DEP will present Pennsylvania’s final draft of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan to the PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Steering Committee on August 16.

Pennsylvania must submit its final Watershed Implementation Plan to EPA on August 23.

While DEP draft Plan was praised for the ground-up stakeholder process used to develop its recommendation, the draft Plan DEP made available for public comment in April 12 was roundly criticized by a variety of groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for--

-- Falling short in meeting its nutrient reduction obligations-- including only 64 percent of the nitrogen reduction goal;

-- Failing to identify specific sources of the estimated $1.5 billion the draft plan would cost to implement to meet the 2025 pollution reduction obligations; and

-- Concerns about whether all 42 counties in the Pennsylvania-portion of the Bay Watershed will complete and implement local clean water plans in time to meet the 2025 obligations.

On the funding issue specifically, the FY 2019-20 final state budget included only $6 million in additional funding for farm conservation practices when this year’s share of additional funding needed was $257 million.

DEP itself said if funding levels remain about the same as they are now to meet these clean water obligations, Pennsylvania would miss the 2025 nitrogen reduction goal by at least 19 years.

Pennsylvania is the linchpin to meeting all the water pollution reduction objectives in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  If Pennsylvania fails to meet its goals, so will the entire effort.

That’s why there have been recent rumblings in Maryland and Virginia about a fresh lawsuit against Pennsylvania for not meeting its clean water obligations.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building from 1:00 to 3:00.  Click Here to attend the meeting via Webex.  To participate in the meeting, use the same link and please also call in by phone at: 1-415-655-0003. Access Code: 792 466 329.

For more information and available handouts, visit the PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Steering Committee webpage.

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[Posted: August 8, 2019]

8/12/2019