Section 502 of the order states, “The Administrator of the EPA shall, within 1 year of the date of this order and after consulting with the Committee and providing for public review and comment, publish guidance for federal land management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed describing proven, cost-effective tools and practices that reduce water pollution, including practices that are available for use by Federal agencies.”
The Chesapeake Bay Program explains that the draft guidance presents specific practices for reducing water pollution that will bring the government closer to its Clean Water Act goal of making the bay once again “fishable and swimmable.” The suggestions are specifically addressed to federal land managers, but can also be implemented by state and local governments. The guidance recommends agricultural practices for federal lands that reduce the delivery of phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment to the bay and its tributaries. It also discusses the impact of nonpoint source pollution and makes recommendations about development on federal lands. The guidance suggests the use of green infrastructure for on-site use of stormwater to reduce pollution.
The public has 30 days to comment on the guidance. Comments will be accepted online or by mail and incorporated into the public docket. The comment period ends April 23, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
Bay on the Brink is a multimedia reporting project examining the fate of the Chesapeake Bay. It is produced by fellows at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism as part of News21, a consortium of journalism schools. This is the fellows' blog. The full project site is here: http://chesapeake.news21.com
