Ag Policy Bulletin-INFORMATION-Proposed EPA Water Quality Standards

November 18, 2009 
 
ISSUE:
Because of a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the process of developing strict new regulations on Florida's streams, lakes, and canals by January, 2010.  Known as numeric nutrient criteria, these arbitrary regulations would apply only to Florida, and could cause wide ranging impacts to families and business across the state.
 
IMPACT:
Over the past ten years or so, Florida has spent millions of dollars evaluating the quality of its water and putting in place practices that are effective in further cleaning up Florida's waters.  Florida Farm Bureau and other agricultural groups have played an important role in this process, encouraging the development and implementation of Best Management Practices which have made a positive impact on Florida's water quality.
 
By imposing a unilateral federal regulation, EPA would essentially be undoing the work already underway by the state agencies that are most familiar with Florida's unique needs.
 
ACTION:
Florida Farm Bureau and many other agricultural groups have partnered with business interests to form the Florida Water Quality Coalition.  This coalition is working to stop this federal regulation in the courts, through regulatory bodies and by working with Florida's Congressional delegation.
 
FFBF and the coalition are asking that Florida's members of Congress urge EPA to reconsider its actions and withdraw the determination that Florida adopt the numeric nutrient standards by the January 2010 deadline.
 
Click HERE to view a letter from the coalition to Florida's Congressional delegation.
 
For more detailed information about this issue, click HERE for the coalition's Statement of Concern.
 
Visit http://donttaxflorida.com/ for additional resources.
 
CONTACT:
Staci Braswell; Staci.Braswell@FFBF.org, 352-374-1522