Press Statement
September 8, 2010

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Statement Regarding Maryland's River-Bay Cleanup Plan

(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Jenn Aiosa, Senior Scientist in the Maryland Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, today issued the following statement regarding Maryland's draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP):

"The WIP is Maryland's opportunity to define how it will implement a pollution diet for its rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Upon initial examination, we are concerned with the WIP's lack of clear delineation of the changes in practices and programs necessary to guarantee that pollution reductions will occur. There are some good proposals in the WIP—to strengthen stormwater permit requirements, for example. But the WIP is unclear on what actions the state will take and when it will put those actions on the ground. What the WIP needs is a clear articulation of the legislation, funding, incentives, or other initiatives the state will pursue to achieve sustained water quality improvement."

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be commenting in detail about the draft WIP during the public comment period, which runs from September 24 through November 8.

For more information on the Watershed Implementation Plan and Chesapeake Bay TMDL, go to cbf.org/biggestfight.