Increased funding to clean up Chesapeake bay

[jackdaniels]

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from Bay Daily by Chesapeake Bay Foundation

It looks like the federal government is finally taking the Chesapeake Bay seriously.

The U.S. House this afternoon is poised to approve a record $50 million in funds for the Chesapeake Bay Program, the EPA-led Bay restoration effort. The money, some of which would be passed along to Bay area states, would pay for projects to reduce runoff pollution from urban areas, suburbs and farms. The Senate is expected to vote in upcoming days on the money – an impressive 60 percent increase from last year.

Of course, it’s far too early to declare victory yet. Restoring the Bay will also require stepped up enforcement of the federal Clean Water Act, and strengthening the law. But tightening up the law could be on the way with new legislation called the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act. This bill was proposed recently by Sen. Ben Cardin and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, among several other sponsors.

And it is significant that included in the money for the Bay Progam this year is $19 million specifically to improve regulatory enforcement and accountability. In other words, more money for policing polluters. This is an area that has long needed attention.

Much praise is deserved for Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia , a senior member of the House Interior Subcommittee who played a key role in the funding increase. And kudos are also due to U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, and many other supporters of the Bay in Congress.

And let’s not forget the new leadership being provided by President Barack Obama. After an intense campaign (and lawsuit) by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and our allies, President Obama issued an historic Executive Order in May that focused more federal effort on cleaning up the Bay. That order required EPA to start reviewing its practices and coming up with new strategies to reduce pollution.

EPA is now considering tighter regulations for stormwater control systems in rapidly growing suburban areas, and more runoff control rules for concentrated animal feeding operations. Also being considered is a new system of federal oversight over state cleanup efforts, with punishments for states that don’t keep their promises to reduce pollution.

Much still needs to be resolved, and we all need to keep pushing the federal government to follow through on these proposals with real actions.

But the winds may be shifting for the Bay.