10/07/24 - 148 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/yk64wwfb
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Chesapeake Bay Foundation Applauds EPA's Draft Chesapeake Bay TMDL
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Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Will Baker and Pennsylvania Executive Director for CBF Matt Ehrhart issued the following statements following the release of a draft Chesapeake Bay TMDL by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Will Baker said, "Today, 30 years of failed, voluntary programs to save the Bay may be coming to an end. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appears ready to enforce the Clean Water Act, consistent with its settlement of our lawsuit.
"EPA's draft TMDL is a pollution budget. If fully implemented, it will hold the states accountable to reduce pollution to scientifically defensible levels.
"Here's how EPA proposes to go forward: The states have until the end of November to improve their detailed plans to achieve the reductions articulated in today's TMDL budget. By the end of the year, EPA will finalize the pollution reduction levels based on science. And then, EPA will hold the states accountable and impose consquences they fail.
"The Clean Water Act requires EPA to exercise its authority, especially for multi-state systems like the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Clean Water Act now under consideration will ensure that today's action and the process it sets in motion can survive the period of time required to, finally, save the Bay. Congress must pass this critical legislation.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation applauds EPA for putting a priority on clean water. “ Matt Ehrhart said. “Pennsylvania has failed to come up with enough effective ideas for reducing pollution to local creeks, streams and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, and it has failed also to spell out how it might implement those ideas.
'EPA has concluded, in fact, that Pennsylvania’s clean-up plan ranks behind those of Virginia and Maryland. EPA also has clarified the potential consequences of Pennsylvania’s failure. It is imperative that the state use the time between now and the end of November when final plans are due to strengthen our commitment and specify how Pennsylvania will meet our obligations to citizens who have a right to clean water."
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