Legislation introduced this week in Congress would provide a historic level of new federal funding to Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts, and has the potential to reduce tens of millions of pounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution annually.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), would provide an additional $200 million or more in conservation funding to the region’s farmers. If passed, it will fulfill the federal government's share of funding necessary to meet the 2010 nitrogen reduction goal for agriculture.

“With the impending 2010 deadline looming large, some have said that removing the region’s rivers and the Chesapeake Bay from the ‘dirty waters’ list is an impossible goal,” said CBF President William C. Baker. “This legislation challenges that culture of failure and demonstrates that with bold leadership, it is possible to implement the roadmap to restoration that Bay scientists have laid out.”

The Chesapeake’s Healthy and Environmentally Sound Stewardship of Energy and Agriculture Act of 2007, or CHESSEA Act, will direct additional Farm Bill funding toward water quality improvement and farm viability in watersheds like the Chesapeake - with recognized nutrient pollution and water quality degradation, agreed-upon multi-state commitments to address that pollution, and identified restoration plans and goals.

“Congress must demonstrate the political will--backed by funding -- to restore the Chesapeake Bay,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “This bill is designed to serve as a roadmap to accelerate the pace of the Bay's cleanup and increase the conservation funding for farmers in the Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay is a natural resource critical to our economy, culture, and heritage. I am committed to protecting this national treasure.”

If passed, CHESSEA will provide: more money for conservation practices, such as streamside buffers; greater access to “green payments;” funding support for development of manure-to-energy systems; and greater technical assistance in conservation planning and implementation.

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and a national model of how sound science can guide regional partnerships to restore water quality,” Baker said. “The sticking points have always been leadership and funding. This bold, new proposal is a demonstration of leadership, that when matched by state and local dollars, would fully implement the agricultural conservation practices required to achieve the 2010 goal.”

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is also working at the state level to provide farmers with additional resources to install best management practices. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, there is a need for over $215 million for agricultural conservation projects in the Chesapeake Bay drainage area alone in Pennsylvania. Only $45 million is being spent now to meet those needs.

“CBF is fighting for funding for farm conservation practices at the national and state level,” said Matthew Ehrhart, Director of the Pennsylvania Office of CBF. “Here in Pennsylvania we’re supporting a bipartisan initiative called REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection Act), introduced by Rep. Jerry Stern and Sen. Mike Brubaker, that would give tax credits to farmers for installing best management practices to reduce nutrient runoff and sedimentation.”

The bipartisan proposal was introduced first as House Bill 100 by Reps. Jerry Stern (R-Blair), Peter Daley (D-Washington) and Art Hershey (R-Chester) and as Senate Bill 690 by Senators Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Mike O’Pake (D-Berks) and Mike Waugh (R-York).

For more information, visit CBF’s Farm Bill and REAP webpages.

NewsClip: Calculating Pennsylvania’s Efforts to Restore Chesapeake Bay

3/30/2007