Our Say: Feds must step up efforts to turn around the bay

Pardon us if we wax a little more skepticism on the latest round of federal rhetoric about cracking down on polluters of the Chesapeake Bay. But will this really be the time the federal government's bite is worse than its bark?

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a new directive last week that was intended to signal a stronger promise that the feds would crack down on runoff from farms and stormwater - two of the major sources of pollution.

J. Charles Fox, a special adviser to EPA and formerly Maryland's secretary for Natural Resources, expressed frustration at missed deadlines for cleaning up the bay and said more punitive response was needed for progress to make any real headway.

So far, so good.

We think Fox and the EPA have correctly sized up the problem - farm and stormwater runoff - but again they are leaving the serious action to the states, which so far have responded too slowly to this problem.

Although progress has been made by state leaders in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, it has not been strong enough to dent the flow of pollution from commercial farms on the Eastern Shore and from municipal stormwater runoff. That's why the bay hasn't seen a turn around in water quality.

The feds want to give the states a chance to address these issues and say they will threaten to take two steps if the states don't: oppose some state-issued permits for sewage plants, farms and stormwater pollution programs; and, cut off federal grants for cleanup projects.

That seems like a hollow threat since cutting off federal funds will hardly make matters better for the bay.

Several states, including Maryland, have argued with reason that federal intervention could upset the progress each of the states are making through more tailored programs.

However true, the plans may not be strong or fast enough to turn around this worsening problem. We truly hope the federal government steps in.

Maryland has been working with chicken farmers, but the cost of pollution abatement could wipe out one year's profits. State leaders will have to provide some financial help for chicken farmers and any other big operations responsible for fertilizer runoff. But farm and urban stormwater runoff are issues that must be addressed if Maryland is expected to make any headway.

President Obama has promised to make a difference in cleaning up the nation's largest estuary. Accomplishing that would bring back a better seafood industry. While others have offered nothing but broken promises and rhetoric, Obama has the chance to actually do something. But he can't do it by rattling the same saber others have dulled.

State and federal organizations have missed deadline after deadline because their leaders have lacked the backbone to make the tough decisions.

We're back to just hoping this threat will make a difference.