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Cardin Unveils Chesapeake Restoration Bill
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CBS
Senator Ben Cardin hopes to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay with a new restoration bill.
Andrea Fujii reports Senator Cardin took some time to explain the new legislation at Sandy Point State Park.
Dozens of people came out for the announcement including kids, dog lovers and watershed residents all in support of the same thing--clean water.
"I like the Chesapeake Bay a lot," said Morgan Corby, who supports the bill.
Senator Cardin unveiled the legislation that will direct $1.5 billion in federal funds to help regulate waste that pours into the bay.
"It's one thing to declare a high goal, it's one thing to declare a benchmark, it's another thing to provide the funds," said Governor Martin O'Malley
Studies show that wastewater treatment, stormwater runoff and agriculture are the causes of the pollution. Experts say that pollution routinely kills thousands of fish and destroys 100 acres of forest land a day.
State governments will determine their specific waste guidelines and enforcement.
Abiding by the law won't be cheap, but Senator Cardin promises local farmers won't go broke.
"There's a trading program where farmers can actually do certain things and get financial rewards for doing them," said Cardin.
Corby, 9, supports the bill and wishes for the bay of the good ol' days.
"In some parts of it it's kind of dirty and there's a lot of trash in other parts. It's clean, but it's not the same as it was when I was two," says Corby.
With the watershed population at 17 million and growing, bay lovers agree, something must be done.
The bill requires all guidelines to be in place by the year 2025. Senator Cardin also says the bill provides for congressional review of cleanup efforts every two years.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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