A press release (2019-08-29) announced that Larry Hogan, in his capacity as Maryland’s Governor and the Chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, has sent a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler expressing concern over Pennsylvania’s lack of progress in meeting it Chesapeake Bay restoration requirements. From the press release:

“With the recent release of the final Watershed Implementation Plans (WIP) to restore the Chesapeake Bay by 2025, Maryland continues to have alarming concerns regarding Pennsylvania’s progress on clean water,” wrote Governor Hogan. “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s final WIP falls far short of the federally established nitrogen goal by only achieving 73% of the required reduction. Pennsylvania’s plan also includes a troubling funding gap of over $300 million annually.”

Governor Hogan’s letter comes ahead of next week’s meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, which consists of the governors of the six watershed states, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the EPA administrator. The governor is calling on the EPA to use the oversight powers it has to hold states accountable for meeting Bay restoration goals.

“As Governor of Maryland and Chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, I have repeatedly offered to help Pennsylvania rally the necessary financial and regulatory support to fully achieve our shared goals,” said the governor. “We urgently need a more complete and comprehensive commitment from Pennsylvania, as well as a clear and robust demonstration from the Environmental Protection Agency that appropriate oversight powers will be used to maintain our momentum.”

Useful Links

Hogan Letter to EPA and Pennsylvania

Prior Conduit Street Coverage of Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Restoration Efforts