Fort Myers and Tallahassee-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was holding hearings in Fort Myers last week on a proposal to tighten water quality standards in Florida, while the state Legislature was in Tallahassee considering eliminating local laws aimed at controlling water pollution. State standards for rivers, lakes, and streams are relatively lax, and only require that levels of phosphate and nitrogen in the water not damage the natural balance of marine life. At the EPA’s hearing in Fort Myers, the agency was considering whether to set numeric standards for nutrients, which the state does not do. While supporters of the move greatly outnumbered agricultural and business interests, the opponents argued the move would be too costly and that it would not be scientific, according to local news reports. If EPA approves the measure, the new standards would be finalized by October 2010. Standards for downstream estuaries and coastal waters would be due 2011. In Tallahassee, the Legislature was working to override rules governing the use of fertilizers passed by local governments, which basically regulate the time of year that fertilizer can be applied. Companies that make fertilizers for lawns and gardens, such as TruGreen and Scotts, were attempting to secure passage. Even if the local governments are eliminated from the regulation process, federal law would supersede state law on the allowable amount of nutrients in the water.
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