Federal & Watershed-wide | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Virginia
Federal and Watershed-wide Releases
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CBF Applauds Increased 2021 Funding for Chesapeake Bay Program in House Appropriations Subcommittee Bill
July 9, 2020
The bill calls for the EPA-administered Program to be funded at $90.5 million in the coming fiscal year, once again refusing the Trump administration’s attempt to impose a draconian cut on the Program.
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CBF Issues Statement on 2019 Declines in Bay Grasses
July 8, 2020
The 2019 Bay grasses assessment released by the Chesapeake Bay Program today found a 38 percent decline in grasses between 2018-19.
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CBF Expresses Strong Support for House Infrastructure Bill
July 1, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation expressed its strong support for the Moving Forward Act, which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 233-188.
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Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Assessment Finds a Healthy Population
July 1, 2020
The latest assessment of the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population has determined that it is healthy, and no management changes are necessary.
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CBF and Partners Return to Court to Protect Successful Limits on Toxic Emissions From Power Plants
June 19, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced its participation in litigation challenging the Trump administration’s unwarranted reversal of the legal foundation for limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
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CBF Issues Statement on the Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Forecast
June 17, 2020
Researchers predict a slightly smaller than average dead zone this year, due to reduced rainfall this spring and less nitrogen pollution flowing into the Bay.
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CBF Condemns Trump Executive Order Undermining Environmental, Public Comment Protections in Permitting Process
June 5, 2020
The Trump administration’s emergency executive order allows federal agencies to waive the consultation requirements of bedrock environmental laws to speed up the permitting process for major construction projects like pipelines and highways.
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CBF Slams EPA Water Quality Permitting Rule
June 1, 2020
The new EPA rule weakens states’ authority under section 401 of the Clean Water Act to ensure that projects to build natural gas pipelines, dams, and other infrastructure that require certain federal permits and licenses do not pollute state waterways.
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CBF, Partners Sue Trump Administration for Rolling Back Clean Car Standards
May 27, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and 11 partner organizations today sued the Trump administration in federal court for illegally rolling back clean car and fuel economy standards.
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CBF Statement on Blue Crab Survey Results
May 20, 2020
This year’s survey showed slightly fewer blue crabs in the Bay than in the 2019 survey.
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CBF Issues Notice of Intent to Sue EPA over Failure to Hold Pennsylvania and New York Accountable
May 18, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its partners filed a notice of intent to sue the federal Environmental Protection Agency for its failure to require Pennsylvania and New York to develop implementation plans that will achieve the 2025 Bay restoration goals.
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CBF Calls for Robust Aid Package for Struggling Seafood Industry
May 11, 2020
We're calling on Congress to provide substantially more aid to the region’s struggling seafood industry, which is in economic free fall because of the near total shutdown of restaurants, markets, and other outlets for fresh oysters, crabs, and other Bay seafood.
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CBF Praises Clean Water Infrastructure Provisions of Bipartisan Senate Environment Committee Bill
May 6, 2020
Titled the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, the bill includes several provisions that would benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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CBF, Shorerivers To Sue Trump Administration over Repeal and Replacement of Clean Water Rule
April 21, 2020
The Obama-era Clean Water Rule provided robust protections for wetlands and seasonal streams under the Clean Water Act.
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NRCS Funding Will Support Maryland Grazing Program
April 16, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced today that it will contribute more than $770,000 to efforts by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and partners to efforts to reduce pollution from agriculture in Maryland.
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Environmental Education Comes Home for Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
April 16, 2020
Chesapeake Bay Foundation launches new online learning series to bring outdoor education experiences to teachers and students tasked with learning remotely.
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CBF Opposes EPA’s Dangerous Reversal on Mercury and Air Toxics Rule
April 16, 2020
EPA’s finding that it is no longer “appropriate and necessary” to limit toxic air emissions from coal- and oiled-fired power plants is irresponsible and carries dangerous implications not only for the Chesapeake Bay, but for future regulation of all hazardous pollutants.
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CBF Issues Statement on Concerns over EPA Memorandum
March 31, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation today sent a letter EPA expressing deep concern about the ramifications of a recent decision that EPA would not take enforcement action against entities that claim, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to be unable to comply with their obligations under federal law, federal permits, EPA administrative orders, and judicial consent decrees.
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CBF Weighing All Options to Oppose Weakened Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards
March 31, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is considering all options to oppose the final rule weakening vehicle greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards the Trump administration unveiled today.
