Lancaster Online reporter Ad Crable Monday reported DEP Secretary John Quigley’s reaction to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report Thursday saying Pennsylvania’s efforts to meet its Chesapeake Bay commitments are “substantially off track”--
“There is an urgent need for renewed focus on the Chesapeake Bay,” said Quigley. “Pennsylvania recognizes the volume of work that still needs to be done, and the size of the problem that the Wolf Administration has inherited. However, it is important to recognize the progress Pennsylvania has realized up to this point.
“Since 1985, Pennsylvania has directed more than $4 billion by way of grants, loans and program investments toward Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. That investment has resulted in a 25 percent phosphorous reduction, 6 percent nitrogen reductions and nearly 15 percent sediment reduction since 1985.
“But it is clearly not enough,” Quigley said.
To his credit, Quigley has been saying the same thing since the March hearing on DEP’s budget when he agreed Pennsylvania is not meeting its cleanup targets.
He mentioned then he and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding have been working on a plan to “reboot” Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts.
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