Pennsylvania Funding Restored Based on Clean Water Plan
"Pennsylvania was not on track to meet nutrient reduction targets, and EPA made clear in 2015 that it would withhold funding due to that lack of progress. DEP worked with our sister agencies and wrote a plan that will put us on track," said DEP Secretary John Quigley.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Feb. 2 that, based on the commonwealth's revised plan to improve clean water in the Susquehanna River watershed, extending into the Chesapeake Bay, EPA has restored $3 million in program funding to the department. The plan was developed collaboratively between DEP and the Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture and Conservation and Natural Resources.
According to DEP, the funding will primarily support installation of best management practices by farmers and the operations of County Conservation Districts. EPA will award the funds to DEP when federal budget authority for the new fiscal year is finalized.
"Pennsylvania was not on track to meet nutrient reduction targets, and EPA made clear in 2015 that it would withhold funding due to that lack of progress. DEP worked with our sister agencies and wrote a plan that will put us on track," said DEP Secretary John Quigley. "This restored funding will be targeted by DEP to begin implementation of our rebooted strategy. It is a start – but only that. We have a long way to go in our efforts to assemble additional resources and to do the work to improve local water quality in Pennsylvania and that of the Chesapeake Bay."