From the Anacostia to the Chesapeake: the feds can help clean up
Posted May 20, 2009 in Curbing Pollution
NRDC is one of the more than 50 organizations from throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed joining together today on Capitol Hill to launch a new coordinated campaign to push for stronger federal action on restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Congressional leaders from the Chesapeake Bay area will be there to join our call, including U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (MD), U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil (MD-1).
The coalition has identified several opportunities to improve water quality at the federal level, including implementation of President Obama's recent Executive Order related to Chesapeake Bay restoration. Not only does this Executive Order express the President's support for cleanup of the Bay, but it also commits EPA to using the full extent of its Clean Water Act authority to do so. EPA has never really tried this before, so it could make a big difference in a few short years in reviving the economic and recreational potential of the Bay. The key is to have every pollution source contribute to Bay restoration.
NRDC has also been calling for help from the Obama Administration to clean up another polluted waterway in the Bay's watershed that would in turn improve the health of the Chesapeake - the Anacostia River. Although surrounded by greenspace and teeming with wildlife, this river is filled with trash, contaminants from stormwater runoff, and sewage that it dumps into the Potomac River, and eventually into the Bay - but it can be cleaned up. The river's watershed encompasses portions of DC and Maryland's Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. We now know how to neutralize the runoff and sewage from the area - and DC and Maryland are starting to make progress in this area. While this can make a significant difference, they can't do it alone. A significant federal investment in the Anacostia clean-up could help create the biggest turnaround in an urban river since the revival of the Hudson - bringing huge benefits to DC, suburban Maryland, and the Bay.
And if the new EPA under the Obama Administration can build-on the actions they're already taking to focus similar attention on the Chesapeake Bay - we 
could finally see a real turnaround for this notoriously troubled, but cherished, waterway.
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Comments
Thomas Arrasmith — May 21 2009 12:02 PM
Nancy, this is a very impressive site and I admire your positive outlook. Are there any plans to strengthen the Clean Water Act to improve the chances of successful litigation should it be necessary in order to stimulate the political will in the states to get the job done?
Best wishes and thanks for your leadership.
Tom
Brent Bolin — May 22 2009 05:21 PM
We are counting on this coalition to put some teeth in the President's Chesapeake Bay EO. Great work all of you!
Lisa Pelstring — May 26 2009 10:44 AM
Nancy, your blog is timely and a great idea! There are, I believe, roughly 15 federal agencies (from Defense to Commerce) located in the Anacostia Watershed. I would love to see this Administration identify a point-person within each agency to ensure staff time and funding resources focused on river cleanup and restoration. The feds have had a major impact on the river--and can do a much better job helping fix things....
good luck! Lisa