The Chesapeake Bay Program is a multi-governmental, interstate, cooperative partnership that includes the states of Virginia; Pennsylvania; Maryland; Washington, D.C.; the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative body; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency representing the federal government. The EPA works locally through its Chesapeake Bay Program located in Annapolis, MD. The top executive from each Bay program participant -- the governors of each state, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the EPA administrator, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission chairman -- make up the Chesapeake Executive Council, which has been directing the Bay restoration since 1983.
Representatives from each of the jurisdictions, along with officials from other federal agencies, local governments, and citizen representatives, meet regularly to carry out the policies set by the Chesapeake Executive Council.
DEQ, specifically, works with other state agencies, local governments, and citizens through its Chesapeake Bay Program in the following general areas: nutrient point source reduction, toxic substance reduction, and a monitoring program.
Like its partners in the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Commonwealth of Virginia has embarked on the process to revise the existing tributary strategies. In Virginia, the responsibility for Bay restoration is split between DEQ and DCR, which are both under the Secretary of Natural Resources. DEQ's main responsibility in the Tributary Strategy process involves point sources (municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants) and recommendations for controls on their nitrogen and phosphorus discharges.
The Secretary of Natural Resources released draft revised Strategies in April 2004 for public review and comment. To become an active participant in the Tributary Strategy process and learn about current and upcoming activities, the Secretary has a dedicated link for this initiative. Please redirect your browser to the following link -Virginia's Tributary Strategies.
Based on the public comments received and a policy statement issued by the Secretary on August 27, 2004, the point source elements of the Strategies were revised. The revised point source control levels in the Tributary Strategy Plans now also have a direct relationship to the nutrient permit regulations presented to and adopted by the State Water Control Board.