Sherwood Boehlert: “I support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise this evening in strong support of the Lowey-Gilchrest-Castle-Boehlert…”

“I support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise this evening in strong support of the Lowey-Gilchrest-Castle-Boehlert Amendment. Protecting our nation's coastal waters from nonpoint source pollution is one of the greatest water quality challenges facing our nation. We must do more to address coastal nonpoint sources of pollution and this amendment is an important step in the right direction. Today, over half of all water quality impairment in the United States is caused by nonpoint source pollution and coastal waters have proven to be exceptionally vulnerable to this source of pollution. Recent fish kills on the Pocomoke and Manokin Rivers in southern Maryland are just a glimpse at what may be ahead for America's coastal resources. Failure to significantly reduce nonpoint sources of water pollution will place in jeopardy the biological, commercial, and recreational viability of every beach, bay and estuary in America. It should be noted that over 75% of all fish harvested by American commercial fishermen begin their lives in estuaries like the Chesapeake. "Pfiesteria hysteria" is not completely unfounded. Pfiesteria-like organisms reside in coastal waters on the East Coast, the West Coast, the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Great Lakes. The time has come to rethink our clean water paradigm. In the last 25 years the Federal government has spent over $60 billion to assist communities in addressing point sources of pollution.”