FDEP taking Wrong Stand when it comes to Florida waters

The League of Women Voters says that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has drafted a rule that, if adopted, will:

1. Allow the continued discharge of sewage, animal manure and fertilizer pollution into most of the state's water resources;
2. Keep the burden of prevention and clean-up costs on taxpayers and off of industry polluters; and
3. Give the Florida Legislature control of issues related to nutrient pollution.

At this time, FDEP is collecting public comments before deciding whether or not to go forward with the new rule. Between now and October 18, we have the opportunity to prove that Floridians do not want less protection for our water bodies; rather, we want more protection.

Please voice your support for clean water and oppose this damaging regulatory change. This decision will determine the fate of our sensitive Florida waters, so please act today! All comments should be submitted by October 18.

Click HERE to voice your opinion.

For your convenience, some sample talking points are provided below:

• I support clean water and better nutrient pollution controls, including numeric nutrient criteria such as what the EPA has proposed.
• We need numeric nutrient criteria for all of Florida's fresh and estuarine waters so they are safe for swimming and fishing.
• To protect Florida's lakes, bays and beaches, we also need numeric limits to protect all downstream waters.
• We need to ensure that any waterway exceeding numeric nutrient criteria or downstream protective values receive pollution reduction requirements to prevent further degradation.
• It is unacceptable to wait until a waterway becomes unhealthy or covered with green slime before we require actions to reduce nutrient pollution into it.
• I oppose the FDEP draft rule.
• I urge FDEP to implement EPA's numeric nutrient criteria or to rewrite its current draft rules to create similarly protective criteria for all Florida's fresh and marine water bodies.