Pennsylvania’s plan for cutting pollution to the Chesapeake Bay has been deemed inadequate by the U.S. EPA.
According to The Post-Gazette, the EPA will be continuing its inspection and enforcement of water pollution sources across the state.
The state’s plan for reducing nutrient pollution flowing to the bay, especially from farms, falls short of its ability to restore the health of the bay, according to federal regulators, reported The Post-Gazette.
This is the second time the EPA has found Pennsylvania’s Watershed Implementation Plan insufficient.
EPA said it will put a stricter compliance focus on all water pollution sources in Pennsylvania, which includes: municipal sewer and storm water systems; industrial dischargers; and farms in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania and all states in the bay watershed must meet a 2025 deadline to cut their nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution, reported The Post-Gazette.
Nearly 28,000 miles of streams and rivers are considered impaired for aquatic life, recreation, drinking water and more.
“Pennsylvania has really struggled to come up with plans and implementation to meet the goals,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz, reported The Post-Gazette. “Under our administration, we’re just drawing the line because we need to see some change.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has identified an approximately $324 million annual funding gap, reported The Post-Gazette.
The EPA gave Pennsylvania 90 days to revise its plans and the last draft of the plan only met 70% of its nitrogen reduction target, according to the EPA, reported The Post-Gazette. This shortfall is attributed to uncontrolled manure runoff into streams and dedicated state support and funds for farms to install measures to reduce that runoff.
Pennsylvania DEP spokesperson Neil Shader stated that “Pennsylvania has taken steps to significantly accelerate improvement of local waters,” reported The Post-Gazette.
He adds that DEP and its partners “will continue to work with leaders in the legislature to clean up Pennsylvania waterways and fulfill our commitment to reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” reported The Post-Gazette.