The Senate and House Monday unanimously approved separate resolutions designating the week of June 3 to 9 as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week.
The designation is meant to encourage all Pennsylvanians “to commemorate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week with events, activities, and educational programs designed to raise awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to the Commonwealth, the region, and the United States.”
The Senate passed Senate Resolution 377 sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee (sponsor summary). The House passed House Resolution 773 sponsored by Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York) (sponsor summary).
Sen. Yaw and Rep. Gillespie are two of Pennsylvania’s representatives on the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission. The other state members are Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Franklin), Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) and DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
“During this week, we have the opportunity to celebrate Pennsylvania’s success in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay,” Sen. Yaw said. “We can educate residents about the actions each citizen can take to help restore the Bay, as well as call attention to the challenges ahead and the opportunity to restoring the Bay and Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.” Click Here to watch a video of Sen. Yaw’s remarks.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most productive estuary in the United States, spanning six states and the District of Columbia. It is fed by 50 major tributaries, including the Susquehanna River, which is the largest tributary into the Bay. The Susquehanna River contributes about half of the Bay's fresh water.
For more information on Pennsylvania's efforts to cleanup rivers and streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, visit the Pennsylvania's Chesapeake Bay Plan webpage.
(Photo: Sen. Yaw, Rep. Gillespie.)
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