EPA Testifies Before Congress about National Estuary Program
Craig Hooks, Director of the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds in EPA's Office of Water recently testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment about the economic and environmental values of estuaries and the importance of the National Estuary Program (NEP).
He discussed how the NEP supports the Clean Water Act Core Programs, how the 28 NEPs successfully leverage additional funds, and the value of partnering to achieve environmental results. He also described the new Climate Ready Estuaries program. The Committee also heard testimony from representatives of NOAA, the Puget Sound Partnership, the Association of National Estuary Programs, and other stakeholder organizations on the protection and restoration of the nation's coasts and estuaries. Links to the testimony and the live broadcast can be found at: http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=686