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CBF Urges White House to Pause Public Comment Period for Federal Rules during National Emergency
March 23, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation urged the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to ensure all citizens can participate in the federal rulemaking process by pausing the comment periods for non-emergency pending and proposed new regulations, and postponing all related hearings, until President Trump lifts the national emergency declaration he issued March 13.
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CBF Commends Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Measure Farmers’ Conservation Efforts
March 12, 2020
Sens. Bob Casey and Shelley Moore Capito and Reps. Marcia Fudge and Glenn Thompson have introduced companion bills in the Senate and the House that direct the Department of Agriculture to measure, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of its conservation programs.
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White House Bid to Weaken Environmental Reviews Would Ignore Climate Change, Restrict Citizen’s Input
March 10, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation today filed comments opposing the Trump administration’s dangerous proposal to ignore climate change when evaluating the environmental and community impacts of major projects requiring federal approval.
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CBF Appreciates Sarbanes Leadership Moving Bill to Renew Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails Network
February 26, 2020
The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed legislation spearheaded by Rep. John Sarbanes and supported by 15 bipartisan original co-sponsors to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network through 2025.
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CBF Statement on President’s FY21 Budget Cuts to Bay Program
February 10, 2020
The Trump administration today proposed slashing next year’s funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program by more than 91 percent as part of its fiscal year 2021 budget.
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ASMFC Approves Striped Bass Conservation Plans
February 5, 2020
Yesterday, the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reviewed and approved conservation equivalency proposals for striped bass management designed to reduce harvest by 18 percent along the Atlantic Coast.
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House Advances Crucial Bill to Extend Chesapeake Bay Program; CBF Lauds Leadership of Luria, Bay Task Force Co-Chairs
February 5, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation today praised Rep. Elaine Luria for her leadership in successfully passing legislation to renew and boost funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program through the House of Representatives.
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Draft Rule to Amend Farm Conservation Program Omits Updates Vital to Advancing Bay Cleanup
February 4, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation today filed comments on the draft rule to update the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program required by the 2018 Farm Bill.
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CBF Calls on EPA to Honor Its Commitments and Enforce the Clean Water Act
January 29, 2020
By taking no action to hold Pennsylvania accountable, EPA has failed to adhere to the commitment to use its existing statutory authorities, abdicating its responsibilities under the Clean Water Act.
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Bipartisan Bill Would Increase Funding for NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, Benefit Oysters, Crabs, and Other Valuable Fisheries
January 27, 2020
Legislation introduced today would reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office and proposes increasing its annual funding from $12 million in 2021 to $24.6 million in 2024.
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CBF Preparing to Sue EPA
January 27, 2020
That EPA failed to take any action to hold Pennsylvania accountable for its inadequate clean-up plan puts the success accomplished with the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint over the last ten years in jeopardy.
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New Federal Wetlands Definition Threatens Bay Cleanup
January 23, 2020
In an unprecedented assault on the Clean Water Act, the Trump administration's new definition of "Waters of the United States" slashes federal protections for wetlands and waterways that are essential to restoring the Chesapeake Bay.
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New Initiative Strengthens Watershed Education in Three West Virginia Counties–Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan
January 15, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has unveiled a new partnership designed for educational and conservation partners to connect students and teachers in Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties to meaningful outdoor learning opportunities and watershed education.
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CBF Statement on Senate Passage of Bill Renewing and Increasing Funding for Federal Bay Program
January 10, 2020
The U.S. Senate last night passed a wide-ranging conservation bill that includes crucial provisions to reauthorize EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program and fund it at $90 million annually through 2025.
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CBF Issues Statement on Bay Clean-Up Testimony Today
January 8, 2020
Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles today told Congress the goal of implementing the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, also known as the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint, by 2025 is legally enforceable and that Maryland is prepared to sue EPA if the agency fails to enforce it.
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CBF Statement on White House’s Flawed Proposal to Revise Environmental Review Process
January 8, 2020
The Trump administration today proposed sweeping changes to the environmental review process that would effectively exclude climate change from the impacts federal agencies must consider when evaluating major federal actions like large-scale infrastructure projects.
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CBF Statement on EPA Enforcement of the Bay Clean Water Blueprint
January 3, 2020
Today at the Chesapeake Bay Commission meeting, Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dana Aunkst said that the goals of restoring the Bay by implementing the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint were merely aspirational and not legally enforceable.
