WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), chair of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released the following statement regarding the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science’s report on “Achieving Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Goals in the Chesapeake Bay: An Evaluation of Program Strategies and Implementation.” The 183-page report contains an evaluation of the Bay Program’s Tracking and Accountability as well as the Program’s two-year Milestones approach. The Study was requested by the Chesapeake Executive Council two years ago and was headed by Kenneth Reckhow of RTI International, of Triangle Park, North Carolina.
“The National Research Council’s evaluation is an important contribution to the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. The report details some excellent work already underway in every jurisdiction and provides useful recommendations on ways to strengthen the restoration effort and improve on its monitoring programs. In addition, the study offers a number of additional strategies that might be employed to further accelerate the efforts to restore this National Treasure. I am particularly pleased to see the Council’s strong recommendations regarding nutrient trading programs and intend to incorporate its recommendations into future Chesapeake Basin restoration legislation.”
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