Congressional action to beef up the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, stalled for months amid fierce opposition from farmers and developrs, faces increasingly narrow prospects in the weeks after tomorrow's election.
Environmentalists had hoped a bay restoration reauthorization bill might squeak through the Senate, at least, when Congress returns to Washington after tomorrow's voting. But national and Maryland farm groups continue to oppose it, and recently sent a letter to all senators contending that the measure sponsored by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md, would be a "breathaking expansion of federal regulatory control" that could lead to "draconian controls on economic activity and growth in the Chesapeake Bay watershed without assuring that water quality will improve."
The bay bill has been languishing in the Senate since clearing the Environment and Public Works Committee last summer. Despite concessions made by Cardin meant to ease farmers and developers' concerns, industry continues to oppose it. (Interestingly, the changes alienated some environmental groups, who contend the bill's been severely weakened - a charge other green supporters deny).