March 13, 2012

Congressman Bob Goodlatte introduced H.R. 4153, the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act, on March 7, 2012. ------------- More than $200: that's the amount of money invested into five waste water plants near Verona in order to follow new guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Congressman Bob Goodlatte hosted a discussion Monday asking, "Is it worth the money?" The EPA set a new limit on the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that can be released into the Chesapeake Bay. The purpose is to improve water quality, but so far, only negligible improvements have been recorded. Congressman Goodlatte, along with other government representatives, said they are concerned with the amount of money spent to meet the new requirements. "We don't know how much is in the water in any particular locality to justify the enormous expenditures of tens of millions of dollars to do all of this and not know if there is going to be any benefit at all to the Chesapeake Bay," said Congressman Goodlatte. After the meeting, Congressman Goodlatte visited a farm to see how the new regulations impact local farmers.