The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration intiative

摘要

On May 12, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the executive order 13508 regarding "Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration." In the preamble to this document, the problem is stated as follows:"Despite significant efforts by Federal, State, and local governments and other interested parties, water pollution in the Chesapeake Bay prevents the attainment of existing State water-quality standards and the "fishable and swimrnable" goals of the Clean Water Act. At the current level and scope of pollution control within the Chesapeake Bay's watershed, restoration of the Chesapeake Bay is not expected for many years. The pollutants that are largely responsible for pollution of the Chesapeake Bay arenutrients, in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus, and sediment. These pollutants come from many sources, including sewage-treatment plants, city streets, development sites, agricultural operations, and deposition from the air onto the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the lands of the watershed."