"Pals of Polluters" protest long delayed EPA Water Rules

Rick Scott and "Pollution Pal" Adam Putnam (incoming AG Commissioner) not content to wait until they actually take office, to begin dismantling Florida's Environment, send a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, challenging the EPA Clean Water regulations (already postponed over  ten years)

They  claim radical environmentalists from the (BUSH era) EPA teamed up with former Gov. Jebby Bush created rues so onerous that they might hinder the ongoing high speed destruction of Florida's waters.

The St. Petersburg Times says "Polluted water endangers public health, threatens the golden geese of property values and tourism and destroys the very environment that attracts residents here. ... The new rules are hardly an example of an activist federal government overstepping its authority. The EPA told the states in 1998 to limit nutrient pollution in surface waters by 2004 or it would do the job for them."

 The Sun Sentinel says "Florida has only itself to blame for the federal intervention, in the form of clean water rules that take effect in 15 months. After all, the rules came about after environmental groups filed a lawsuit demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency enforce the federal Clean Water Act."

Here is the Letter inbound Not-Yet-Elected "Pals-of-Polluters" sent EPA 

November 12, 2010

The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson
Administrator
United State Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Jackson:

As the newly elected officials representing Florida, we are writing today regarding the proposed EPA numeric nutrient rules for our state. We are concerned that the EPA’s unprecedented nutrient criteria rulemaking will impose substantial regulatory and economic consequences on Floridians. The rule for rivers, streams and lakes is scheduled to be finalized on November 14, 2010, and we request a delay so that we have time to fully analyze the rule and its affect on Florida.

We are very concerned about the cost of this onerous regulation to Floridians. Businesses across Florida are struggling and our unemployment rate is nearly 12%. We each ran on the platform of fiscal responsibility and heard from numerous constituents about concerns of an overbearing federal government that’s placing burdensome regulations on Florida’s families and employers. According to a study done by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the EPA mandates set to be finalized this November 14th will impose capital costs of over $4 billion on municipal wastewater treatment utilities and over $17 billion on municipal storm water utilities. The cost of these new mandates could impede our state’s economic recovery and increase the price of utilities, food and other necessities for Floridians.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has expressed significant concerns regarding the scientific validity of the numeric nutrient criteria the EPA is set to impose on Florida, even questioning whether the standards are attainable or will achieve environmental benefits. In April 2010, the EPA’s own Science Advisory Board joined the chorus of FDEP, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Legislature and others in expressing serious concerns that the EPA’s methods for developing nutrient standards are scientifically flawed. [editor - my emphasis]

Therefore, we strongly urge you to delay implementation of the final rule for lakes and flowing waters. Florida is the first state to be subjected to such federal rules, and we must ensure that the science is sound and the benefits are worthy of the costs.

Sincerely,

Rick Scott
Governor-Elect

Pam Bondi
Attorney General-Elect

Adam Putnam
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services- Elect

Richard B. "Rich" Nugent
Congressman-Elect District 5

David Rivera
Congressman-Elect District 25

Dennis A. Ross
Congressman-Elect District 12

Steve Southerland
Congressman-Elect District 2

Daniel Webster
Congressman-Elect District 8

Activists must keep in mind, since Florida refused in the 1990's to enforce EPA standard environmentalists sued to get EPA to enforce standards that were not protecting Floridians.

Now, more than ten years later the EPA announced Federal standards would finally be enforced here in the land of the Environmental Scofflaws. The moderates say well since we live by our beaches lakes and shores shouldn't we protect our investment in tourism.
(Unless Jebby has another NEFARIOUS PLAN)

"It is now time to get started," EPA Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes-Fleming said this morning.

Nutrient pollution is caused by nitrogen and phosphorus in discharges from sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and agricultural runoff laden with fertilizer and animal waste.

The nutrients trigger algae blooms that turn lakes and rivers into algae-choked messes that can poison water supplies and set off a ecosystem chain reaction that leads to devastating fish kills.

The EPA standards set specific numeric limits on the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen, replacing the state of Florida's more general standard that says only that nutrients must not "cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora and fauna."

The standards announced today apply to lakes, rivers and streams. Standards that would apply to South Florida canals and downstream estuaries aren't due until August 2012.

Environmental Activists can only say - IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME EPA!

Contact Lisa Jackson at the EPA - and tell them Protect Us from Pre-Purchased Pollution Friendly Politicians - [jackson.lisap@epa.gov]

solidarity & peace

Rick

www.AveryVoice.com