FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2010

Senate Committees Examine Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts

HARRISBURG – Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency lauded Pennsylvania's progress in reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed during a joint hearing of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today.

EPA Chesapeake Bay TMDL Manager Bob Koroncai outlined the agency's pollution reduction goals and provided an overview of resources that would be available for states to meet those goals. EPA Water Protection Division Director Jon Capacasa said that Pennsylvania has made good progress on reducing pollution in the watershed, but non-point source pollution, such as runoff from lawns, streets and farm fields, makes the federal pollution reduction goals a challenge.

Koroncai and Capacasa outlined possible ways to reduce pollution in the watershed, including upgrading waste water treatment facilities, instituting best management practices for agriculture, improving storm water controls and reducing lawn fertilizer usage. At Sen. Mike Brubaker's (R-36) request, the EPA representatives agreed to present additional information on financial resources that will be available from the federal government to help the state meet federal TMDL goals. Brubaker serves as Vice Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and Chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Commission.

"The 17 million people who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed must work together to reach the pollution reduction goals to protect this vital natural resource," said Brubaker, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. "This effort will require cooperation from all stakeholders in the process, and we must have a clear understanding of the pollution reduction goals and the resources that are available to states to help protect the Chesapeake Bay."

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, asked the EPA to provide additional guidance to farmers on the best management practices that qualify for federal funding. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding added that the Department of Agriculture would work with farmers to help implement best management practices to continue the state's successful efforts to reduce non-point source pollution.

White also cautioned that the EPA's emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay watershed should not be a distraction from water quality issues in other parts of the state.

“Today’s hearing was helpful in outlining the responsibilities of the state and federal governments in meeting our Chesapeake Bay goals,” said White. “It is imperative as we go forward that the federal government provide the Commonwealth with not only sufficient financial resources to meet these goals, but clear guidance on acceptable steps that point and non-point sources can use to improve the Bay’s water quality in the most efficient manner possible.”

Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger also provided testimony on the steps the state has taken to reduce pollution from storm water runoff and other non-point pollution sources.

Video of the hearing and written testimony are available online at http://senatorbrubaker.com/agriculture.htm and http://senatormjwhite.com/environmental.htm.

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CONTACT:   Kristin Crawford (717) 787-4420 (Senator Brubaker)

                        Pat Henderson (717) 787-9684 (Senator White)