EPA blames bay states for poor coastal rating

Coastal water conditions in the Northeast fell from fair to poor in the last three years, and the Chesapeake Bay is the main reason why, according to a new report.

The draft National Coastal Condition Report released earlier this month by the Environmental Protection Agency said that coastal waters in the nation as a whole remained the same or improved during the period. Only the Northeast and Puerto Rico declined.

And the Northeast does not stand much chance to improve its standing unless bay states change environmental policy, EPA officials said.

That statement raised eyebrows among some environmental groups, who...