Amended Chesapeake Bay Reauthorization Legislation Keeps Firm 2025 Deadline
U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Chesapeake Clean Water & Ecosystem Restoration Act.
On June 30, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved with bipartisan support the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009. The bill was introduced last fall by Maryland Sen. Benjamin Cardin and amended to remove provisions that would have codified a Bay-wide “pollution diet,” called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.
The bill now moves on to the full Senate for approval.
The landmark legislation aims to expand federal resources, including funding, authority and enforcement tools, and set a legally binding deadline of 2025 for states to put all necessary measures into place to achieve a healthy, restored Bay. If passed by Congress, it would replace section 117 of the federal Clean Water Act, which authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program.
The House of Representatives has not yet acted on a similar bill sponsored by Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings.
Visit the following links to learn more about the Chesapeake Clean Water Act and how it could affect Bay restoration efforts.
Related News Articles:
- Cardin's Chesapeake bill amended by committee, MD (The Associated Press, June 30, 2010)
- Md. Senator Strikes Deal With GOP to Move Chesapeake Cleanup Bill Through Committee (The New York Times, June 30, 2010)
- Cardin proposal to clean up Chesapeake Bay advances (The Baltimore Sun, June 30, 2010)
- Cardin deal gets Bay cleanup bill out of committee (The Baltimore Sun Maryland Politics Blog, June 30, 2010)
- Bay cleanup bill moves forward (The Annapolis Capital, June 30, 2010)
- Chesapeake Clean Water Legislation Gets Test Tomorrow (American Agriculturist, June 29, 2010)
- Poultry Group Opposes Cardin's Chesapeake Bay Bill (The Associated Press, Jan. 6, 2010)
- Bay Foundation Asks EPA Head to Back Cardin Bill (The Associated Press, Jan. 4, 2010)
Websites:
- Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009 (govtrack.us)
- Senator Benjamin Cardin
- Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (Choose Clean Water Coalition)
- Legislation: The Chesapeake Clean Water Act (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
Comments
There are no comments.
Thank you!
Your comment has been received. Before it can be published, the comment will be reviewed by our team to ensure it adheres with our rules of engagement.
Back to recent stories