Another Federal Mandated Fiscal Fiasco? - EPA Proposes New Tough Water quality standards Costing $1-billion plus for Florida, Effective by October

This is another costly surprise program driven by liberal lawsuits that will increase taxes and reduce lifestyles in Florida.  When will it end?    The end of the article below says that the plan, which supersedes in progress Florida State quality plans, will go into effect in October after three public hearings in February.   Apparently, environmentalists have sued the Federal EPA for not enforcing long standing environmental "improvements", and Florida is the first state where the Feds are enacting tough standards.

The standards would include tougher standards for "up stream" lakes in a chain, which means up-stream sources like Lake Apopka,

the source of much of the pollution flowing through the Harris Chain of Lakes would have tougher standards to meet to reduce effects of bad water quality on downstream lakes. 

It must be a coincidence that the canal behind my house is green with algae and Tilapia are floating to the surface trying to breath enough air.  Guys in boats are catching the lethargic fish with hand held nets.

Yes, I want better water quality, and all the farms around Lake Apopka are feeding the phosphorus in the lake, but it seems the State put off enacting earlier required standards, and now this issue is just one more new fiscal fiasco surprise that will suck up funds from Florida taxpayers and reduce funds available for schools, etc.

So, watch the papers over the next few weeks to get a better handle on how this will be done, how fast, and how much it will cost taxpayers to subsidize farms and other polluters of the lakes.

And, the article lists a number of lobbying "associations" with words like "clean water" in their names, but they just may be lobbyists for the agricultural or industrial water polluters

vj

FLORIDA ENVIRONMENT

EPA's plan to set water-quality standards in Florida, a national first

The EPA's proposal for water pollution in Florida marks the first time the federal agency has intervened in a state to set legal limits.

Have your say on the EPA's pollution-control plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comments on the proposed water-quality standards, which take affect in October, for the next 60 days.

To learn more, see www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/ florida/

Similar stories:

•

EPA sets limits for water pollution in Florida

EPA sets limits for water pollution in Florida

(AP) -- Environmental groups on Friday afternoon lauded long-awaited action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set legal limits for farm and urban runoff that is polluting Florida's waterways.

A consent decree signed Wednesday settled a lawsuit filed last year by the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation and others against the EPA seeking to get the federal agency to set numeric standards for nutrient runoff. Florida and most other states currently have only vague limits on waste and fertilizer pollution.

The groups say rain sends the runoff, which includes fertilizers and animal waste, into rivers and lakes, contaminating waterways and nourishing algae blooms that poison the ecosystems. The runoff can also contaminate drinking water supplies and sicken or kill people.

•

Florida coalition targets pending federal pollution rules

Florida coalition targets pending federal pollution rules

After losing on the legal front, a powerful coalition of agriculture and business interests, wastewater utilities, water managers and tax watchdogs is mounting a lobbying assault on pending federal rules that could force Florida to clean up pollution fouling lakes, canals, streams and beaches statewide.

The target: A settlement a federal judge in Tallahassee approved last week in a lawsuit brought by five environmental groups against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

It requires that federal regulators, for the first time, step in and set a state's water quality standards for nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that flow into waterways from fertilized lawns, sewage plants, farms fields, cattle pastures and a host of other sources.

•

EPA proposes water pollution legal limits in Fla.

EPA proposes water pollution legal limits in Fla.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed the first numeric limits in the nation for farm and urban runoff polluting Florida's waterways, limits supporters say could set precedent and lead to similar federal standards in other states.

The agency released its proposed rules after reaching a settlement last year with environmentalists who sued EPA in 2008. They claimed the agency was failing to force Florida to meet requirements under the Clean Water Act, and sought the numeric standards for runoff such as fertilizers and animal waste that are causing toxic algae blooms and poisoning ecosystems.

Friday's proposed rules mark the first time the EPA plans to force numeric limits of so-called nutrient runoff on any state. A handful of other states, at the urging of the agency, have already acted to set their own standards. The remainder have vague limits on waste and fertilizer pollution, while some are in the process of developing their own numeric limits.

•

EPA proposes water pollution legal limits in Fla.

EPA proposes water pollution legal limits in Fla.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed the first numeric limits in the nation for farm and urban runoff polluting Florida's waterways, limits supporters say could set precedent and lead to similar federal standards in other states.

The agency released its proposed rules after reaching a settlement last year with environmentalists who sued EPA in 2008. They claimed the agency was failing to force Florida to meet requirements under the Clean Water Act, and sought the numeric standards for runoff such as fertilizers and animal waste that are causing toxic algae blooms and poisoning ecosystems.

