Officials from the six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the District urged U.S. senators to back stronger federal commitment in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay Monday.
Led by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s water and wildlife subcommittee, the hearing focused on major problems that are harming the Bay — including an excess of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment — and how the federal agencies should act to fix them the best. The nutrients are harming the Bay’s health and inhabitants such as its signature blue crabs.
Most attributed the continuing Bay pollution to a lack of strong goals and accountability.
“We have made progress, but not enough progress,” Cardin said. “We know what the problem is so we need to develop and enforce an action plan.”
President Barack Obama issued an executive order in mid-May promising that the federal government would help take over part of the Bay cleanup, with a goal to have all plans in place by 2025.
John Griffin, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said his state has begun planning its own restoration efforts.
“We need to change how we do business,” he said. “There is going to be a sense of urgency here, and the path is not easy.”
Griffin said the subcommittee should establish a cleanupdeadline, find independent scientific evaluation of the Bay, provide adequate funding, create greater accountability and require enforceable plans.
“We believe that the program should be fully funded at its authorized level of $40 million,” he said. “We recommend that any increase in funding to the states require an equal match from each state.”
George Hawkins, director of the D.C. Department for the Environment, pointed out that the District has exceeded its 1985 goal of reducing the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous being discharged into Bay waters by 40 percent. He also urged reauthorizing the Chesapeake Bay Program.
“Senator [Cardin], you’re a general of the Bay,” said Virginia Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake. “You get it.”
Cosgrove emphasized the federal government’s role in cleanup, as maintaining the Bay should be a combined effort.
“This should be a shared responsibility with the federal government,” he said. “They need to step up.”