Maryland Releases
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CBF Statement on New Update to Maryland’s Oyster Stock Assessment
June 9, 2020
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources released an update to the 2018 oyster stock assessment that showed the number of market-size oysters in 2020 was about 400 million, compared to approximately 300 million in 2018.
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Legislation Aimed at Increasing Long-Term Conservation Practices on Maryland Farms Becomes Law
May 7, 2020
Recently approved legislation became law Thursday that will enable Maryland farmers to more easily access state funds to make environmental improvements on their land.
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New Economic Report Details Growth of Oyster Aquaculture in Maryland
April 2, 2020
The spread of coronavirus is threatening the industry, which has steadily grown in economic importance since 2010.
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General Assembly Approves Legislation to Help Farmers Make Environmental Improvements; Other Environmental Priorities Fail to Pass in Shortened Session
March 18, 2020
The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation to help farmers add environmental best practices to their land, but the shortened session due to the spread of coronavirus left many environmental and other issues unaddressed.
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Proposed Maryland Legislation Aims to Help Farmers Reduce Agriculture Pollution
February 26, 2020
On Tuesday, Maryland farmers and environmental advocates testified in favor of new legislation to help farmers more easily add long-term, fixed natural filters such as tree buffers and grass pastures to farms.
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CBF Urges State Leaders to Restore Funding for Maryland’s Outdoor Chesapeake Bay Education Program
February 19, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is calling on Governor Hogan and state legislative leaders to restore state education funding to take Maryland students and teachers on outdoor field experiences to teach them about Chesapeake Bay science and history.
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CBF Thanks Anne Arundel County for Affirming Critical Area Protections in Recent Variance Case
February 14, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is encouraged by a recent Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals ruling that makes it clear Critical Area protections will not be trampled for the benefit of private land owners.
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CBF Statement Supporting Proposed Changes to Frederick County’s Forest Conservation Ordinance
February 14, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is supporting Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner’s efforts to strengthen the county’s forest conservation ordinance.
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CBF Lauds General Assembly for Overriding Veto of Oyster Management Legislation
January 30, 2020
Today, the Maryland General Assembly took decisive action to put into law legislation that has the potential to increase the oyster population in Maryland long-term.
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CBF Files Lawsuit over Abingdon Business Park Development Proposal
January 24, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is contesting the approval of the forest conservation plan for Abingdon Business Park, which would remove trees from more than 200 acres of forested land.
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CBF Statement on Opposing Conowingo Dam Settlement Offer in Comments Filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
January 17, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation today urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject Maryland’s Conowingo Dam settlement offer with Exelon.
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CBF Statement on Oral Arguments in Federal Lawsuit Regarding Out-Of-State Power Plant Pollution
January 16, 2020
Chesapeake Bay Foundation and environmental partners continued their legal support of Maryland and Delaware’s efforts to compel EPA to require coal-fired power plants in other states to operate their pollution controls.
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CBF Statement on Maryland Gov. Hogan’s Directive to Pursue Legal Actions against Pennsylvania and EPA over Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
January 8, 2020
Gov. Hogan announced this afternoon he directed Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh to begin the legal actions to attempt to hold Pennsylvania accountable.
Pennsylvania Releases
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Shannon Gority Named Executive Director of Pennsylvania Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
April 20, 2020
Gority brings years of experience working for clean water in Pennsylvania to the role of CBF Executive Director.
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Pennsylvania’s Budget Must Make Greater Investments in Clean Water
February 4, 2020
We look forward to working with the Pennsylvania Governor and legislators toward a legacy of clean water for future generations.
Virginia Releases
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CBF Statement on Cancellation of Atlantic Coast Pipeline
July 5, 2020
Today Dominion Energy and Duke Energy announced that they are cancelling the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project.
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SCC Deals Blow to Proposed Virginia Natural Gas Expansion
June 30, 2020
In a blow to a proposed Virginia Natural Gas pipeline and infrastructure expansion, the State Corporation Commission on Friday withheld a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the proposal until further conditions are met.
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Approval of Groundwater Withdrawal Permit Raises Concerns about Drinking Water
June 29, 2020
Today the Virginia State Water Control Board approved a groundwater withdrawal permit for the proposed Chickahominy Power Station in Charles City County, Virginia.
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CBF Issues a Statement on the Supreme Court Decision Concerning the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
June 15, 2020
Today, the Supreme Court issued a decision in favor of the developers of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, in a dispute over the project's planned crossing beneath the Appalachian Trail.