Friday's proposed rules mark the first time the EPA plans to force numeric limits of so-called nutrient runoff on any state. A handful of other states, at the urging of the agency, have already acted to set their own standards. The remainder have vague limits on waste and fertilizer pollution, while some are in the process of developing their own numeric limits.

•

U.S. to be czar for water pollution

U.S. to be czar for water pollution

The federal government will try to set Florida's water pollution standards -- the first time it will try that for any state -- under an agreement approved Monday.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rejected objections from state and local government agencies as well as agriculture and business interests. They had argued that the agreement would result in hastily drawn, unscientific rules and that complying with them would be too costly .

In approving the consent decree involving five environmental groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hinkle noted that it allows for delays in the rule-making process to make sure regulations are proper. He said other objections were premature and must wait until after the proposed regulations have been drafted.

BY JOHN FRANK

Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE -- In a move cheered by environmental groups, the federal government on Friday proposed stringent limits on ``nutrient'' pollution allowed to foul Florida's waterways.

The ruling -- which will cost industries and governments more than a billion dollars to comply -- marks the first time the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has intervened to set a state's water-quality standards.

``I'm thrilled,'' said Linda Young, director of the Clean Water Network, an advocacy group. ``It is something that will ultimately start restoring Florida's waters.''

The agency issued the proposed regulations after reaching a settlement in August with five environmental groups that sued the federal government in 2008 for not enforcing the Clean Water Act in Florida.

The caps on phosphorus and nitrogen levels in Florida's lakes, rivers, streams, springs and canals would replace the state's vague ``narrative'' approach to monitoring the effects of waste and fertilizer runoff, which the EPA deemed insufficient. The proposed rule includes provisions giving the EPA oversight authority to enforce the standards.

In Florida, 16 percent of rivers, 36 percent of lakes and 25 percent of estuaries are considered impaired, according to a 2008 report. Nutrient pollution is the most prevalent water-pollution problem in the state, contributing to algae blooms that kill fish and cause respiratory problems and infections among boaters and beachgoers. It also causes economic damage to property values, tourism and commercial fishing.

``New water-quality standards will help protect and restore inland waters that are a critical part of Florida's history, culture and economic prosperity,'' said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator in the EPA's Office of Water, in a statement.

More than 10 years ago, the EPA told states to set limits on nutrient pollution.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection spent eight years collecting data and planned to present a draft proposal to a group of scientists and industry representatives last August. But the department abandoned the effort when the federal government interceded.

The EPA proposed standards based on geography and the type of water body using the state's data but its own methodology, which was reviewed by an independent authority, according to the 197-page report.

SLIGHTY TOUGHER

The agency's numbers don't deviate too greatly from what state regulators intended, though the federal standards are tougher when it comes to pollution in rivers and streams.

Take, for example, the Suwannee River basin: the state wanted to allow 1.730 parts per million of total nitrogen but the EPA set the number lower at 1.479 parts per million.

The EPA also went further than state regulators by proposing water-quality standards for South Florida canals and creating more rigid standards on upstream nutrient levels to protect downstream lakes and estuaries.

In other areas, the rules would give Florida flexibility by establishing a procedure for gradual compliance and allowing the state to set limits in certain areas.

Federal analysts estimated it would cost polluters $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion to comply - but emphasized the state's draft proposal would have cost nearly the same amount. The cost estimates don't include the price tag for upgrading municipal stormwater systems.

A spokesman for Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole said the department was still reviewing the report late Friday and didn't have a response.

`WATER TAX'

But a coalition of agriculture and industry groups - which formed two months ago to oppose the EPA rules - responded quickly by calling the proposed limits a ``water tax.''

``This terrible regulation is not needed because Florida nutrient standards are perfectly adequate,'' said Jim Alves, a lobbyist who represents power companies and wastewater utilities. ``The science isn't there to do this regulation.''

Barney Bishop, the president of Associated Industries of Florida, said the cost - which his group estimates at more than $50 billion - would hurt business recruitment and job creation.

``It's onerous, stupid, ridiculous and idiotic,'' he said.

Ever since the lawsuit settlement, political officials and special interests have waded into the debate. Gov. Charlie Crist, Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson previously voiced strong objections and suggested the state might sue the EPA.

The issue is expected to generate intense political debate ahead of three public hearings throughout the state in February. The final rule takes effect in October.

John Frank can be reached at [email protected]