On August 18, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation noted Gov. Wolf and EPA Administrator Wheeler did not attend the August 18 Chesapeake Bay Executive Bay Council meeting which included the signing of the EC statement in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), and how restoration efforts are being affected by COVID-19.

Following the meeting, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President William C. Baker said, "The DEIJ statement is a good first step. As CBF’s DEIJ mission statement says, ‘Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay.

“Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action.’ As Dr. Janice Underwood so articulately stated, the Bay Program DEIJ efforts are essential for the success of Bay restoration. Success will require transparency, including specific deliverables and metrics.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Underwood and the Bay Program moving forward in the efforts to promote diversity.

“We all acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic is an unparalleled challenge. However, it also underscores the irreplaceable value of our natural resources, as people turn to the outdoors for both mental and physical health.

“Taking action to reduce pollution now is more critical than ever. Protecting and improving water quality for future generations also supports local businesses, creates jobs, and provides additional environmental and public health benefits.

“Once again this year, Bay restoration leaders ignored the elephant in the room. Pennsylvania’s plan to meet the goals that all agreed on is woefully inadequate and implementation is seriously off-track.

“With only five years to go until the 2025 deadline, Bay restoration efforts are now in jeopardy. Unless the Commonwealth finds a way to meet its commitments, the investments that the other Bay states are making will improve local water quality, but the Bay will not be restored.

“Some of the best science in the world has clearly defined what needs to be done. But the political will to do what the science says seems to be absent. Not just in Pennsylvania, but just as importantly at EPA, which abdicated its Clean Water Act responsibilities to hold the Commonwealth accountable.”

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

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.

[For more information on how Pennsylvania plans to meet its Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations, visit DEP’s PA’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan webpage.      

[Click Here for a summary of the steps the Plan recommends.

[How Clean Is Your Stream?

[DEP’s Interactive Water Quality Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.]

NewsClips:

Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay Leaders Commit To Action On Diversity

Sampling Confirms Harrisburg’s Sewage Overflow Is Polluting Susquehanna With E. coli

A Secret Hidden In Centuries-Old Legacy Sediments Reveals A New New Way To Save Polluted Streams, Rivers

Lancaster Water Week Demonstrates Collaboration Is Key To Cleaning Up Our Streams And Rivers

Related Articles This Week:

-- Op-Ed: Time For Pennsylvania To Live Up To Promises Made To Clean Up Its Rivers And Streams

-- CFA Announces $61 Million In Funding For 276 Small Water, Sewer Projects In 49 Counties

-- CFA Awards More Than $8 Million To 42 Flood Control, Dam, Water, Sewer, Stormwater Projects

-- PennVEST Announces New Small Water Infrastructure Project Funding Program

-- DCNR Good Natured Blog: For Cleaner Water, Convert Some Lawn

-- Penn State Extension: Improving Local Water Quality Thru Lawn Conversion To Meadows

-- Senate Environmental Committee To Hold Sept. 9 Hearing On Setting Proposed Toxic Substances Standard For Manganese In Water

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Native Tree & Shrub Sale Benefits 20 County Programs

-- Penn State Extension: What Is Biochar And How Can It Improve Local Water Quality?

-- PA Resources Council Announces 6 Composting, Rain Barrel, Recycling Webinars For Southwest PA

Related Articles:

-- CBF Assesses State Progress On Restoring Chesapeake Bay - PA Is Not On Track To Meet 2025 Goals

- - Bay Journal Forum: Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Is In Jeopardy, If EPA Is Unwilling To Act, We Will

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Office Newsletter Provides Update On PA Watershed Plan Implementation

-- EPA Finds PA Did Not Meet Targets For Reducing Water Pollution In Chesapeake Bay Watershed Area; Must Identify Funding Sources For 2020-21

-- Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Team Virtual Meeting July 20 [Update on actions from January - June 2020]

-- CBF Blog: Why Is The Health Of Pennsylvania Streams Important For The Chesapeake Bay?

-- DEP Draft 2020 Water Quality Report Found 25,468 Miles Of Streams Have Impaired Water Quality

[Posted: August 19, 2020]

8/24/2020