Pennsylvanians are invited to share their views on how the Commonwealth can best achieve federally mandated water pollution reductions in counties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed at a public event hosted by the Department of Environmental Protection on June 5.

The planning event takes place from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg in Camp Hill. The event is free, and all Pennsylvanians are invited. Registration by May 24 is required.

“Local support and action are key to creating an implementable Phase 3 plan to reduce water pollutants in our 43 counties in the Bay watershed,” said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “The challenge is great, but we’ve made some progress, and together we can build on this.”

In breakout groups, participants will discuss what initiatives are needed in agriculture, forestry, funding, local planning, stormwater, and wastewater to improve the health of local streams, rivers, and lakes. Discussions will also cover how the plan will be developed and ways participants can get involved.

For those who can’t attend in person, a 45-day public online comment period will start June 3 on DEP eComments webpage.

Pennsylvania is mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment levels in waterways in its Bay watershed counties by 2025.

The Commonwealth fell short of its Phase 1 goal, set in 2010, and Phase 2 goal, set in 2012.

This year, EPA is conducting a midpoint assessment of these levels and will define what Pennsylvania needs to achieve in Phase 3 based on this assessment.

While Pennsylvania has made significant progress toward meeting the EPA targets, particularly since launch of the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy, considerable work remains to be done.

For more on Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay initiatives, visit DEP’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plans webpage.

(Map: Chesapeake Bay Watershed in sand color, just over half the state.)

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[Posted: May 19, 2017]

5/22/2017