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CBF-PA Applauds PA Legislators For Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week Resolutions

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA Tuesday applauded both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature for unanimously approving resolutions designating the week of June 5-11 as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week.

“Restoring and protecting the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, takes commitment and awareness on behalf of leaders in Harrisburg and citizens,” said CBF Executive Director Harry Campbell in Pennsylvania. “Roughly 19,000 miles of Pennsylvania waters are polluted. Recognizing the importance of clean water in Pennsylvania and the Bay, and that the Commonwealth needs to get back on track toward meeting its goals of reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution, is an important first step.”

The Senate passed its Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week resolution Monday-- Senate Resolution 352 (Yaw-R-Lycoming).

“The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most productive bay in the United States,” said Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), who represents Pennsylvania on the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission. “With nearly 1,800 local governments in the Bay watershed, including towns, cities, counties and townships, Bay Awareness Week will seek to engage, strengthen and promote environmental stewardship in those local governments, as well as increase Bay awareness throughout our tri-state region.”

The state House adopted a similar measure in March-- House Resolution 739 (Everett-R-Lycoming). That resolution was introduced by Representatives Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Keith Gillespie (R-York), and Michael Sturla (D-Lancaster), all members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

Other Pennsylvania members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission include: Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams), DEP Secretary John Quigley and Pennsylvania citizen member Warren Elliott.

“The Chesapeake Bay is fed by 50 major tributaries, the largest being the Susquehanna River, which provides 50 percent of the fresh water to the Bay,” the resolutions said. “The Chesapeake Bay watershed is an extraordinary and vital natural resource, with some of the nation’s most productive farm and forest lands in the Commonwealth’s portion of the watershed. This productivity supported the settlement and growth of our nation and is a vital resource for future generations.”

Legislators from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia worked collaboratively in seeking passage of resolutions designating the week-long recognition of the Chesapeake Bay. The resolutions encourage residents and environmental and educational groups to host events, activities, and educational programs to increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to the states, region and United States.

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the CBF-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).

NewsClips:

Chesapeake Bay Journal: Despite Progress, States To Fall Short Of Bay Cleanup Targets

PA Officials Collaborate On Chesapeake Bay Watershed Farm Inspections

Crable: Farm Inspections To Begin Soon As Part Of Chesapeake Bay Reboot

Op-Ed: Benefits Of Soil Health Extend Beyond Farm

PA Puts Its Lagging Chesapeake Bay Cleanup On Pollution Diet

Chesapeake Bay Commission Quietly Pushed Environmental Agenda For 35 Years

Crable: Not All Anglers Agree Susquehanna River Is Sick

Chesapeake Bay Journal: Despite Progress, States To Fall Short Of Bay Cleanup Targets

DEP, Conservation Districts Work On Farm Inspections In Chesapeake Bay Watershed

DEP Tells House Committees Chesapeake Bay Program Faces Inadequate Resources, Data

Dams On Susquehanna Are Undoing Progress In Reducing Pollution To Chesapeake Bay