Following a settlement between the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency, filed in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia the Agency will intensify control of runoff from the Chesapeake watershed. The Plaintiff was supported by the Attorneys General for Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia.

At issue is contamination from agricultural runoff and in terms of the settlement, the EPA will evaluate farms that do not hold federal permits that are close to rivers and streams to ascertain whether they are in contravention of the Clean Water Act. The Pennsylvania counties that will fall under the agreement and will be subject to scrutiny include York, Lancaster, Bedford, Cumberland, Center, Franklin and Lebanon. 

It is noted that a large number of egg producing farms are located in these counties and it is to be expected that the EPA will review the contribution of these CAFOs in addition to row crop agriculture. Any farm or CAFO demonstrated to be a point source of pollution will have to operate in terms of a federal permit and comply with appropriate regulations.

Hilary Falk, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, noted, “EPA focusing on concerted, remedial action to address some of the most severe problems in Pennsylvania, provides accountability and a reasonable assurance that Bay restoration will succeed.”