White House rolls back Chesapeake Bay restoration order

The Trump administration has revoked a 2009 executive order that coordinated efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay has been the focus of a federal restoration effort for more than a decade.The Trump administration said the new approach will give states more control and cut down on costs.Maryland leaders spoke out against the move immediately, saying they are not changing course."The Chesapeake Bay is not just an environmental issue, we're talking about massive economies, jobs. However, environmental groups say the change could weaken the federal partnership that has helped clean up the Bay for years.The Trump administration said the old plan was too broad and said some communities used it to justify stormwater fees, sometimes called "rain taxes."The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said the old plan helped bring states and the federal government together to reduce pollution."Seems like the new executive order unfairly focuses on stormwater fees. The lawmakers said they will continue to fight for it.

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