U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	2006-P-00032
Office of Inspector General	September 6,2000

At a Glance
Catalyst for Improving the Environment
Why We Did This Review
Chesapeake Bay partners and
the media have expressed
concerns on the slow progress
of Bay cleanup. The U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) recently stated
that key water quality and
wildlife habitat restoration
goals of the Chesapeake 2000
Agreement will not be met by
2010 as planned. We
conducted this audit to answer
the question: Has EPA
effectively targeted funds
toward grant projects that
should maximize
environmental benefit in the
Chesapeake Bay?
Background
The Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries have been on
EPA's impaired waters list
since 1998. The Chesapeake
2000 Agreement established
the goals and commitments to
restore and protect the
Chesapeake Bay ecosystem
and its living resources.
For further information,
contact our Office of
Congressional and Public
Liaison at (202) 566-2391.
To view the full report,
click on the following link:
www.epa.qov/oiq/reports/2006/
20060906-2006-P-00032.pdf
EPA Grants Supported Restoring the
Chesapeake Bay
What We Found
EPA awarded assistance agreements (grants) that contributed toward meeting the
goals of the Clean Water Act and the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. These grants
funded activities designed primarily to: reduce the nutrients and sediment entering
the Bay and its tributaries, monitor ongoing efforts to restore Bay water quality,
and model (estimate) the results of Bay implementation strategies.
In fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005, Congress appropriated $23 million each
year for EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program. In each of those years, EPA awarded
about $8 million for State implementation grants and $7 million for technical and
other grants for specific projects. EPA used the remaining $8 million to fund
EPA personnel and office management, interagency agreements, and
congressional earmarks.
EPA funded State restoration programs that designed and installed best
management practices, monitored the progress and results of ongoing projects,
and informed EPA's partners and the public of their impacts on Bay water quality.
EPA also funded technical project grants to: collect and track data on
implementation efforts; model (estimate) future pollution levels and reductions
gained from activities; monitor water quality and pollution levels; restore and
protect fish and other living organisms; and educate the public and stakeholders
about Bay restoration progress, obstacles, and strategies. These efforts
contributed to EPA's overall Bay restoration program. EPA estimated, based on
computer modeling, that as of March 2006 the program partners had achieved
37 percent of the nitrogen reduction goal, 53 percent of the phosphorus reduction
goal, and 47 percent of the sediment reduction goal.
EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program Office responded to the draft report and
concurred with our conclusion. The report does not contain recommendations.

-------