Bay Journal

Topics: Politics + Policy

In the race to head off the worst impacts of climate change, Maryland has been a leader among states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed — and in the nation, for that matter.

But the Hogan administration and climate activists are now at odds over whether the state is doing enough, given the lack of federal action and increasing urgency with which scientists say bolder actions are needed to avoid dire consequences.

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Timothy B. Wheeler
January 23, 2020
Climate Change,Politics + Policy
0 Comments

PA sets lofty goals for climate action, but can it achieve them?

This is the second in a 3-part series, A sea change in action: Bay states plan for future climate, providing an overview of state-level climate initiatives in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. See also Political shift in VA has...

Ad Crable
January 22, 2020
Climate Change,Politics + Policy
0 Comments

MD, VA mulling options to halt decline in striped bass population

Anglers who live for hooking a feisty striped bass are going to have fewer chances to do it in 2020 — and probably for at least a year or two afterward. Prompted by a scientific finding that the East Coast’s most prized finfish are...

Timothy B. Wheeler & Jeremy Cox
January 21, 2020
Fisheries,Politics + Policy
0 Comments

Political shift in VA has climate advocates hopeful for action

This is the first in a 3-part series, A sea change in action: Bay states plan for future climate, providing an overview of state-level climate initiatives in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. See also PA sets lofty goals for climate action,...

Jeremy Cox
January 21, 2020
Climate Change,Politics + Policy
0 Comments

Politics + Policy: Archives

Small PA communities say no to stormwater mandate

This is the way the 4,000 residents in the small borough of Greencastle, PA, figure it: They occupy a mere 1.6 square miles. They have a state-of-the-art sewage plant. There are no farms in the town. Almost all of the housing developments have...

Ad Crable
January 15, 2020
Local Government ,Politics + Policy,Pollution
1 Comment

Can the EPA enforce the Chesapeake Bay’s ‘pollution diet’?

Is the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load and its cleanup deadline enforceable? The answer is complicated. TMDLs are required for any “impaired” waterbody — one that does not meet standards set by a state to ensure a...

Karl Blankenship
January 14, 2020
Politics + Policy,Pollution
1 Comment

MD threatens to sue EPA, PA over lack of action as regional tensions rise

The year 2010 closed with the unveiling of a new Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan lauded by states, federal officials and environmentalists as the rigorous, concrete and enforceable plan that would finally deliver on the promise of a clean and...

Karl Blankenship
January 14, 2020
Politics + Policy,Pollution
0 Comments

Hogan ready to sue Pennsylvania, EPA over lagging cleanup effort

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday called for his state to initiate legal actions against Pennsylvania, citing the “obvious inadequacy” of its Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan, and against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...

Karl Blankenship
January 09, 2020
Politics + Policy,Pollution
2 Comments

Climate change in spotlight as MD, VA lawmakers convene

Maryland and Virginia lawmakers are gearing up for renewed debate in the coming weeks over renewable energy and how their states should deal with the looming threats of climate change. With both states’ annual legislative sessions...

Tim Wheeler, Jeremy Cox & Whitney Pipkin
January 06, 2020
Climate Change,Fisheries,Politics + Policy,Pollution
0 Comments

EPA confirms shortfalls in PA, NY Bay cleanup plans

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency confirmed on Thursday that plans produced by Pennsylvania and New York fall far short of meeting Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals. But the agency did not call for any new actions against the states,...

Karl Blankenship
December 20, 2019
Politics + Policy,Pollution
1 Comment

Virginia menhaden fishery threatened with moratorium

Virginia faces a threatened shutdown of its large commercial fishery for Atlantic menhaden after federal officials found the state had allowed too many of the commercially and ecologically important fish to be taken from the Chesapeake Bay....

Timothy B. Wheeler
December 20, 2019
Fisheries,Politics + Policy
1 Comment

Chesapeake Bay restoration gets a boost in federal funding

Federal funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts is in line for a boost in the big spending package passed this week by Congress. Increased Bay-related funding is included in a pair of appropriations bills totaling nearly $1.4 trillion...

Timothy B. Wheeler
December 19, 2019
Politics + Policy,Pollution
1 Comment

No delay urged in MD restrictions on use of animal manure as fertilizer

A Maryland advisory committee urged state agriculture officials Friday not to hold up a regulation restricting the use of animal manure to fertilize farm fields, even though a study found the state was not prepared to deal with the excess...

Timothy B. Wheeler
December 16, 2019
Politics + Policy,Pollution
0 Comments

Report says 4 of 6 Bay states cut funding, staff for top agencies handling pollution

Four of 6 states in the Chesapeake Bay region cut funding or staff to their main pollution control agency over the last 10 years, says a report released today by the Environmental Integrity Project. Environmental agencies in Pennsylvania,...

Ad Crable
December 05, 2019
Fisheries,Politics + Policy,Pollution
0 Comments

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