ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 24, 2010) - Governor Martin O'Malley issued this statement today following notification from Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson that Maryland was the only State, along with the District of Columbia, to have submitted an adequate Watershed Implementation Plan:

“We are very pleased by the positive assessment Maryland's Draft Watershed Implementation Plan has received from the EPA. Their response demonstrates that our hard work over the past four years has laid the groundwork for moving forward our efforts to restore our cherished Chesapeake Bay. The plan represents the best science from the region’s best experts to move the Bay off of life support, and off of the nation's dirty waters list.

“Our plan will significantly reduce pollution in the Bay by 2020, the deadline we set for ourselves, a full five years ahead of EPA and the other Bay States. The actions proposed will improve our environment and public health, and help create jobs to protect the enormous economic value of the Chesapeake Bay.

“Now we look forward to hearing from Marylanders, via our website and at regional public meetings, as we work to finalize our Watershed Implementation Plan and the Bay TMDL by the end of this year.”

Starting next week, Maryland is holding four regional public meetings, followed by EPA's public meetings on this issue. Learn more here
http://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/TMDL
/TMDLHome/Pages/programs/waterprograms/tmdl/cb_tmdl/tmdl_baywip_process.aspx. Marylanders can send comments to:
MDE.TMDLCOORDINATOR@maryland.gov.

The Environmental Protection Agency is establishing a nutrient and sediment pollution budget for the Chesapeake Bay, consistent with Clean Water Act requirements known as the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Concurrent with the development of the Bay TMDL, EPA charged the Bay watershed states and the District of Columbia with developing watershed implementation plans that will provide "reasonable assurance" that the jurisdictions can and will achieve the nutrient and sediment reductions necessary to implement the TMDL within their respective boundaries. Maryland's draft Plan was developed by the Maryland Departments of the Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Planning, using Governor O’Malley’s BayStat process.

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