USDA AND EPA FORMALIZE ACTIONS FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY

ANNAPOLIS, MD, May 9, 2007—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced additional measures for coordination and cooperation among the two agencies in prioritizing and implementing nutrient reduction activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

“The agreement establishes a clear framework for coordination of USDA and EPA resources that assigns priority to sub-watersheds and conservation practices to restore, improve, and protect the Chesapeake Bay and watershed,” said Gary Mast, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is home to nearly 17 million residents and covers more than 64,000 square miles extending over the District of Columbia and parts of six states: Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is the largest estuary in the United States and is critical to the region’s economy, culture, and recreation.

"Environment and agriculture are teaming up to clean up the Chesapeake like never
before,” said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water. “Under this
agreement, EPA and USDA will coordinate actions, align resources, tools, and partners, and
monitor for results to accelerate clean water progress in the Bay watershed.”

Crop and pasture use account for 25 percent of the Bay Watershed. USDA and EPA will focus nutrient reduction activities on septic systems, municipal wastewater, storm water runoff from growing urban and suburban areas, and agricultural contributions from livestock, cropping and forestry operations. Major environmental challenges affecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed include landscape change, toxic chemical contaminants, air pollution, sediment, and excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorous.

EPA represents the federal government in the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership which fosters stewardship of the resources of the bay. It implements and coordinates the science, modeling, monitoring, data collection, and other activities that support the Chesapeake Bay Program. EPA also develops and shares information pertaining to the environmental quality and living resources of the ecosystem, and assists partners in developing and implementing specific action plans.

USDA leads efforts on public and private lands to help reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from impacting wildlife habitat and forest lands as well as community involvement to promote natural resources, manage urban green space, and land stewardship. USDA research examines innovative nutrient reduction technologies and market-based approaches for the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Additional information is available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/chesapeakebay/chesapeakebay.html.

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