EPA: "Virginia is the Biggest Loser"

Virginia is exceeding its commitments under the Chesapeake Bay Program to reduce nutrients in the bay from wastewater treatment plants, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Friday.

In making the announcement, McDonnell announced four important accomplishments:

• Virginia major wastewater facilities in 2011 exceeded pollution reduction goals by more than 2,000 percent for nitrogen and more than 450 percent for phosphorus.
• The U.S. EPA’s Region 3 has awarded Virginia their “Biggest Loser” for ranking first in the region and second in the nation for reducing nitrogen pollution as reported through the Clean Water Act nonpoint source program. In 2011, Virginia’s activities prevented 2.5 million pounds of nitrogen from entering streams and lakes.
•  Virginia reported more phosphorus and bacteria load reductions than any other state in EPA’s Region 3, an area that includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Phosphorus loads were reduced by 216,000 pounds.
• Virginia’s state budget will allocate $92 million toward point and non-point water quality programs the highest general fund appropriations to the WQIF in the past five fiscal years.

“We are seeing a major rebound in populations of blue crabs, oysters, osprey, eagles, Atlantic striped bass, and flounder,” said Anthony Moore, Deputy Secretary for Chesapeake Bay Restoration.

Let me just say that it's easy to lose a lot, when you have a lot to lose.  The Bay Foundation shares my gimlet eye:

"The Bay is still far from being restored," said Chuck Epes, a spokesman for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Epes said the Bay pollution still must be cut an additional 50 percent by 2025.

"With these milestones, we're seeing new and important ways to measure progress toward that," he said.

The foundation will release its own analysis of the state's progress on the two-year milestones Monday as well.