IntroductionChesapeake Bay Agreement • September 30th, 2003
Contract Type FiledSeptember 30th, 2003In 1987, the governors of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania; the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adminis- trator and the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. This historic agreement stated that a 40 percent reduction in nutrients entering the Chesapeake Bay would be necessary to restore its health (Chesapeake Executive Council 1987). The goal targeted a 40 percent reduction of controllable nutrient loads from point and nonpoint sources from 1985 levels by the year 2000. The partners to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement committed that once achieved, these levels of reduced nutrient loads would continue to be maintained into the future.