At some point during the early 90’s I became aware of “The Chesapeake Bay Act”.  Being a good citizen with a fairly aloof interest in the details, I thought the “Act” sounded pretty good.  So what if the protectors of the snail darter were on the rise again?  I knew that serious pollution was bad.  When Pat Paulson (Rowan and Martins “Laugh In”, etc.) was running for president in 1972, he proclaimed in Roanoke, Virginia that he was coming out for air pollution because it was too easy to oppose it.

    Having grown up in West Virginia, we joked in the 60’s about the Kanawha River that runs through the city of Charleston.  We were taught in West Virginia history that Charleston was the “chemical capitol” of the world - which it is.  We always said, “A rock which was thrown into the Kanawha would never reach the bottom because it would dissolve before it got there.

    While teaching the about lawns at a class, I eluded to the fact that we have to be better educated about fertilization because of the Chesapeake Bay Act.  I explained the importance of correct timing, proper dosage, and use of slow release nitrogen.  I told of  “the excess nitrogen going past the grass roots, down to the water table, into the tributaries, into the major rivers, and into the Bay thus causing an algae bloom on the surface of the Bay which depletes oxygen and shades out the natural bottom growth flora”...  The cool thing about public speaking is that English teachers have little documentation to correct your run-on sentences.

    I enjoy the opportunity to teach because I always learn.  I encourage my students (victims) to ask questions and make corrections.  Occasionally I get popped, as I did on this night.  Someone asked, “What is the Chesapeake Bay Act?”  I said, “Gosh, lady, I don’t know.  It’s just an act.”  I’m glad she didn’t ask, “What’s an act?”  I’m just trying to stay aloof.  I think that what she was really asking was if this was a mandatory law or a suggestion regarding stewardship.

    In Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay Act was passed in 1988, giving broad powers and a mandate to localities.  The entire Act can be read at http://www.cblad.state.va.us/theact.cfm   Early on in the Act it states, “...cities, counties, and towns of Tidewater, Virginia shall incorporate general water quality protection measures...” Yes, it is law.

    Is “Big Brother” watching us?  Government is supposed to legislate laws for the common good of the people.  This law easily falls within those guidelines.  In the 1960’s the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland caught fire due to the pollution and had to be allowed to burn out on its own accord.  When we were allowed into Russia after the wall was torn down, we were floored by the environmental destruction of rivers due to raw sewage and industrial waste directly disposed of in their waterways.  America was light years ahead of Russia in cleaning up our act.

    The Earth has a fixed amount of water in its atmosphere and scientists have shown that one drop of oil contaminates 8,000 gallons of formally potable water.  We used to pour our discarded automobile oil into the ditches for weed control.   Collection points for such oil at our landfills are not just about job security and higher taxes anymore.  They have a purpose.  Excuse me while I go hug a tree.  Until next week.