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New Virginia Mapping Tool to Help Chesapeake Bay Restoration
June 10, 2020
Today the Northam Administration unveiled new mapping tools that will benefit water quality in local streams and the Chesapeake Bay by identifying places where conservation work can be most effective.
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Virginia’s Clean the Bay Day Cancelled, but Spirit Lives On
June 3, 2020
Virginia’s Clean the Bay Day tradition has taken place on the first Saturday in June every year since 1989, but for the first time this year it will be cancelled due to COVID-19
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With Restaurants Shuttered, Don’t Forget to Recycle Oyster Shells
May 21, 2020
With indoor dining in restaurants still restricted, oyster restoration efforts are facing a depleted supply of the shells needed to stock sanctuary oyster reefs
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SCC Must Reject Risky New Natural Gas Expansion across Virginia
May 12, 2020
Today the State Corporation Commission (SCC) heard concerns from the public about a major planned Virginia Natural Gas pipeline and infrastructure expansion across Virginia.
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New Menhaden Limits Approved by VMRC, Preventing Fishery Shutdown
April 28, 2020
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission updated a harvest cap on menhaden that will bring Virginia into compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission menhaden management plan adopted in 2017.
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Fones Cliffs Consent Decree Does Not Go Far Enough
April 6, 2020
Though we appreciate the Commonwealth’s enforcement efforts, this consent decree does not go far enough to respond to the damage being done to the Rappahannock River.
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Virginia Completing Remarkable Legislative Session for Clean Water
March 9, 2020
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates are expected to vote Thursday on a budget for the next two years that includes investment in programs that benefit Virginia’s rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.
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Richmond to Address Sewage Overflows into James River under Legislation
March 4, 2020
Richmond will take aggressive steps to address sewage overflows into the James River under legislation just passed by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.
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Farm Conservation Bills Pass Virginia House and Senate
March 3, 2020
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have passed legislation to accelerate farmers’ adoption of key conservation practices to enable Virginia to meet Chesapeake Bay water quality goals by the end of 2025 (HB 1422 and SB704).
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Virginia to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
February 28, 2020
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have passed legislation that would allow Virginia to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a program under which Virginia energy generation plants will steadily reduce carbon emissions.
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Menhaden Legislation Approved by Virginia House And Senate
February 27, 2020
The Virginia legislature passed bipartisan legislation to transfer management of Virginia’s menhaden fisheries from the General Assembly to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).
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Offshore Drilling Ban Passes Virginia House and Senate
February 25, 2020
The full Virginia House and Senate yesterday passed legislation that would prohibit oil and gas drilling and related infrastructure in Virginia waters up to three miles off the coast.
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CBF Opposes Permit for Chickahominy Power Station
February 19, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has filed comments opposing the issuance of a special exception ground-water withdrawal permit for the proposed Chickahominy Power Station.
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CBF Statement on Clean Water Programs in Proposed Virginia Budgets
February 17, 2020
In separate proposed budgets released Sunday, the Virginia Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee released funding proposals for the Commonwealth’s clean water programs for the next two fiscal years.
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CBF Applauds Gov. Northam’s Actions to Protect Migratory Birds
February 14, 2020
Today Governor Northam ordered a series of actions to protect migratory birds in the face of federal rollbacks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
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Menhaden Legislation Approved by Virginia House and Senate Committees
January 29, 2020
Today key committees in Virginia’s Senate and House of Delegates passed bipartisan legislation to transfer management of Virginia’s menhaden fishery from the General Assembly to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
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Virginia Bills Would Set 2026 Deadline for Farm Conservation Practices
January 24, 2020
In a major step forward, legislation being considered for the first time in Virginia's General Assembly would set a deadline for farmers to install key conservation practices that lead to healthier waterways and benefit farmers.
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Conservation Groups Defend Virginia Clean Water Plan from Wastewater Challenge
January 13, 2020
The Virginia Association of Municipal Wastewater Agencies and several of its members have filed suit against Virginia to challenge expectations in Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan of additional pollution reductions from sewage treatment plants.
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Peggy Sanner Named Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director
January 9, 2020
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has named Peggy Sanner as its Virginia executive director, effective Jan. 1.
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Court Vacates Atlantic Coast Pipeline Compressor Station Permit
January 7, 2020
Finds Virginia air board violated environmental justice principles.
