The House of Representatives has approved an amendment that would keep the Environmental Protection Agency from spending any money to impose penalties on states that did not meet goals for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.
Eight years ago the EPA set up a framework for the amount of pollution allowed into the bay – known as the “Total Maximum Daily Load”.
Alan Girard with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation told the Salisbury Daily Times that the bay restoration effort under the plan has provided accountability for bay restoration.
The amendment sponsored by Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia was opposed by all of the Delaware and Maryland delegations including Eastern Shore Republican Andy Harris.
Harris along with two other local representatives even sent a letter to his House colleagues opposing the amendment.
The Eastern Shore Republican wound up voting for the complete bill.
Maryland Congressman Steney Hoyer did not vote on the bill.
