Virginia’s Phase II Watershed Improvement Plan was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 30, 2012, as discussed here and here. The formal public comment period on the plan will conclude on May 31.

This week, I had the pleasure of attending the 23rd Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, hosted by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics. As in years past, the symposium was topical, thought-provoking, and included a wealth of information on a variety of environmental topics.

On March 30, 2012, Virginia submitted its final Phase II Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) to officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Submission of the Final Plan follows a draft Phase II WIP previously submitted on December 15, 2011.

It may not have the same bling as five golden rings, but to EPA, Virginia’s draft Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (“WIP”) should be just what it wanted. In accordance with EPA’s designated schedule, Virginia presented the agency with its Draft Plan on December 15, 2011.

The spirited debate about the accuracy and dependability of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proscription for limiting pollution throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed spilled over into the news again Monday.

This month, the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council met in Richmond to discuss, among things, progress being made on efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Data released that same day indicates that Virginia is on target to meet interim cleanup goals set in 2009.