Chesapeake Bay Program A Watershed Partnership Meeting Summary for the Chesapeake Bay Program's Implementation Committee August 23, 2007 I. Director's Update - Ideas for focusing and accelerating the pace of Implementation Jeff Lape (USEPA/CBPO) Jeff Lape gave an update on his meetings with various partners and stakeholders throughout the watershed (see Jeffs Powerpoint presentation for more details). Jeff emphasized a set of possible actions. These "working ideas" fell into five categories and included specific actions to: 1) focus and accelerate implementation; 2) enhance and expand the partnership; 3) enhance the CBP organization structure and effectiveness; 4) improve communication and 5) initiate new ideas. The group discussion focused mostly on how to expand and enhance the partnership to accelerate implementation. Jeff outlined next steps to include: continued conversations with additional partners; additional framing of the possible actions; and continued vetting of the ideas Action Items: Jeff will keep the Implementation Committee apprised of his progress to frame the ideas. At the suggestion of various IC members, Jeff will have listening meetings with additional folks including regulatory agency representatives, riverkeepers, local governments, farm agencies, including PA farm bureaus and PA municipalities. ------- II. Strategic Implementation Planning (SIP) Update Jeff Lape & Julie Winters (US EPA/CBPO) Jeff and Julie Winters provided an update and led a discussion on SIP development, process, and schedule, (also see the Powerpoint presentation for more detail) The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report (October 2005) recommended that the Chesapeake Bay Program develop an integrated and strategic implementation plan for Bay restoration and health goals. Senate Appropriations language for FY 2008 would hold back $5,000,000 of CBP funding until the SIP is completed and satisfies the GAO reviewers. Julie Winters briefed the IC on the draft SIP development plan (the plan for the plan) and a format template. The SIP will address all goals put forth by C2K, and will include an analysis of present funding gaps. Julie and Jeff described a phased approach to development of the SIP, beginning with the Federal portion. They stressed the importance of States and other partners staying informed as their implementation activities should ultimately be included in the SIP. Action Items: Julie will continue to take the lead to frame out the SIP development plan and the letter to Senator Mikulski. Routine updates will be provided at subsequent IC meetings. III. Update on Reorganization Matt Fleming, MD Dept of Natural Resources Matt Fleming gave an update on the progress of the Principal's Staff Committee adhoc Reorganization Workgroup. The group has met twice and has decided to hire a professional meeting facilitator and contractor to put together CBP reorganization options. The next workgroup meeting will be in early September. Action Items: 1) The adhoc Reorganization Workgroup will continue to provide regular briefings on progress to IC. 2) The group will further engage subcommittee chairs. ------- IV. Principals Staff Committee (PSC) and 2007 Executive Council (EC) Meeting Planning Matt Fleming, MD Dept of Natural Resources Matt Fleming announced that the next PSC meeting will be October 1st, from l-5pm. A venue has not yet been decided. Meeting agenda options include: - 2007 Executive Council Planning - Chesapeake Bay Watershed TMDLs - Update on Regional Financing - Forest Conservation Goals - Strategic Implementation Planning - CBP Reorganization - EPA Region III Healthy Watershed Initiative Matt Fleming announced the proposed dates for the 2007 EC Meeting: - Nov. 13, 15, or 16 - Dec. 4 or 5 The meeting will take place at the Wye Research and Education Center on Wye Island, Queenstown, MD. The IC discussed possible agenda themes and discussion items for the meeting. Action Items: - Matt Robinson (CRC) and Matt Fleming will send a list of EC agenda themes and discussion items to the PSC for discussion at the Oct. 1st meeting. - Matt Fleming, MD DNR Personnel and CBPO Personnel will draft an agenda for the PSC and send out for IC discussion. ------- V. Planning Future Implementation Committee Meetings The next IC Conference Call will be on Sept 20th, 2007, 10am-Noon. For the remainder of 2007, the IC will resume the alternating schedule of monthly meetings and conference calls. Therefore the October IC meeting will be an all day face-to-face meeting. The group discussed possible agenda items for the September Conference Call. These included: - Strategic Implementation Planning update - CBP Reorganization Update - USGS Nutrient Loading Monitoring Results Action Items: - CBPO personnel will put together a draft agenda for the next IC meeting and disseminate to the group for comments. - CBPO personnel will send out a reminder to the IC three weeks in advance with the date, time, and venue for the next meeting. - IC members are encouraged to provide announcement summaries to Matt Robinson (robinson.matt@epa.gov) in advance of IC meetings. ------- Attendance List Name Organization E-mail Phone Kari Cohen USDA NRCS kari.cohen@md.usda.aov (410)757-0861 Dona DeLeon US EPA deleon.dona@eDa.aov (202)566-9856 Sheila Besse DC Dept of the Env sheila.besse@dc.aov (202)535-2241 Liz Van Dolah Chesapeake Research Consortium vandolahe@si.edu (410)798-1283 Jennifer Gollob GMU ienaollobamu@vahoo Richard Eskin MD Dept of Env reskin@mde.state, md.us (410)537-3572 Carlton Haywood Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin chavwood@icorb.ora (301)984- 1908X.105 Melissa Fagan Chesapeake Research Consortium faaanm@si.edu (410)798-1283 Katharine Dowell US EPA dowell. katharine@eoa.aov (410) 267-5751 Erin Taylor Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay etavlor@acb.online.ora (410)377-6270 John Wolflin USFWS iohn wolflin@fws.aov (410)573-4573 John Schneider DE Dept of Natural Resources & Env. Control iohn.schneider@state.de.us (302)739-9939 Mary Lynn Wilhere Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay mwilhere@chesaoeakebav.net (410)267-5719 Pat Buckley PA Dept of Environmental Protection obucklev@state.oa. us (717)772-1675 Nancie Imler PA Dept of Environmental Protection nimler@state.oa.us (717)772-5909 Rich Batiuk US EPA batiuk. richard@eoamail.eoa.aov (410)267-5731 Jeff Corbin VA Office of the Secretary of Natural Reosurces ieff.corbin@aovernor.virainia.aov (804)786-0044 Ron Entringer NY Dept of Environmental Conservation raentrin@aw.dec.state.nv.us (518) 402-8176 Ann Swanson Chesapeake Bay Commission annswanson@covad.net (410)263-3420 Penny Gross Fairfax County Board of Supervisors mason@fairfaxcountv.aov (703) 256-7717 Nita Sylvester US EPA svlvester.nita@eoa.aov (410)267-5711 Steve Giordano NOAA steve.aiordano@noaa.aov (410)267-5647 Mike Fritz US EPA fritz.mike@eoa.aov (410)267-5721 Jeff Lape US EPA laoe.ieff@eoa.aov (410)267-5700 Peter Marx US EPA marx.oeter@eoa.aov (410)267-5713 Matt Fleming MD DNR mfle mi na@d n r. state. md. us (410)260-8719 Frank Dawson MD DNR fdawson@dnr.state.md.us (410)260-8110 Matt Robinson Chesapeake Research Consortium robinson.matt@eoa.aov (410)267-5737 Rick Hill VA Dept of Conservation & Rec. Rick.Hill@dcr.virainia.aov Beth McGee Chesapeake Bay Foundation bmcaee@savethebav.cbf.ora (410)268-8816 Julie Winters EPA winters, iulie@eoa.aov (410) 267-5754 ------- |