FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2013
STATEMENT
FROM DEP SECRETARY HERSCHEL T. VINYARD JR. REGARDING PASSAGE OF NUMERIC
NUTRIENT CRITERIA LEGISLATION
TALLAHASSEE - Today, after bi-partisan support
in the House and the Senate, the numeric nutrient criteria bill (SB 1808) will now be presented to Governor Rick Scott
for his signature. The legislation, combined with new state rules, form
the foundation of a state-federal agreement that enables a focused,
state-led solution to protecting Florida’s waters. The legislation is key to
ending litigation and allowing the state to implement better protection of our
waterways.
These
actions will result in having numeric nutrient standards for 99 percent of
Florida’s lakes, streams, springs, estuaries and coastal waters. Such standards
have already been reviewed by the fantastic scientists at DEP and by EPA.
I
applaud the leadership of Sen. Charlie Dean and Rep. Jake Raburn and the
support of the Florida Legislature on this
important issue. Florida has to address the problem of excess nutrients if we
are to restore and protect the health of the rivers, lakes, springs and
estuaries of this great state.
These
measurable nutrient criteria will result in cleaner, safer water for all
Floridians.
Background:
In
March, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency reached an agreement to continue the protection
of Florida’s waterways from excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. High
levels of these pollutants cause algal blooms and are among the largest
contributors to water quality problems in Florida. This agreement marks a
significant step forward in protecting and restoring water quality across the
state.
The agreement builds on momentum from November 2012, when EPA approved
the state's numeric nutrient criteria to cover all lakes, rivers, streams and
springs, as well as estuaries from Clearwater Harbor to Biscayne Bay. The legislation
and some Department rulemaking in 2013 set the stage to finish the job of
setting numeric nutrient criteria for Florida's waterways.
The plan calls for this legislation as well as adopting additional
state rules that in combination will eliminate the need for continued dual
rulemaking and secure the foundation for a single, state-led solution for the
state of Florida. Currently, state and federal rules are in place for some
Florida waterbodies.
The legislation requires the Department to complete its nutrient
criteria rulemaking for remaining coastal and estuarine waters by Dec. 1, 2014,
and establishes interim nutrient standards until then. The legislation further
clarifies and puts into law requirements for nutrient conditions in all managed
conveyances and canals, and makes it clear that all state criteria will go into
effect when EPA has ceased nutrient rulemaking in Florida and removes the
federal criteria.
In
addition, the Department has adopted a clear implementation plan for the
criteria so application of the new rules can occur immediately. The agreement
with EPA, once implemented and completed, will be coupled with EPA’s prior
approval in November of the Department’s adopted water quality standards. The
result will be Florida having numeric nutrient standards for lakes, streams
springs, estuaries and coastal waters, the vast majority of waterways in the
state.
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