Fla. governor to EPA: Water guidelines aren’t necessary here

[unhappycamper]

Fla. governor to EPA: Water guidelines aren’t necessary here
By Janet Zink | Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
Posted on Saturday, April 23, 2011

TALLAHASSEE -- The day after the Florida House passed a bill to ban implementation of water quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday asked the agency to rescind a January 2009 determination that the federal rules are necessary for Florida.

Opponents of the federal requirement say the state is better equipped to decide how best to comply with the federal Clean Water Act, which is intended to manage nitrogen and phosphorous pollution of lakes, rivers, streams and bays. They say the EPA standards will be costly to implement, don’t address specific conditions of local waterways and provide little biological benefit.

According to Scott’s office, the petition sent to the EPA details eight pollution control measures already in place Florida that mirror EPA recommendations for effective water pollution control.

“Florida is one of the few states that has a comprehensive program in place to address excess nutrients, and we continue to lead the nation in developing innovative tools to ensure the health of our state’s waterways,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to working with the EPA to reach an agreement that will promote clean water standards in the way that makes the most sense for our state.”

The U.S. EPA released pollution standards for Florida waterways in December 2010 as part of a 2009 legal settlement with environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, who sued the agency for not enforcing the Clean Water Act in Florida.

[Scuba]

1. I think any State has the right to impose stricter guidelines than the Feds....

...but I would seriously question Rick Scott's motives, regardless of his position on any issue.

[madrchsod]

4. yup...the states can set stricter guidelines.

i`m interested in is whether the state of illinois could sue wisconsin for lowering their guidelines below the federal or illinois`s guidelines.

i know several years ago illinois had a huge fight with milwaukee for dumping billions of gallons of raw sewage and storm run off into the lake.

[madrchsod]

2. i guess they want their own country down there....

i would`t object if they left...

[DirkGently]

6. Rick Scott isn't the people of Florida. His disapproval numbers are off the charts.

[FLPanhandle]

11. Nice broadbrush there

Like Scott represents all Floridians. :eyes:

He is wildly unpopular.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Not going to happen:

1) Federal law (including regs from federal agencies) supercedes state law, with this exception: States are allowed to be MORE STRICT in their regulations for water, air, earth than the EPA.

2) Facts are facts. Florida would have to have its own army of scientists and experts to prove its water is free of toxins, impurities, pollution, etc. to change the EPA recommendations.

[Turbineguy]

5. The scam is to have the Feds turn over

to the State because they have higher standards. Then Scott privatizes enforcement to a crony who doesn't enforce.

[TheKentuckian]

7. Of course. If you intended to maintain higher standards why would you complain

about a lower baseline?

[peekaloo]

12. Sick Rott is Jeb Bu$h on steroids.

but the fishin' is nice.

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. God Damned stupid fucker

[ThomWV]

9. I went to College in Miami years ago, a Professor said "Dade County floats on a sea of urine.

No sewage system, homes everywhere each with its own septic tank and drain field, mixed with a very shallow water table. Indeed, Dade County floats on a sea of urine.

[Arkana]

10. It's like they elected Voldemort to the governorship.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. FaiL!