Bill Would Strengthen Federal Hand in Bay Cleanup

Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia deserves praise for his recent introduction of legislation that would strengthen the role of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and restoring native oysters.

The Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009 is worth highlighting in part because it is Senator Warner’s first major action to help save the Bay since taking office in January. Warner, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over NOAA and this bill, was joined in support by Senator Jim Webb from Virginia and Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin from neighboring Maryland.

The bill is helpful because it would provide technical assistance to watermen who are trying to make the transition to farming native oysters in aquaculture businesses. This transition is critical, as native oysters have fallen to a tiny fraction of historic levels because of overharvesting, parasites and pollution.

The legislation would also help NOAA expand programs that encourage the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation that acts as an important natural filter for the Chesapeake Bay. And the bill would support weather and temperature monitoring of the Bay, increase cooperation between federal programs to restore the estuary, and boost environmental education.

“NOAA’s pioneering Bay Watershed Education and Training program (B-WET) is making hands-on watershed education and training available to students and teachers throughout the watershed, bringing marine and weather sciences into the classroom and helping to foster stewardship of the Bay,”
Sen. Warner said during a recent speech on the legislation.

It’s good to see high-level backing for these Bay-friendly programs.

The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to vote on the bill in coming weeks.  In the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland has introduced a matching bill.

Click here to read more info on the bill.

Click here to read NOAA information about oysters and oyster restoration work.

 

Comments

[Peter]

Give the money to the watermen to setup aquaculture, not to NOAA to help them do it. A government agency shouldn't be involved with this. And NOAA is not and should not be an educational agency.

NOAA's been involved with the Bay Program for years. They don't need more money for monitoring, studies, and John Smith interpretive buoys for the Capt. John Smith Historical Trail. That's just John Sarbanes' attempt at shoring up his father's legacy.

Money needs to go to implementation programs and enforcement ONLY, not increased bureaucracy. Spend that $17-22 million per year over the next 4 years on upgrading wastewater treatment plants or paying for cover crops. Those are the two most cost-effective nutrient reduction solutions.

This is just metro Washington pork at it's finest.