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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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