The Florida Independent

Friday, May 25th, 2012

Posts Tagged Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Business groups continue to urge EPA to implement state-drafted water pollution rules

By | 03.20.12 | 12:46 pm

A slew of national organizations and businesses are continuing to join together in urging EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to approve a set of Florida-specific water pollution standards drafted by the state, rather than set of rules promulgated by the federal government. In a letter sent to Jackson earlier this month, groups including The Fertilizer Institute argue that the state Department of Environmental Protection has “worked tirelessly” to develop its own water quality standards.

Review shows EPA underestimated cost of soon-to-be-implemented Florida water standards

By | 03.07.12 | 4:29 pm

The costs for Florida to switch to a more stringent set of water pollution standards are expected to exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates, according to a National Research Council report released yesterday.

State working to put new water rules in place

By | 02.22.12 | 2:00 pm

In a letter sent to EPA Regional Administrator Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, the head of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection requests that the agency “return to Floridians the responsibility for protecting Florida’s waters.”

Earthjustice to file suit against U.S. Forest Service

By | 02.21.12 | 3:17 pm

The environmental law firm Earthjustice today announced that it has filed a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue the U.S. Forest Service to protect imperiled manatees and shortnose sturgeon, two species the firm alleges are blocked from migrating in the Ocklawaha River because of a dam operated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Judge orders state water pollution limits to go into effect by March 6

By | 02.21.12 | 10:34 am

A U.S. District judge on Saturday ruled that limits on sewage, manure and fertilizer contamination in state waters must take effect by March 6. Judge Robert Hinkle supported a set of federally mandated criteria for Florida waterways in his ruling, but argued that two portions of the EPA-drafted rules are “arbitrary and capricious.”

Rubio introduces bill to force EPA to implement state-drafted water pollution rules

By | 02.16.12 | 4:03 pm

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today introduced a bill that would force the EPA to scrap its set of Florida water quality standards and instead accept rules drafted by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

EPA disputes Free Market Florida claims, says water rules will save state money ‘in the long run’

By | 02.13.12 | 11:28 am

In a new statement to The Florida Independent, the EPA defends its Florida-specific water pollution rules against charges in a new ad by the group Free Market Florida that the standards will cost the state “billions” and “eliminate 14,000 farming jobs.” Instead, according to the EPA, the regulations will ”save Florida money in the long run.”

Florida Senate unanimously passes bill approving state-drafted water rules

By | 02.10.12 | 9:56 am

The Florida Senate gave final passage to a bill approving a set of state-drafted water pollution rules late Thursday, a move environmentalists say is a “slap in the face to Floridians” dealing with algal blooms and fish kills caused by poor water quality. Critics charge that the rules drafted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are not as strong as the ones drafted by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Free Market Florida releases new ad attacking EPA water rules

By | 02.09.12 | 8:02 am

Critics of federally mandated water pollution standards continue to challenge the costs and benefits of implementing the new water rules, while environmental groups maintain that the standards are necessary to ensure the health of Florida’s waterways, and its economy.

Fertilizer bill dies under pressure from local communities, environmentalists

By | 02.07.12 | 10:20 am

A hotly contested bill that would have allowed certified landscaping professionals to ignore local fertilizer ordinances died in a Tallahassee committee yesterday, despite being passed unanimously by past committees.

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