Judge prods EPA to set Florida runoff limits

Tallahassee-U.S. Judge Robert Hinkle has approved a consent decree requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set the legal limits for the nutrient runoff that environmentalists claim is fouling the waters by causing growth of harmful algae blooms. The ruling sides with five environmental groups suing to require EPA to start moving quicker to establish legal runoff limits. “Over the last 10 years, Florida has invested thousands of staff hours and millions of dollars in development of numeric nutrient criteria, and throughout the last year we have moved aggressively to analyze the massive amount of nutrient and biological data available for Florida waters,” responded Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman DeeAnn Miller. “Alone.” Miller insisted, “Florida accounts for 30 percent of the national water quality dataset, far surpassing any other state in the nation. Our efforts have focused on appropriately addressing the complexity of Florida’s ecosystems and coinciding with the intent, schedule and guidance provided from EPA.” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, the Florida Pulp and Paper Association, four of the state’s five water management districts, sewage plant operators, the Florida Farm Bureau, and others had sought a delay in the court’s order. “Florida is one step closer to having the tools it needs to adequately address the threats that nutrient pollution pose to our quality of life and our tourist economy,” claimed Frank Jackalone of the Sierra Club, one of the plaintiffs. Much of that, according to Miller, is already underway. She reported that Florida has made a tremendous investment to collect and analyze the data necessary to define how nutrient enrichment affects the biological health of the state’s surface waters. “To ensure that there is no duplication of work,” she added, “we will continue to work with EPA in the same manner they have worked with us as they develop the criteria. We look forward to EPA presenting its criteria to both DEP and the stakeholders of Florida.”