On August 18, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation noted Gov. Wolf and EPA Administrator Wheeler did not attend the August 18 Chesapeake Bay Executive Bay Council meeting which included the signing of the EC statement in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), and how restoration efforts are being affected by COVID-19.
Following the meeting, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President William C. Baker said, "The DEIJ statement is a good first step. As CBF’s DEIJ mission statement says, ‘Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay.
“Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action.’ As Dr. Janice Underwood so articulately stated, the Bay Program DEIJ efforts are essential for the success of Bay restoration. Success will require transparency, including specific deliverables and metrics.
“We look forward to working with Dr. Underwood and the Bay Program moving forward in the efforts to promote diversity.
“We all acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic is an unparalleled challenge. However, it also underscores the irreplaceable value of our natural resources, as people turn to the outdoors for both mental and physical health.
“Taking action to reduce pollution now is more critical than ever. Protecting and improving water quality for future generations also supports local businesses, creates jobs, and provides additional environmental and public health benefits.
“Once again this year, Bay restoration leaders ignored the elephant in the room. Pennsylvania’s plan to meet the goals that all agreed on is woefully inadequate and implementation is seriously off-track.
“With only five years to go until the 2025 deadline, Bay restoration efforts are now in jeopardy. Unless the Commonwealth finds a way to meet its commitments, the investments that the other Bay states are making will improve local water quality, but the Bay will not be restored.
“Some of the best science in the world has clearly defined what needs to be done. But the political will to do what the science says seems to be absent. Not just in Pennsylvania, but just as importantly at EPA, which abdicated its Clean Water Act responsibilities to hold the Commonwealth accountable.”
For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here to support their work.
Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.
CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.
[For more information on how Pennsylvania plans to meet its Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations, visit DEP’s PA’s Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan webpage.
[How Clean Is Your Stream?
[DEP’s Interactive Water Quality Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.]
Related Articles:
-- Op-Ed: Time For Pennsylvania To Live Up To Promises Made To Clean Up Its Rivers And Streams
-- Op-Ed: Time For Pennsylvania To Live Up To Promises Made To Clean Up Its Rivers And Streams
-- Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Team Virtual Meeting July 20 [Update on actions from January - June 2020]
[Posted: August 19, 2020] PA Environment Digest
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