Congressman wants to overhaul cleanup of bay

The federal government's Chesapeake Bay Program needs more power to impose cleanup policies and a better way to get money to communities, a local congressman said yesterday.

Following a hearing in Annapolis, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest said that he intends to spearhead an overhaul of the bay program within the next two years by marshaling the forces of congressmen in the bay states.

"I think we're going to have the clout to push it through," he said.

At the same time, Mr. Gilchrest expressed doubts about Maryland's proposal to put a nonnative oyster into the bay to boost the flagging native oyster population.

Maryland...