Cardin: Feds Can Now Pay Local Stormwater Fees

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal government can now pay local stormwater fees that will help Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

Sen. Ben Cardin plans to hold a round-table discussion with state and federal officials in College Park on Thursday to discuss the bill signed into law last week by President Barack Obama that enables federal agencies to pay the fees.

Cardin says the law affects jurisdictions nationwide, particularly Washington, which is owed $2.4 million.

Federal officials told D.C. last year the Constitution prohibits the federal government from paying taxes levied by state and local governments. Stormwater runoff is the fastest growing source of pollution in the Chesapeake watershed and the federal government is a major landowner in the region.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)