ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996               TAG: 9610110062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-5  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: HARRISBURG, PA.
SOURCE: Associated Press

TREE PLAN ADOPTED FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA PLANTINGS SHOULD COVER 2,010 MILES BY THE YEAR 2010

Governors of Chesapeake Bay states and the top federal environmental official signed an agreement Thursday to plant trees along more than 2,000 miles of bay tributaries to help stop pollutants.

The agreement, reached at the annual meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, calls for adding trees to 2,010 miles along rivers and streams by the year 2010.

Virginia Gov. George Allen had resisted setting a numerical goal for the initiative, but signed along with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening and Carol Browner, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

``It's a common-sense, cost-effective way to keep pollution out of the rivers that flow into the bay,'' Browner said.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed in the three states contains about 112,000 miles of stream and rivers. About 52,000 miles have lost their forest edges to agriculture and urban development.

The buffer goal calls for replacing some of the lost forests and holding the line on losses elsewhere. The effort would be pursued through voluntary agreements with landowners, who would qualify for tax incentives or federal and state aid.

``It is a critical means of keeping pollution out of the bay,'' Browner said, calling the mileage goal ``bold.''

The council charts the course for the bay cleanup effort, part of which is the buffer proposal. Advocates of restoring trees along streams and rivers say the trees would trap sediment and other causes of water pollution.

Allen had supported the concept, but previously questioned the need for a specific goal. Virginia environmental officials suggested promoting buffers with landowners, who could take action if they wanted to.

On Thursday, Allen's office issued a statement praising the plan.

``By setting this goal, we help improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, provide for accountability in government and give the public an objective to work toward - 2,010 by 2010,'' Allen said.

The council also adopted plans to help keep people informed about efforts to improve the bay and to reduce the amount of agricultural and industrial pollution in the bay.

LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Members of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council 
          (from left) Virginia Gov. George Allen; Carol Browner, administrator
          of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Maryland Gov. Parris 
          Glendening; and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge chat before their annual
          meeting in Harrisburg, Pa.