News

Environmental Justice for All Act is a Crucial Step to Empowering Vulnerable Communities

March 19, 2021

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva and Rep. Donald McEachin have introduced landmark legislation that would strengthen the ability of communities overburdened by multiple sources of harmful pollution to protect and enforce their rights to good health and a clean, safe environment.
CBF Statement on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Decision to Relicense Conowingo Dam

March 18, 2021

Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the relicensing of the Conowingo Hydroelectric Project, effectively ratifying Maryland’s settlement offer with Exelon to enable the utility to continue operating Conowingo Dam. The settlement fails to adequately address water pollution issues associated with the dam’s operations.
CBF: New Maryland Court Ruling Should Prompt Action to Reduce Poultry-Related Air Pollution

March 12, 2021

On Thursday, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Sharon Burrell ruled that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) must regulate ammonia air emissions from large chicken farms.
CBF Encouraged by Maryland Senate's Approval
of Climate Solutions Now Act

March 12, 2021

Today the Maryland Senate passed a bill requiring the state to reduce 60 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and puts in place concrete actions to guide the state to this goal.
CBF Congratulates Regan on Confirmation as EPA Administrator, Praises His Commitment to Saving the Bay

March 10, 2021

The U.S. Senate confirmed Michael S. Regan as EPA administrator. At his confirmation hearing, Administrator Regan pledged the EPA would be a partner in meeting the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.
CBF Statement from President Will Baker on Being Honored by Maryland Senate

February 26, 2021

CBF President Will Baker, who announced in January that he plans to retire at the end of the year, issued this statement in response to the Maryland Senate resolution marking his retirement.
Pennsylvania's Proposed Budget Does Little to Address Chronic Underfunding for Clean Water

February 4, 2021

Unfortunately, Governor Tom Wolf’s $37.8 billion General Fund budget proposal for fiscal year 2021-22 does little to help the Commonwealth change course from being significantly behind in meeting its clean water goals.
After Major Striped Bass Decline, ASMFC Opens Fishery Plan to Comment

February 3, 2021

In another step towards rebuilding the striped bass population, an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) panel will open the Public Information Document for Amendment 7 for public comment.
CBF Welcomes Court Rebuke of Trump EPA "Secret Science" Rule

February 1, 2021

A federal court today threw out the Trump EPA’s rule limiting the agency’s access to the best available science.
CBF Urges Legislators to Approve Climate Solutions Now Act

January 27, 2021

CBF is urging Maryland legislators to support a bill that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable the state to plant millions of trees.
CBF President Will Baker to Retire

January 22, 2021

CBF President William C. Baker and the Board of Trustees today discussed succession planning for Baker’s retirement at the end this year.
CBF Applauds Biden Administration's Promising Start

January 20, 2021

CBF is thrilled the Biden administration has hit the ground running to reverse its predecessors’ dismal record of sidelining science, ignoring public health, and issuing flawed rules that undermine the intent of our nation’s bedrock environmental laws and the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.
CBF Praises DC Circuit Decision to Vacate Trump EPA's Affordable Clean Energy Rule

January 19, 2021

Today’s decision overturns the ACE rule, which contains the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, and directs EPA to write a new rule to regulate GHG emission from power plants.
CBF Statement on the Passing of Longtime Maryland Senate President Mike Miller

January 15, 2021

"The ongoing restoration of the Chesapeake Bay wouldn’t have been possible without a leader like Sen. Miller. He loved history, and he loved the Bay.”
EPA Decision to Retain Insufficient Ozone Emissions Standards Puts Bay Cleanup, Watershed Residents at Risk

December 23, 2020

EPA announced today it won’t tighten the existing insufficient limits on ozone pollution. The agency made this decision despite overwhelming evidence that the current standards fail to protect the health of the watershed’s most vulnerable residents.
CBF Praises Congress for Adding $2.5 Million to 2021 Chesapeake Bay Program Budget

December 22, 2020

Congress included a $2.5 million increase for the Chesapeake Bay Program in the $1.4 trillion fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending package it passed last night.
CBF Issues Statement Praising President-Elect Joe Biden's Pick for EPA Administrator

December 18, 2020

Before Gov. Roy Cooper tapped him to run North Carolina’s environmental agency in 2017, Regan was a senior official working on climate change and clean energy, and before that southeast regional director, at the Environmental Defense Fund.
Virginia Governor’s Budget Proposal Includes Significant Increase in Funding for DEQ, Farm Cost Share Program

December 17, 2020

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam yesterday issued proposed amendments to Virginia’s 2020 to 2022 biennial budget.
CBF Statement on Passing of Robert Bloxom Sr., Former Virginia Delegate and Agriculture Secretary

December 14, 2020

Virginia has lost a great statesman and advocate for the Chesapeake Bay with the passing of Robert Bloxom Sr.
Clean Air Cost-Benefit Rule Threatens Limits Crucial to Bay Cleanup, Health Protection

December 9, 2020

EPA announced today it has finalized an unnecessary rule that threatens to undermine air pollution limits essential to restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its waterways and puts the health of the watershed’s most vulnerable residents at the greatest risk.
On Poultry Pollution, Virginia Misses Opportunity

December 9, 2020

Today, Virginia’s State Water Control Board approved the 10-year general permit for managing waste from poultry farming operations in Virginia.
CBF Applauds House Passage of Ecosystem Restoration Bill

December 8, 2020

The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, which authorizes ecosystem restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and around the country.
CBF Issues a Statement on the Passing of Former Senator Paul Sarbanes

December 7, 2020

The Bay lost a great champion yesterday, when Paul Sarbanes, former U.S. Senator from Maryland, died.
CBF Issues Statement on Motion to Dismiss EPA Lawsuits

November 22, 2020

The Justice Department, representing EPA, has filed motions to dismiss separate lawsuits filed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its partners.
CBF Statement on Virginia Oyster Restoration Progress

November 20, 2020

Yesterday Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam celebrated the Commonwealth’s approval of $10 million in bond financing for oyster reef restoration in Virginia waters and praised the completion of oyster reef habitat construction in the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River.