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For Immediate Release
March 17, 2010
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Senate Committees Examine Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay
Cleanup Efforts
HARRISBURG – Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency lauded
Pennsylvania's progress in reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
during a joint hearing of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and
the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today.
EPA Chesapeake Bay TMDL Manager Bob Koroncai outlined the agency's pollution
reduction goals and provided an overview of resources that would be available
for states to meet those goals. EPA Water Protection Division Director Jon
Capacasa said that Pennsylvania has made good progress on reducing pollution in
the watershed, but non-point source pollution, such as runoff from lawns,
streets and farm fields, makes the federal pollution reduction goals a
challenge.
Koroncai and Capacasa outlined possible ways to reduce pollution in the
watershed, including upgrading waste water treatment facilities, instituting
best management practices for agriculture, improving storm water controls and
reducing lawn fertilizer usage. At Sen. Mike Brubaker's (R-36) request, the EPA
representatives agreed to present additional information on financial resources
that will be available from the federal government to help the state meet
federal TMDL goals. Brubaker serves as Vice Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay
Commission and Chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Commission.
"The 17 million people who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed must work
together to reach the pollution reduction goals to protect this vital natural
resource," said Brubaker, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and
Rural Affairs Committee. "This effort will require cooperation from all
stakeholders in the process, and we must have a clear understanding of the
pollution reduction goals and the resources that are available to states to help
protect the Chesapeake Bay."
Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee, asked the EPA to provide additional guidance to farmers on the
best management practices that qualify for federal funding. Pennsylvania
Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding added that the Department of
Agriculture would work with farmers to help implement best management practices
to continue the state's successful efforts to reduce non-point source
pollution.
White also cautioned that the EPA's emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay watershed
should not be a distraction from water quality issues in other parts of the
state.
"Today's hearing was helpful in outlining the responsibilities of the state
and federal governments in meeting our Chesapeake Bay goals," said White. "It is
imperative as we go forward that the federal government provide the Commonwealth
with not only sufficient financial resources to meet these goals, but clear
guidance on acceptable steps that point and non-point sources can use to improve
the Bay's water quality in the most efficient manner possible."
Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger also provided
testimony on the steps the state has taken to reduce pollution from storm water
runoff and other non-point pollution sources.
Video of the hearing and written testimony are available online at
senatorbrubaker.com/agriculture.htm and
senatormjwhite.com/environmental.htm.
CONTACT:
Patrick Henderson (Senator White)
(717) 787-9684
Kristin Crawford
(Senator Brubaker)
(717) 787-4420
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