Letters: Amendment concerns raised

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By: Representatives from agriculture, water utilities and the business community. | Jackson County Floridan
Published: December 18, 2011

Dear (Editor):

Please find (below) a letter sent to members of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee & House of Representatives Appropriations Committee from representatives from agriculture, water utilities and the business community. In the letter, the groups request the inclusion of the Florida Numeric Nutrient Criteria Amendment that is in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (H.R. 2584) in the final version of the spending package.

Dear Senators and Representatives:

In November 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized federal numeric nutrient criteria (NNC) for Florida’s flowing waters and lakes. We are deeply concerned this rule will impose substantial new costs on Florida’s citizens, local governments and businesses. As members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, you have the opportunity to protect Florida’s employers, families and economy from this costly, unprecedented rulemaking by including the Florida Numeric Nutrient Criteria Amendment that is in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (H.R. 2584) in the final version of the spending package.

Studies conducted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and two independent studies produced by Cardno ENTRIX and Carollo Engineers all indicate the impact of the EPA’s mandates to Florida’s economy will be in the billions. Furthermore, it has been estimated that household water utility bills could increase by approximately $700 per year. Additionally, the study produced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services concludes that Florida’s agricultural community will lose 14,545 full - time and part - time jobs.

In addition to the serious concerns about the economic burden the EPA water mandates will place on Florida’s employers and working families, there are also significant questions regarding the scientific validity of the new mandates. Experts in Florida continue to question the scientific basis for these standards and whether they are even attainable with existing technologies. Florida’s existing nutrient water quality programs are more effective than the new EPA regulations because the current policies are based on scientific evaluations of the state’s vast, varied and unique ecosystems.

We respectfully request that you stop EPA from implementing or enforcing its NNC rule for Florida, and allow the experts in Florida to take back control of its water quality programs. Thank you for your time and attention to our concerns.

Sincerely,

ALICO, Inc.

Association of Florida Community Developers

Associated Industries of Florida

CF Industries

FCG Environmental Committee

The Fertilizer Institute, Inc.

Florida Beverage Association

Florida Cattlemen’s Association

Florida Chamber of Commerce

Florida Electric Cooperatives Association

Florida Engineering Society