MaryPIRG's Brad Heavner

The summer diagnosis for the Chesapeake Bay has grown almost predictable. An overabundance of nutrients combined with a lack of filters causes a dead zone that covers more than a third of the bay. Harvests are down, oysters are struggling, and invasive species are capitalizing on the imbalance. And nitrogen and phosphorous, the cholesterol of the bay, never stop coming.

Like good and thorough doctors, scientists have monitored, graphed, and projected the bay’s symptoms. After twenty years of research we know what is going into the bay and what effect it is having. The science has become so accurate that this summer researchers were able to predict, with a mix of pride and sorrow, exactly how bad the dead zone would become. And they were, unfortunately, correct.

Every good doctor begins treatment with a diagnosis. But diagnosis without cures will not solve any illness. The time for relying on more studies is over. The time for action is long past due.

When it comes to accountability, pointing fingers is the most common response. Farmers blame suburban homeowners. Sewage plants blame septic tanks. Power plants blame car emissions. Maryland blames Pennsylvania.

Each party alone isn’t killing the bay, but together they all are.

It’s time to stop pointing fingers and get to work. Every source of pollution must be held accountable—power plant and cars, lawn fertilizer, cities growing beyond the capacity of their sewage treatment plants, and the chicken processing companies that are giving Maryland farmers a raw deal. Everyone has to do their part, and they should all be outbidding each other rather than passing the blame.

We find a lot of support among lawmakers for the concept of cleaning up the bay, but that support often fades out at decision time.

We can make a lot of progress on cleaning up the bay if we stop pointing fingers at each other and hold decision makers accountable for following through.

Thank you for the support that allows us to be your voice for real action.