Washington, D.C. – The following is the opening statement of U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R-AR), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Republican, from today’s hearing on the program responsible for directing Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.
“The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and is critical to the economy, environment, and way of life for millions in the Mid-Atlantic area. Covering some 64,000 square miles, the watershed spans parts of six states and the District of Columbia and is home to 16 million people. There are 150 major streams and tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay basin. The Bay is an important environmental feature in the region. It is home to millions of waterfowl, and a vast array of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic plants and animals.
“For the human population, the Chesapeake Bay provides millions of pounds of seafood, a wide variety of recreational opportunities, and is a major shipping and commercial hub. Two of the nation’s largest ports are on the Chesapeake Bay – Baltimore, Maryland, and Hampton Roads, Virginia.
“Beginning with colonial settlement and until today, land use activities and changes in the watershed have affected the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Public concerns about the health of the Bay have been raised since the 1930s.
“The deterioration of the Chesapeake Bay can be seen in a decrease in water clarity, a decline in oyster and crab populations, and a lack of underwater grasses. There are even areas of the Bay that are ‘dead zones,’ where there is not enough oxygen in the water to sustain life.
“The EPA says the major causes of the Bay’s deterioration are excess nutrients and sediments coming from farmlands, wastewater treatment plants, and urban runoff. Septic systems and air deposition of emissions from power plants, cars, and trucks also contribute to the degradation.
“In the next 25 years, an additional 3.7 million people are expected to be living in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As more concrete and asphalt replace forests and open spaces, the runoff of nutrients and sediments into the Bay will increase.
“However, it is this same growth and development that provides the economic stability for the region. The Bay region must balance economic development with the need for clean water and a healthy environment. To do this, the region needs to be smart in how it grows in the future in order to minimize the impacts on the Bay.
“The Chesapeake Bay Program was created many years ago to address the degradation of the Bay. In 1987, the Program was authorized formally by Congress in the Clean Water Act. Today the Program is a partnership of states, local entities, and the EPA that directs and conducts restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake 2000 Agreement set ambitious restoration goals to be met by 2010.
“A lot of money has been spent over the years to clean up the Bay. In the last twelve years, alone, nearly $4 billion in direct funding has been provided to the Program from the Federal government and the states. An additional $2 billion in indirect funding has gone to programs that aim to improve the health of the Bay. The EPA also has provided over $1 billion to the Program partner states through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund to help pay for wastewater treatment improvements.
“However, while EPA reports that some progress has been made in cleaning up the Bay, substantial challenges remain. It is now clear that the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement’s ambitious restoration goals will not be met by 2010.
“More needs to be done. All of the Program partners, and stakeholders, need to make some hard decisions and a stronger commitment if we ever hope to achieve the Bay restoration goals. Right now it is not so clear whether everyone is willing to make hard decisions and be truly committed to getting past the talking and planning and on to cleaning up the Bay.
“Because Federal dollars will be limited, it is important that we invest in activities that will directly clean up the Bay.”
# # #