Cecil Country Joins 'Anti-Bay Diet' Coalition

County agrees to pay $25,000 to join coalition

Cecil County commissioners Thursday agreed unanimously to spend $25,000 to join a new “TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Coalition” initiated by Dorchester County.

The goal of the coalition is to clean up the Chesapeake Bay in a fiscally responsible manner.

A majority of the organizers question the science used to impose TMDL standards on sewage treatment plants and hope the new group can scientifically prove there are less expensive methods to reduce pollution in the bay...

“I think it’s in our best interest to join this,” said Commissioner Robert Hodge. “This ($25,000) is peanuts compared to $40,000 (cost to upgrade Seneca Point) or $600,000 (County’s estimated cost to comply with the state’s Watershed Implementation Program.),” he said. “It gives us a coordinated group and voice.”

The costs of the 'Bay Diet' are enormous, and it will cost the counties a great deal of money they can't really afford in the next 15 years or so (until 2025).  They are justifiably trying to make sure they get their money's worth.