I am writing to oppose the proposed increase of the nutrient-discharge caps for the Merck Pharmaceutical and the Frederick-Winchester Service Authority wastewater treatment facilities, unless the company and the authority are required to fund nutrient offsets within the Shenandoah-Potomac watershed that result in no net increase of discharged nutrients in the watershed.  This seems like a perfect opportunity to put the state's new nutrient credit exchange program into practice.

Alan Raflo

Blacksburg, Virginia