The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced its commitment work with bay partners and interested stakeholders to develop to an action plan to reach the goals outlined in the recently signed Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

The agreement was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett, along with the governors of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission on June 16.

“Signing the agreement was the first step toward reinforcing Pennsylvania’s commitment to improving state waterways and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay,” DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “This new action plan will be our road map to continue to protect water quality for all Pennsylvanians.”

The action plan will consist of “management strategies” that address sustainable fisheries, vital habitats, water quality, toxic contaminants, healthy watersheds, stewardship, land conservation, public access, environmental literacy and resiliency of the bay ecosystem.

Over the next nine months, DEP, as well as other state and federal partners, will craft these management strategies to meet the goals of the recently-signed Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

“We have and will continue to be actively engaged with our watershed partners in Pennsylvania to identify needs and find opportunities to successfully implement this plan,” DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Management Kelly Heffner said. “These partnerships are a critical component to implementing the management strategies and meeting the goals set forth in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.”

Since 1985, Pennsylvania has directed more than $4 billion by way of grants, loans and program investments toward Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts and has continued to see a downward trend for all three pollutants of concern: phosphorous, nitrogen and sediment.

Citizens can find out about what is being done, what needs to be done and offer their input on these plans by visiting the Chesapeake Bay Programs website.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s efforts, visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Program webpage.

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9/29/2014