Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act

Bill: 111-hr-5509
Sponsor: Rep. Holden, Tim [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2010-06-10 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Aquatic ecology
Chesapeake Bay
Delaware
Department of Agriculture
District of Columbia
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Maryland
New York State
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Water quality
Watersheds
West Virginia
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act or CWA) to establish: (1) financial reporting requirements for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; and (2) the Independent Evaluation and Technical Advisory Committee to review and report on restoration activities in the Bay ecosystem and to provide recommendations to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on such activities. Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2015.
 

 
Authorizes a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for nitrogen, phosphorus, or sediment for the Bay and its tributaries to include load expressions for wasteload allocations or load allocations using time frames other than daily for sectors where non-daily allocations are most appropriate to implement applicable water quality standards. Sets forth provisions governing issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for discharges that include waste load allocations that are consistent with TMDL plans.
 

 
Authorizes individuals or entities undertaking land development activities to be permitted to meet requirements for managing stormwater by on-site infiltration by paying to offset them through the establishment of equivalent stormwater management practices off-site within the Bay ecosystem.
 

 
Establishes an independent Chesapeake Bay Nutrient and Sediment Trading Commission in the Office of the Chesapeake Bay Program to: (1) administer the nitrogen and phosphorus trading program for Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to ensure that credits are generated to attract market participants and facilitate trading mechanisms among and within such jurisdictions to meet water quality goals; (2) operate a registry for interstate water quality trading; and (3) develop a system to allow for trading to occur between point source and non-point source dischargers in Bay states. Terminates the Commission on September 30, 2015.
 

 
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Secretary to: (1) establish standards for risk assessment, conservation planning, verification, water quality, and auditing practices that states can incorporate into their Chesapeake Bay management plan under the CWA; (2) provide conservation technical assistance to educate agricultural and private forest landowners in the Bay regarding water quality requirements; (3) publish a list of eligible agricultural and forestry activities that result in environmental service benefits; and (4) establish a pilot program for the Bay watershed for the facilitation of creating environmental service markets.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-07-28
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2010-07-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2010-06-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-06-10
text: Introduced in House