Fellow Floridians,
Florida is a state in the midst of a clean water crisis. Our lakes, rivers, spring, and coastal estuaries are drowning in nutrient pollution. The good news is, after years of inaction and neglect, positive changes and real water quality improvements may be on the way with your help!
Nutrient pollution, from things like nitrogen and phosphorus, reach our waters as pollution from farms and neighborhoods brings excess fertilizer and runoff. Algal blooms, increased red tides, fish kills, and polluted waters are the results. This is a problem people created, and people can solve.
Recently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new, potentially stronger water quality standards for Florida. By setting numeric nutrient standards for Florida’s waters it’s possible to improve water quality and decrease pollution. Florida’s leading polluters are working hard and spending lots of money to stop this effort. Only the voices of Floridians united for clean water and healthy coastlines can ensure that EPA continues to do the right thing and is serious about implementing the Clean Water Act.
During the week of Feb. 15th the EPA will be holding three public workshops across Florida to hear from you, and to hear from folks like you who want clean healthy places to paddle, fish, bird, swim, surf, and sail. This is a historic and critical opportunity to speak out for clean water. The hearings will be held on:
Tuesday Feb. 16th in Tallahassee, Fl. (The Florida Springs Rally is being held in Tallahassee on this day as well!)
Wednesday Feb. 17th in Orlando, Fl.
Thursday Feb. 18th in West Palm Beach, Fl.
Florida’s water quality crisis can be solved. It can be solved by folks like you speaking out and being advocates for the rivers, springs, and coastlines you love and use. Future generations of Floridians deserve clean, healthy water and we can be the catalyst for change to make it happen.
Come to one of the Public Hearings, and look for folks from the conservation community who will be there to greet you with a sticker to wear, talking points for comments, and informational brochures. Wear blue to show your support for clean water!
Below are the dates and locations of the three public hearings in Florida. We need folks to attend, show their support, and consider submitting written or verbal comments. In some cases the online registration for the hearings through EPA has closed, but speakers will still be able to sign up at the hearing to speak. Environmental groups will be at the hearings with talking points, sample comments, and buttons or stickers you can wear to show support.
This is an incredible and critical opportunity to make a real and substantial difference in terms of the health of our waters in Florida!
February 16, 2010 at the FSU Conference Center (NEW location)
555 West Pensacola Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1640
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
February 17, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal
7800 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819
1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
February 18, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Palm Beach Airport
1301 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
EPA encourages you to preregister for this hearing. Preregistration is strongly encouraged, as we expect a large number of participants. Everyone who attends will have the opportunity to speak, however those who have registered will be able to speak first. New information on the hearing process is provided below.
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/
(weblink to EPA site if you need it)
Thanks,
Joe Murphy
Florida Program Director
Gulf Restoration Network
352-583-0870 (office)
813-468-0870 (cell)
Florida Office:
34413 Orchid Parkway
Ridge Manor, Fl. 33523
joe@healthygulf.org
www.healthygulf.org
Read the fact sheet: NNC Numeric Nutrient Standards Fact Sheet (4)[1]