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House OKs Wittman's Chesapeake Bay bill Date published: 10/1/2009
By RUSTY DENNEN A bill that would add oversight on lagging federal efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay passed the House of Representatives yesterday. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Montross, passed 418-1. It now goes on to the Senate for consideration. The 1st District Republican said the bill "is by no means a silver bullet to renew the health of the bay. However, it is the down payment we vitally need to accomplish this effort." He added, "The Chesapeake Bay is at a tipping point, and without a renewed commitment that increases the cleanup effort by a great deal, we will not see any level of improved water quality in our future." Wittman said the measure creates a specific role for Congress "to make sure we're achieving the necessary success." And he is pleased with the bipartisan vote. "Legislators have come together to highlight the vital role the bay plays in the daily lives of citizens through the watershed." The Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act requires the Office of Management and Budget to prepare a budget for restoration activities in the bay watershed and require the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a management plan that would be updated every three years. Among other provisions, it would require: OMB, along with the Chesapeake Executive Council, bay-state governors and the Chesapeake Bay Commission to submit a restoration budget to Congress. All federal agencies to account for funds received and spent, with states reporting what they received from federal agencies. A description of each restoration activity undertaken by federal and state agencies. Also, an independent evaluator would review and report on restoration activities. Bay restoration has been gaining momentum in recent months. In May, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing a federal leadership committee, chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency, to address challenges to restoring the bay. That came in the wake of missed goals in voluntary multi-state efforts to clean up the estuary. Earlier this month, the EPA responded to the order, announcing its intent to require states to do more to implement the Clean Water Act and to expand the reach of its own regulatory programs. Wittman said his bill would complement EPA oversight. He's hoping a companion bill will be introduced in the Senate with a vote early next year. Wittman, who lives in Westmoreland County, was a shellfish specialist monitoring water quality and environmental health before being elected to Congress. Meanwhile, EPA and Virginia officials will meet tomorrow to discuss a new federal cleanup plan for the bay. Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431
His bill is requiring a budget that will in turn document
specific activities, the goals of those activities, and what
changes result from those activities.
In other words - he wants to measure the before and after
conditions - the results.
It makes perfect sense and should have been from the start
the way to go about this.
I congratulate him and hope that he gets all the players on
the same page.
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