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Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee

Established by the COG Board of Directors in 1998, Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee (CBPC) tracks developments under the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program for implications to local governments and recommends Bay-related policies to the Board. Elected officials and, in some cases, staff officials from COG's 19 member governments comprise the committee's membership. The CBPC normally meets on the third Friday in January, March, May, July, September and November.

Upcoming Meetings

Friday: January 18, 2008
10:00 -12:00 noon

Why is Bay Policy Important to the Region ?

Although Bay-related policies can affect local governments in a number of areas, perhaps the biggest impact is cost. A year 2000 survey by the Bay Policy Committee found that local governments in the region were spending about $100 million a year on water quality improvement measures related to Bay Program efforts. The Bay Program's own fiscal impact analysis has estimated that the region's local governments will have to spend about $1.5 billion by the year 2010 to meet water quality obligations under the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
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Listen to a radio ad about urban stormwater runoff

Local governments in northern Virginia, as coordinated by the Northern Virginia Regional Council, sponsored the attached radio ad this past summer to promote public action to minimize pollution from urban stormwater runoff. A similar campaign is under consideration for 2006.

English Version / Spanish Version

COG Endorses Concept of Regional Financing Authority

Through Resolution R11-05, the COG Board expressed support for the recommendation of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue Ribbon Finance Panel to establish a regional financing authority -- with several caveats. Correspondence related to this resolution can be viewed in the Recent Correspondence section.

Member Comment on Blue Ribbon Panel Report

The COG Board solicited member comment on the final report of the Blue Ribbon Finance Panel. Copies of the comments can found on the CBP Committee Business site (under the March 17, 2005 section).

Chesapeake Bay Blue Ribbon Finance Panel has issued a final report; panel members included CBPC Vice Chair Penelope Gross of Fairfax County

Officials Testify at Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Hearing

On May 4, local, state, and federal officials provided testimony on H.R. 4126, the “Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Enhancement Act”, telling Congress that there is no way to clean up the Chesapeake Bay by 2010 as called for by the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement that was signed six years ago by the region’s governors, state legislatures, and the EPA.

Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross, who chairs the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Local Government Advisory Committee, joined a panel of witnesses that also included representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Also providing testimony were Congressman Ben Cardin (MD) and Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (VA).

In response to the release of a Government Accountability Office report on the Bay Program, Representative Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland and 16 bipartisan co-sponsors introduced H.R. 4126, the “Chesapeake Bay Restoration Enhancement Act of 2005.” The bill calls for reauthorizing the Chesapeake Bay Program through 2011 at an increased funding level of $50 million and includes measures to improve accountability for achieving Bay Program water quality goals. The bill would also increase the role of local governments in Bay restoration by increasing financial support for local projects, broadening representation of local governments in the Bay Program, and placing greater emphasis on efforts to improve local water quality.

Witnesses at Thursday’s hearing were all generally supportive of Congressman Gilchrest’s bill and the need to reinvigorate the entire Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. A study completed by a task force headed by former Virginia Gov. Gerald L. Baliles concluded that completing the cleanup would require a $15 billion investment by the federal government and affected states, and officials acknowledged that the money is nowhere in sight. Supervisor Gross, who also served as a member of the funding task force, emphasized the need to do more with limited funding and said the challenge was to use federal, state, and local dollars to target programs that yield "the best splash for the cash."

For more information on Thursday’s hearing and H.R. 4126, the “Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Enhancement Act,” click here.

Committee Contact Information
Karl Berger, (202) 962-3350
Steve Bieber, (202) 962-3219
Ted Graham, (202) 962-3352

Committe Bylaws
Committee Roster

METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

777 North Capitol Street, NE • Suite 300 • Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202.962.3200 • Fax: 202.962.3201