The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“EPA WATER QUALITY REGULATION ON FLORIDA'S ECONOMY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1519-E1520 on July 30, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
EPA WATER QUALITY REGULATION ON FLORIDA'S ECONOMY
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HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM
of florida
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 30, 2010
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, on October 15th, the EPA will finalize the first phase of an unprecedented statewide water quality regulation which will have significant impacts on Florida's economy. While these regulations only apply to Florida, it could have a regional impact if our State's taxpayers are held accountable for the quality of water flowing from neighboring States. My colleagues should take note of this as these regulations are likely to arrive in your States and districts soon without your input and without a debate on this floor.
Last year, the Obama administration and the EPA entered into a legally binding agreement with environmental activists seeking to impose stringent numeric nutrient criteria for water bodies in the State of Florida. It was lawyers in a courtroom and not scientists in a lab who set the standard and timeline on what will be a costly endeavor that has not been backed up by science.
These regulations could not come at a worse time as they pose a significant threat to Florida's already weakened economy. A joint Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida study indicates these regulations could cost Florida over 14,500 jobs and $902 million to $1.6 billion annually, with additional indirect economic impacts to the State of over $1 billion annually.
Even worse, there is significant debate in the environmental community as to whether these federal regulations will even benefit the environment. The comments expressed by the State and local agencies charged with protecting Florida's waters raise serious concerns about the methodology EPA used to develop these regulations. Our State Department of Environmental Protection says that ``compliance will force an investment of billions of dollars without environmental benefit.'' The scientists at DEP further claim that ``EPA proposed criteria do not reflect a true relationship between nutrient enrichment and the biological health of Florida's surface waters.''
The South Florida Water Management District--the lead State agency charged with the restoration of the Everglades--calls the current proposed implementation timeline ``unrealistic'' and that the proposed methodology has real potential to disrupt Everglades restoration.
It is also questionable as to whether the technology even exists for our local governments and private industries to meet the standards proposed by EPA. Even if it does, the costs imposed will flow to the consumer in the form of higher utility bills.
But despite all the legitimate science based concerns, EPA marches forward bound by a consent decree they did not have to sign in the first place. When members of the Florida delegation met with EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, she promised to review the rigor of their science. The problem is, she did not have the flexibility in time to review their own science without getting permission from the ones who sued them. Will this be the EPA's standard business practice for water quality regulations in the future?
When Congress passed the Clean Water Act, its intent was to create a collaborative approach with the Federal Government partnering with the States to clean our Nation's waters. It was not intended to promote a heavy handed Washington-knows-best agenda.
Of course, Floridians want cleaner water--which is why our State has invested millions collecting data on the effects of nutrients. Over the past three decades, Floridians have successfully committed to substantial reductions in phosphorous levels through an EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Load, TMDL, program. We are seeing the positive results of these programs in water bodies across the State.
I was pleased to learn that EPA would submit the part of its proposed rule which would apply to estuaries, coastal waters, and flowing waters in South Florida to their internal Science Advisory Board. When EPA made this announcement in June, their own press release quoted the assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water as saying:
An independent scientific peer review by the SAB will ensure that the best available science is our guide in developing clean water standards for Florida's coast.
Shouldn't the best available science be afforded to north and central Florida as well?
Florida is one the most diverse States in terms of its aquatic ecosystems, from the rare coastal dune lakes in the panhandle to the mangroves, swamps, and spring-fed lakes and rivers throughout central Florida. An SAB review of only South Florida waters ignores this diversity in the rest of the State.
I urge EPA to conduct a full SAB review of this proposed rule for all Florida waters and to modify its rulemaking in accordance with SAB's analysis so that Floridians can continue to enjoy clean water, protected by a standard that is achievable and supported by the best available science.
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