The Florida Independent

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

Posts Tagged Rich Budell

Central Florida’s Agri-Leader: EPA water rules ‘way too extreme’ for Florida

By | 11.03.11 | 11:09 am

An article released yesterday in a special agri-business edition of Highlands Today dubs a set of federally mandated water pollution standards “way too extreme for Florida.” The article is the latest in a long series of critiques of the EPA’s decision to implement its “numeric nutrient criteria,” rules that would help thwart algal blooms and fish kills in Florida waterways.

Department of Agriculture outlines objections to EPA clean water rules

By | 11.02.11 | 8:16 am

Speaking to the state House Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural Resources yesterday, the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Rich Budell continued to express concern with federally mandated water pollution standards. Though the state of Florida is currently in a race to draw up its own rules before the EPA can implement its regulations, Budell said that “the concerns are really the same” no matter who creates them.

Florida Department of Agriculture rep testifies against EPA water pollution standards

By | 10.05.11 | 11:36 am

Testifying on behalf of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services yesterday, Rich Budell, director of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy, said that a set of federally mandated water pollution standards would have a “devastating” impact on the Florida economy.

A 2005 toxic algae outbreak in Jacksonville (Pic by Neil Armingeon)

Fierce dispute over EPA water rules continues

By | 08.29.11 | 11:30 am

A recent string of opinion columns proves just how intense the debate over new water rules proposed by the EPA have become in Florida.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam (Pic via Facebook)

Department of Agriculture testifies against EPA water pollution rules

By | 08.09.11 | 1:03 pm

This morning’s hearing on Florida water pollution rules, sponsored by the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, was much of the same. Agriculture and industry groups remain vehemently opposed to the EPA’s numeric nutrient criteria, a set of rules to govern nutrient overload in state waterways.

Foam on the St. Johns River (Pic via Neil Armingeon)

Day two of water pollution meeting again highlights major cost discrepencies

By | 07.26.11 | 11:36 am

The National Academies’ National Research Council met yesterday in Orlando to examine the implementation of a set of water pollution standards. The conference mostly dealt with the science behind the proposed rule, but discussions between various stakeholders made clear that the projected costs remain unclear. Today’s meeting featured of a series of presentations by those stakeholders, all of whom gave their own estimates of how much the EPA’s numeric nutrient criteria may cost Florida businesses.

Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park (left) (Pic by Jasmine Chopra)

EPA to Congress: Clean water helps economic growth

By | 06.27.11 | 11:26 am

In congressional testimony on Friday, the federal Environmental Protection Agency was again criticized for its proposed numeric nutrient criteria, a set of standards to regulate pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus in Florida waterways. But EPA representatives defended the agency’s decision to implement the standards, arguing that they are needed for the health and safety of citizens and businesses struggling to survive in harsh economic times.

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