Office of the Governor press release, November 23, 2005

STATE OF MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 CONTACT: Shareese N. DeLeaver Henry P. Fawell 410-974-2316 Megan Evans Maryland Department of Natural Resources 410-260-8016 Governor Ehrlich Selected to Chair Chesapeake Executive Council WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today during its annual meeting, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., was selected as the incoming Chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council. He will take over from Governor Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania who has chaired the Council for the past year. “I applaud my colleague from Pennsylvania for his outstanding leadership of this Council over the past year and look forward to continuing to work with him and the other members on restoring the Chesapeake Bay - our nation’s most important natural resource,” said Governor Ehrlich. “As we embark on new efforts to restore the Bay for future generations, we must recognize that the solutions go beyond political boundaries to doing what’s right for our environment, our health, and our economies.” Under Governor Ehrlich’s leadership, Maryland continues to lead the way in implementing large-scale Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts including the passing of the historic Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act, the development of the Corsica River Pilot Project, the introduction of new air quality regulations, and the establishment of new Tributary Strategies. In addition, Governor Ehrlich has been the driving force behind aggressive efforts to restore bay grasses, menhaden and oysters to the Chesapeake Bay, as well continuing to preserve and conserve land throughout the state, which is vital to the health of the Bay. The Chesapeake Executive Council was established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983. Under the 1987 Agreement membership changed from cabinet secretaries to the Governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a legislative body serving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The Executive Council establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its living resources. A series of Directives,