Report: Tighter phosphorous regs for Bay

An environmental group is calling for tighter regulation of phosphorous, one of two key Chesapeake Bay pollutants.

The Washington-based Environmental Working Group released a report Tuesday that reviewed soil tests for phosphorous in the six-state bay watershed. The report found that in one of every five counties in the bay watershed, more than half the soil tested had excessive levels.

Phosphorous and nitrogen cause oxygen-robbing algae blooms and are found in manure, as well as in sewage sludge, both of which are used as a farmland fertilizer.

Tuesday’s report comes as the federal government is developing a new “pollution diet” for the bay. The Environmental Working Group says the findings show current regulations have not done enough.