EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is the new head of the Chesapeake Executive Council, replacing Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. The panel, which sets policy for the federal-state effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay's health, met this week to make the shift official.
"For the head of EPA to take on this role shows an unprecedented level of focus and commitment to restoring Chesapeake Bay. I'm looking forward to some dramatic policy shifts from EPA and other agencies that will help solve the pollution problem in the Bay," said Rebecca Sutton, Ph.D, a Senior Scientist at the Environmental Working Group.
At EWG we see signs of hope for the Bay after a quarter century of failed initiatives. The Obama Administration issued an Executive Order last May aimed at asserting leadership on cleaning up the Bay, and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md) followed by filing the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act. Cardin’s legislation would give state and federal governments more power and funding to clean up pollution from agricultural sources and from urban storm run-off.
