A five-bill package of legislation introduced in Congress that would require the EPA and the Chesapeake Bay states to establish a cleanup timeline, complete with specific annual nutrient and sediment reduction goals—along with estimated annual costs—has been introduced by senators from the Bay region, including Pennsylvania's U.S. Senator Rick Santorum.

The legislation would also reauthorize the operation of the EPA’s Bay Program Office and step up federal participation in the Chesapeake’s restoration.

The Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization and Environmental Accountability Act would require the EPA to complete a plan to achieve nutrient and sediment reductions. The plan would include annual nutrient and sediment reduction goals as well as estimated annual costs of meeting those goals.

To learn more, visit the September Chesapeake Bay Journal.

9/9/2005