EPA Oversight of Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) and Milestones in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
The TMDL is being implemented using an accountability framework that guides restoration efforts using four elements. These elements include Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs), two-year milestones, EPA’s tracking and assessment of restoration progress and, as necessary, specific federal actions if the Bay states do not meet their commitments. Bay states include Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Under the accountability framework, EPA committed to conduct ongoing oversight of Bay states' programs to ensure they are on track to meet the goals of their WIPs and two-year milestones.
EPA Evaluations - Federal Actions - Program Contacts
EPA Evaluations
EPA Evaluation of New York’s Draft Amended Phase III WIP -EPA received and evaluated a draft amended Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) from New York to meet the 2025 nitrogen target.
EPA assesses milestone progress and future commitments– EPA provided its final evaluations of progress toward meeting the 2018-2019 milestones and of the 2020-2021 milestone commitments to the seven Chesapeake Bay states and the federal agencies. The Chesapeake Bay Program partnership committed to have all practices and controls in place by 2025 to achieve applicable water quality standards for dissolved oxygen, water clarity/submerged aquatic vegetation and chlorophyll-a. Since 2012, the seven states and the federal agencies have established short-term goals, called two-year milestones, to help achieve the 2025 goal.
Click on the links below to view the detailed evaluations for the Bay states and federal agencies.
EPA Final Evaluation of 2018-2019 Milestone Progress and 2020-2021 Milestone Commitments
EPA Evaluation of 2019 Final Phase III WIPs
EPA Evaluation of 2019 Draft Phase III WIPs
EPA Interim Evaluation of 2016-2017 Milestone Progress
EPA Final Evaluation of 2014-2015 Milestone Progress and 2016-2017 Milestone Commitments
EPA Interim Evaluation of 2014-2015 Milestone Progress
EPA Final Evaluation of 2012-2013 Milestone Progress and 2014-2015 Milestone Commitments
EPA Interim Evaluation of 2012-2013 Milestone Progress
EPA Evaluation of Final 2012-2013 Milestones Commitments and Phase II WIPs
EPA Evaluation of Phase I WIPs
2009-11 Milestones to Reduce Nitrogen and Phosphorus - Assessment June 2012 (PDF)Exit(14 pp, 1.5 M, About PDF)
Federal Actions
- Expand National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage to unregulated sources.
- Expand EPA oversight review of state-issued NPDES permits and EPA objection to inadequate permits.
- Require net improvement offsets for new or increasing loadings.
- Establish finer-scale waste load allocations and load allocations in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL.
- Require additional reductions of loadings from point sources.
- Increase and target federal enforcement and compliance assurance, including both air and water sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.
- Condition or redirect EPA grants.
- Federally promulgate local nutrient water quality standards (WQS).
For more information on the potential actions, please visit:
- Section 7 of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL document
- EPA's December 29, 2009 letter to the Bay jurisdictions