The Obama administration pledged Thursday to enact new federal regulations and force states to do more to hasten the Chesapeake Bay cleanup.
The heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture told reporters during a conference call that they have completed seven reports examining restoration efforts and intend to announce a more detailed action plan by May.
May is an important and symbolic date, said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. It will mark one year since Obama signed an executive order declaring the Bay a national treasure in need of swifter, more meaningful attention from federal and state leaders.
Jackson said new regulations governing storm water and farm runoff - two major pollution sources fouling the Bay - would likely be pursued over the next year.
Those new rules will likely target urban storm systems and storm water from new development sites, as well as pig, cow and poultry farms that generate lots of manure that can hurt the Bay.
Jackson said the ultimate goal of the federally led initiative will be to clean up the Bay enough to remove it from the national "dirty waters" list by 2025.
The Bay was supposed to come off the list by 2010, but officials concede that they will miss that deadline as water quality remains tainted by too much dirt and sediment, too little oxygen, and too many nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine welcomed the announcement Thursday, saying in a statement: "I am pleased that the long-term health of the Chesapeake Bay is such a high priority of this administration."
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, an environmental group that has been working to "save the Bay" for three decades, also applauded the federal push.
"It appears that Administrator Jackson's EPA is finally ready to take on an ambitious agenda to reduce water pollution in our region," foundation President William C. Baker said in a statement.
Still, the foundation cautioned about waiting too long and bogging down in regulatory battles. Baker also said recommendations described in one report Thursday about air pollution were "woefully inadequate, virtually ignoring the growing recognition of air emissions from coal-fired power plants, truck and automobile emissions, and manure."
"If they are able to do everything they say they can do in these reports, it would be very significant," said Doug Siglin, who monitors federal actions for the foundation in Washington. "But there are a lot of steps in between."
Other recommendations within the reports include the possible expansion of national parks and national wildlife refuges near the Bay, and the creation of Baywide management plans for commercial fisheries, such as blue crabs, striped bass and oysters.
Climate change and its anticipated effects on the Bay also will be included in any final action plan, Jackson and others said.
When Obama issued his executive order in May, he created a Federal Leadership Committee, led by Jackson, to oversee and coordinate a "renewed commitment to the Bay" among seven federal agencies.
Over the next 60 days, Jackson said she will be evaluating recommendations and meeting with states, including Virginia, to discuss ways of doing more. Then in November, she said, a draft action plan will be published, with a final plan expected out by May.
Money will be a topic of much debate, as most states in the mid-Atlantic region are suffering budget shortfalls, and the federal government is facing huge deficits as well.
Because of that, regulatory action seems more appealing, since most costs for doing more to protect the Bay are borne by those in the private sector.
Jackson said she and her staff will be meeting with states "to develop detailed implementation plans with clear milestones to reduce pollution in major Bay watershed as needed to meet water quality goals."
Failure to meet those milestones and goals will mean federal enforcement action, Jackson said - or, as one report describes it, "tailored consequences."
Those could include taking away grant money, requiring pollution reductions in other areas, or blocking permits for certain activities that might increase pollution, according to the report.
Scott Harper, (757) 446-2340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com
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CHES BAY CLEAN UP
I hope that some of the funding trickles down for clean ups in the rivers and tributaries of the bay. The Elizabeth River from Portsmouth terminals east and on the southern branch of the Elizabeth River is disgusting and getting worse. At times in the area immediately around Hospital Point and Town Point Park it almost seems like an open sewer. Every type of trash is thrown in and the Portsmouth City workers mow the grass along Crawford Street and use blowers to blow the clipping and debris in the river. Funding should also be set aside for education as to what is happening to our bay and rivers. It is a criminal act for this to continue.
Help the Bay
Bay health is an issue that needs federal support. The DelMarVA states have not been able to work together without one stating shorting the others. Why do some posts here have to take something non-partisan and great for our region and spin it into a negative? Pull your head out of your #%$! and stop supporting politics like you would a professional sports team. It's OK to support Obama on this one.
Bay Watershed Hotel Tax!
The Chesapeake Bay watershed states are cutting their budgets as never seen before, and for political reasons states will not likely raise taxes any time soon to fund Bay restoration! Money has always been the issue for over 20 years of Bay clean-up efforts!
The watershed states all have a vested interest and something in common... They are all relying on tourists and business travelers from VA, MD, DC, DE, PA, WV and NY to visit their states to enjoy this nation's Natural Treasure; therefore, it would only be proper that the hotel industry would want to restore and protect "the spoon that feeds them" which also happens to be a big chunk of each states' tax revenue to operate.
Some of the major hotels are already displaying the "Green" image, so charging for a small "Footprint" tax should not be too much of a problem for travelers utilizing the natural resources within the shared watershed. As a traveler, I would actually be happy to see a small Watershed tax on my hotel bill. Why not? We are already seeing an environmental "fee" on many other services available.
I propose a Hotel Watershed tax of $.03 / per room / day.
Will These be Unfunded Mandates
Regulations come and go, but will the money follow the recent actions by the current feel-good political leader and his collection of questionable cohorts? VADEQ, VADCR and the other regulatory entities serving the best interests of all Virginians and their environment suffer from budget cuts and reducing investigative programs nearly every year, certainly through every elected governor's term for the last three decades and 3 times under Kaine. Been there, seen that, suffered the effects, and have a box of t-shirts but also more taskings with every year's cuts. The Bay has been assaulted by the actions, and inactions, of man for centuries. Go with the notion of tax incentives for developers to make all new land development projects zero-discharge of storm water and wastewaters from industrial processes. Existing sources of pollutants - large animal farms, antiquated shipyards, sewage plants, and others must also be held to account. The Bay sits silent waiting for an answer and action - do your part today and insist on local action!
The U.S.has money left? or they just going to print more?
Like everything else the Obama administration does, it also won't work. They are full of promises but failure to produce. Someone keep track of this and see how long it takes.
The Bay
What is the source of the money? Our tax money -- if you pay taxes. Better spent on the bay than ACORN.
Huh?
Not sure how stricter standards regulating stormwater and farm runoff would cost much? The mechanism to inforce these standards are already in place.
Factor in the increase in tourism and commercial fishing due to a clean bay, and this will probably end up a net plus.
Glad to see the EPA finally taking the Bay's recovery seriously.
This is another waste
of taxpayer money and will cost municipalities, business and individuals even more. If you think your water bill is high now just watch what happens when these costs are passed on with increased storm water taxes. The environmentalists won't be happy until there are no boats on the Bay; no waterfront homes, no farms, no fishing and no industry.
The Chesapeake Bay is a treasure worth protecting
and it takes more than eight months to make up for eight years of neglect.
When you start with a lie
you end with a lie. There is no global warming.
There are areas that the bay needs to be cleaned up in. We need to pay the crabbers and oystergrabbers off for a year and go without those delicacies and we will be on our way to cleaner bay naturally and with abundance of food. It starts with one year of sacrifice.
yep
And we know how much we can count on him delivering what he says don't we?
at least
he's taking on the hard issues
the last admin spent their time sitting on their thumbs
give the President some time. he may actually accomplish some improvement
Like Bush did any better!
Like Bush did any better! Obama has more insight and education in his lttle finger than you have in your entire body!