Pennsylvania remains well short of its goals in reducing pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.
For a third time now, the EPA recently announced that Pennsylvania remains well short of meeting its targets to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. This latest shortfall comes despite the $154 million budgeted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to help reduce pollution.
According to State Impact:
“We are disappointed that the WIP does not see the amount of progress that we were hoping for, so our policy of tough love will continue,” said EPA regional administrator Adam Ortiz.
The federal government plans to continue heightened enforcement in the state indefinitely. This includes increased inspections, oversight, and review of how federal funds are currently being spent.
The EPA did note that the issue primarily lies in the scale of action that is needed, and not in the willingness of those in Pennsylvania. The state’s current pollution reduction efforts have been successful, but not to the degree necessary to meet the agreed-upon targets. The Chesapeake Bay receives roughly half of its fresh water from the Susquehanna River, nearly all of which flows through the eastern and middle sections of the state.
