Appropriations bill could spell trouble for Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Up plan may take a hit soon. The U.S. House of Representatives voted this week and passed an Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The legislation would decrease funding for the Environmental Protection Agency.

A specific amendment affects enforcement of our local waters.

“What this amendment would do is it would say the environmental protection agency can’t take any action against the states that would be polluting the Chesapeake Bay if they exceed their pollution limits,” said Rep. Andy Harris (R).

Rep. Harris voted against the measure along with every other U.S. representative from the state of Maryland.

Harris says if the bill were to pass the Senate and be signed into law it would essentially take the teeth out of the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint of 2014 a.k.a. Chesapeake Bay Agreement.

The agreement outlines that each of six states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware. New York and Pennsylvania make sure they do not exceed their pollution limits.

Environmental officials say since 2014 the agreement has been successful in improving the condition of the bay.

“For the most part all the states were on track and making progress. We’re seeing more oysters, the dead zones are smaller, bay grasses are covering more acres than they have in over 35 years,” said Alison Prost, executive director for the Maryland Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

According to reports President Obama has said if the bill does pass the Senate he will veto it.