In response to the op-ed written by Dee Hodges ("Focusing on the wrong threat to the bay," July 4), I must disagree. She recently attended a forum where I spoke in detail about Chesapeake Bay pollution. I made it very clear that the sources of pollution to the bay are varied and that all must be addressed or the bay cleanup will fail.
Pollution of the bay comes from many sources and is caused by many pollutants. Air pollution contributes 30 percent of nitrogen; sewage treatment plants must be made more efficient, thus the Bay Restoration Fee (flush tax); farms must include best management practices; stormwater must be controlled and cleaned, thus the stormwater remediation fee; and it would be very helpful if sediment behind the Conowingo Dam were dredged.
However, Ms. Hodges would postpone all other actions until only the last one is accomplished. The science and engineering support the multi-pronged strategy with no single approach as the solution.
Vincent Gardina, Towson
The writer is director of the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.