Bay Czar Promises "Dramatic Changes"

The Bay Czar today promised “dramatic changes, bold new action” and “a new era of federal leadership” to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.

Chuck Fox, special assistant to the EPA Administrator for Bay restoration (pictured at right), raised expectations of the Obama Administration’s new proposals – to be unveiled next week, on Sept. 9 -- during a waterfront press conference this morning at the EPA’s waterfront offices in Annapolis.

The event was held by Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its allies at Environment Maryland to present the EPA with 19,000 signatures the groups had collected from citizens demanding a stronger federal effort to restore the estuary.

“There is one new resident of this Chesapeake Bay watershed – and that is President Obama – who has very clearly articulated an ambitious agenda for the Chesapeake Bay,” Fox told reporters and activists beneath a sign proclaiming “19,000 Reasons to Save the Bay.”

President Obama’s May 12 executive order on the Chesapeake Bay directed the EPA and other federal agencies to come up with “changes in regulations, changes in programs, and changes in policies” to accelerate the quarter-century-old cleanup effort, Fox said.  "That new era of federal leadership will begin next week.”

Fox did not offer specifics about what changes he will outline next Wednesday. But he hinted that the ideas will revolve around  broader and tighter federal pollution control rules. 

“Right now, in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the best estimate we have is that only about 40 percent of all nitrogen and phosphorus is regulated under the federal Clean Water Act,” Fox said. “We are absolutely looking at ways to strengthen the regulatory and  accountability programs we have to control pollution.”

Roy Hoagland, Chesapeake Bay Foundation  (CBF) Vice President of Policy and Restoration (at left in top photo), urged EPA  to use more of its existing authority immediately.

“Institute an era of ‘just say no’ to pollution,” Hoagland said.  “ Place limits on the amount of pollution that can be put into the Bay, enforce those limits, and make sure there are consequences for people who fail to observe those limits. Fox example, EPA could stop issuing permits that allow for the discharge of new pollution.”

Hoagland also called for Congress to strengthen the nation’s clean water laws.

“Push for changes in the Clean Water Act, so that EPA has clear, unambiguous authority – but not just authority, responsibility – to manage, control, and when necessary, halt pollution from all sources,” Hoagland said.

Tommy Landers, organizer with Environment Maryland (at center in top photo), said that the election of the Obama Administration presents a unique opportunity to jump-start the long-delayed Bay cleanup.

“We are experiencing a perfect storm for Chesapeake Bay restoration, and this time, we cannot afford to miss the boat,” Landers said. 

Comments

[Comment on CBF Facebook Page]

I would like to see some effort to control growth and development. I haven't heard anyone talking about it.

[Comment on CBF Facebook Page]

This administration is in its infancy, nothing in the Federal Government occurs overnight. It takes a good two years before the cumbersome bureaucracy can move an inch. This can be frustrating to taxpayers and even policymakers. The politicians have a hard time getting our civil servants to do their jobs, regardless of what party is in office. If you want to blame someone, blame that scientist in the Federal Government, Contractors and Consultants, which are in the pocket of polluters. For the misinformed looking to blame someone, these are the field guys/women who write the reports, that have no basis in fact. This system has existed since the first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, it has not changed! Just read President/General George Washington's letters! What this administration has begun is at least a beginning, something the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has lacked since these problems cropped up and it is historical in nature. The jury is out, lets see!

[Comment on CBF Facebook Page]

we are with you on this!

[Comment on CBF Facebook Page]

like a Czar is going to give a damn...what a joke. Obama promised action and all we got is a Czar...thanks for nothing.

[Jeff Trulick]

Sept 9th is coming fast in your rear view mirror Mr. Fox! You can't save the estuary by only regulatory and legal actions.

[John Koontz]

19,000 folks sign...1,900,000 people in and around the Bay have wanted action and yet administration after administration just keeps on rolling along. They get elected and reelected. The stories about problems in the Bay get worse. I have not given up hope but it is hard not to.

[Ned Tillman]

It is always amazing to me that when ever the govt speaks they tell us just what they are going to do. It is going to take all of us and any plan to be successful needs to incorporate actions by individuals and corporations as well. We all need to change our behaviors. Leadership on this issue needs to lay out the role for all the players and then we can hold each other to it.

[Gerald Higgins]

Someone needs to address enforcing laws on waterman. Is their a reason why waterman don't get checked by the DNR anymore in the past 5 years the bay has been power dredged day and night on its fragile tributary oyster bars.waterman don't see any police and do what they want.a hundred of years ago man realized that sail dredging in the tributaries destroyed oyster bars. So they let them power dredge or scrape. They save what they catch, go on illegal ground,day and night without a hold up. Laws need to be stricter and enforced. DNR police need to do their job!