Pennsylvania has 530 days (as of July 20) to put the best management practices on the ground needed to eliminate 10 million pounds of nitrogen and 212 million pounds of sediment from going into our rivers and streams to meet the 2017 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestones.

Pennsylvania is even further behind because we did not meet the 2013 pollution reduction milestones.

In June 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported Pennsylvania exceeded its 2013 Chesapeake Bay cleanup milestone for phosphorus by 242,000 pounds, but fell short in meeting the nitrogen goal by 2 million pounds and sediment reduction milestone by nearly 116 million pounds.

If Pennsylvania doesn’t meet the milestones, it leaves EPA free to come up with its own plan on how the state can meet them, and as Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) said during DEP’s budget hearing, “It isn’t pretty.”

The question comes down to whether the General Assembly and Gov. Wolf want to yield this responsibility to the federal government.

NewsClips:

EPA Says PA Behind In Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

Lancaster Farm’s Future Depends On Nutrient Management

Stream Bank Restoration Projects Completed Along Loyalhanna Creek

Flatwater Challenge Promotes Susquehanna River Beauty

New Federal Rules To Protect Streams Near Coal Mines

Coal Mines Targeted In New Federal Stream Rules

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Further Reading:

DEP’s Quigley On PA Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: Clearly Not Enough

EPA: PA Substantially Off Track Meeting Chesapeake Bay Commitments

CBF: Milestone Assessment Finds PA Falling Short Of Its Water Cleanup Commitments

Rep. Everett: If We Don’t Meet Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Milestones, It Isn’t Pretty

Prepare For EPA Action If PA Does Not Meet 2017 Stream Cleanup Milestones

Analysis: Will PA Show Leadership On Water Cleanup Issues, Or Surrender To Feds?

EPA Notifies DEP It Will Act If PA Does Not Make Progress In Meeting Clean Water Goals

Analysis: PA Isn’t Cleanup Up Our Streams Quickly Enough To Meet Our Obligations

CBF: New EPA Report Examines State Oversight Of Agriculture Programs In PA

Historic Court Win For Clean Water In Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Now Get It Done

12 Maryland Legislators Urge EPA To Force PA to Meet Clean Water Commitments

7/20/2015