1. EPA approved Florida DEP’s nutrient rules for 15% of the state’s waters. DEP’s rules contain “thresholds” and standards that are less stringent than EPA had proposed.
2. EPA proposed strong rules for the remaining 85% of Florida’s waters, but it also has signaled that it is prepared to withdraw those rules and transfer that authority to Florida DEP. — That would turn a major clean water victory into defeat.
Polluter lobbyists, in fact, crafted the DEP’s ineffective rules. They hold enormous influence in the Scott Administration and in Legislature. It is simply irresponsible to turn this over to the DEP.
See the attached fact sheet for our detailed assessment of EPA’s action.
EPA also announced that it would hold public information sessions in Tampa on January 17-18 to answer questions and take comments on the rules. It is of vital importance that hundreds of clean water advocates gather in Tampa to demand that EPA not turn clean water enforcement over to Florida DEP. Details follow below in our action alert.
EPA will soon decide whether it will enforce the Clean Water Act or hand a “get out of jail free card” to Florida’s polluters. The moment is now to let our voices be heard and take action together.
– Frank