Tim Kaine: “today I am introducing a bill to improve stormwater management practices at Department of Defense, DOD installations…”

“today I am introducing a bill to improve stormwater management practices at Department of Defense, DOD installations across the country. Climate related impacts, such as increased rainfall intensity and sea level rise, exacerbate the problem of stormwater runoff. Excess stormwater can threaten our military readiness and pollute surrounding waterways and ecosystems. This phenomenon is acutely present in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, where DOD is the second largest Federal landholder, and stormwater is the only pollutant in the watershed that continues to increase. Therefore, it is imperative that the DOD, as an official partner to the Chesapeake Bay Program, do all that it can to support reduction in pollution runoff consistent with the State-based watershed implementation plans required by the Environmental Protection Agency. Climate change has put numerous Virginia and Maryland military bases at increased risk of flooding, including Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Langley Air Force Base, Naval Support Activity Annapolis, Naval Support Activity Bethesda, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Joint Base Andrews, and Naval Support Activity South Potomac. While there are 137 DOD installations, sites, and facilities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, this proposal will help ensure stormwater and natural resources beat management practices are constructed, maintained, and repaired at DOD facilities across the Nation.…”