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Bay Restoration:Developing Policy Options to
Support Local Actions
Jack E. Frye, Virginia DirectorChesapeake Bay Commission201 N. 9th Street, Room 270Richmond, Virginia 23219
[email protected](804) 370-5888
Who is the CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMISSION?
Tri-State Legislative Commission Maryland Pennsylvania Virginia
Congressional Liaison
21 Members 15 General Assembly Members 3 Governors 3 Citizens
A Bay Policy Leader for 32 years
YOUR VIRGINIA COMMISSION MEMBERS
Senator Emmett Hanger – Chair Senator Frank Wagner Delegate John Cosgrove Delegate Lynwood Lewis Delegate Scott Lingamfelter –V. Chair Governor McDonnell/designee
Anthony Moore, Depty Sec. Ches. Bay John Reynolds
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Future for Virginia (circa 2000)
• Increasing reliance on citizen advocacy, local governments & watershed-based approaches
• Nutrient mgmt; P-based for all organic fertilizers; urban turf practices/education
• Improved E&S Control; Require SWM; holistic watershed water quality & quantity plans
• “Green Card” farming - farm conservation plans
Bay TMDL- a “driver” for change 2010
Information to PolicyDecember 2004: Chesapeake Bay Commission Report, “Cost-Effective Strategies For the Bay”
1. Wastewater treatment plant upgrades
2. Diet & feed adjustments
3. Nutrient management
4. Conservation tillage
5. Cover crops
2005- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program
2006- Regulations to offset new of expanded facilities; controls on existing and Nutrient Credit Exchange to help cost-effective upgrading
2007- DCR sets 5 priority practices NM,CT,CC + riparian buffer and exclusion; Diet & Feed management for dairy/ Poultry Phytase MOUs
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Recent Examples of Chesapeake Bay Commission Actions
• Reducing urban source nutrients; N & P controls• Nutrient trading economics & policy issues• Land conservation & water quality goals/access• Manure-to-Energy
o Value added waste stream/distributed energyo Sustainable agriculture
• Improved practice progress reporting• Connecting local land use to local fisheries
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Pollution Control Policy
Agriculture Forestry
Urban built environment Urban new development
QUESTION: For each source above, what is your perception about the current level of regulation or voluntary cooperation that drives actions to protect local water quality?
Mostly regulatory Mostly voluntary
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For any program that engages governments, businesses and individuals,
what is necessary to provide Reasonable Assurance
that actions are taken, schedules are met and goals are accomplished?
“Trust, but verify”
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Reasonable Assurance Challenges
(Targets, Required Actions & Schedules)
• Adequate practices & adequate funds• Voluntary (lots of individuals)• Cost-share & tax credit incentives; signed contracts
and audits• Self certification? Compliance spot checks?• Recognition programs • “Green ticket” concepts• Regulation as threat/motivator
Chesapeake Club: Bringing New
Audiences to Bay Restoration
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Looming Policy Issues
• Role of Land Conservation in the Bay TMDL• Verification of progress reporting data• Trading Program Expansion in Virginia/Bay-wide
o Credit determination/Accounting/Transparencyo Verificationo Protecting local water quality
• Local landuse, water quality & fisheries• Aquaculture or wild harvest
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