
| March 2006 | 3rd Quarterly Report due (December – February) |
| June 2006 | 4th Quarterly Report due (March – May) |
V. APPLICATION
All applications must be accompanied by the following items and information:
- Completed and signed application form
- Supplementary information required by the application, including water quality sampling/testing protocols & health advisory/closure criteria
- Application fees (plus shipping and handling)
VI. ASSESSMENT: INSPECTION & AUDIT
On-site assessments are part of the Blue Wave certification approval as well as its quality assurance/quality control process. A comprehensive preliminary inspection is conducted for each applicant to determine if it meets the certification criteria. This is followed by an audit of the management practices, principles and practices in place at the beach. After the audit and initial inspection, a consultation is held with the community to review areas of concern found during inspection and audit, clarify questions, offer recommendations, and discuss elements of the program. During the high-use season, a second inspection is conducted without prior notification to the beach community to ensure compliance with the high standards of the Blue Wave program. An audit report of the findings of the two inspections, audit, consultation, and final recommendations are sent to certified Blue Wave clean beaches in October of the application year.
VII. CERTIFICATION FEE
Blue Wave Campaign
Application fees for Blue Wave certification cover the following services:
- Site inspections (two)
- Environmental Audit
- Consultation
- Audit report and recommendations
- Blue wave flags (two per beach)
- Boundary markers (entry/exit)
- Information kiosk sign
- Toll-free public feedback line
- Certificate of achievement
- National & international media campaign
- Logo/trademark privileges
- Outreach media reports
New beaches applying for 2005 Blue Wave certification have an application fee of $2,500, plus shipping and handling. Beaches that participated during the 2004 season pay a reduced $1,250 re-certification fee, plus shipping and handling.
A late fee of $500 for new participants and $250 for current participants applies for applications received after November 30, 2004.
Clean Beach Destination
Application fees for the county-level destination certification include the aforementioned services for each beach certified as Blue Wave beaches (up to 20 beaches) as well as the following additional services:
- Additional consultation with destination staff related to water conservation promotion
- Pledge materials for water conservation partners
- A comprehensive destination report summarizing the individual beach audits and overall destination analysis.
The fee for Clean Beach Destination certification is $15,000, plus shipping and handling, for counties that have had beaches designated as 2004 Blue Wave beaches. The fee for Clean Beach Destination certification is $20,000, plus shipping and handling, for counties that have not had beaches previously certified under the 2004 Blue Wave program.
A late fee of $4,000 applies for applications received after November 30, 2004.
VIII. CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY
For beaches who withdraw their application prior to the first inspection, 90% of application fees will be returned. 10% will be retained by the CBC for administrative/processing costs.
For beaches who either (1) withdraw application after first inspection or (2) are not approved into the program, no more than 50% of the application fee will be returned. In only rare cases will less than 50% of the fees be returned to the applicant -- cases where inspection costs and administrative time exceeds the value of 50% of the application fee.
