Pollution

Thirty-nine Florida groups seek to block federal water standards

Conservation, Federal Agencies, Forests & Agriculture, Pollution, Water /

Representatives of 39 utility, development and agricultural groups on Tuesday sent a letter to Florida’s senators and congressional representatives asking them to deny federal agency funding to implement new water quality standards. The industry groups seem to be taking a harder line against the federal standards than some state agency officials. One state agriculture official […]

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Septic tanks inspection delay becomes law without signature

2011 Legislature, Gov. Rick Scott, Government, Legislation, Misc, Pollution, Water /

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday allowed a bill to become law that delays a statewide inspection requirement for septic tanks. The inspection requirement was in SB 550, which then-Gov. Charlie Crist signed in June with support that included the Sierra Club Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association. Supporters said the requirement would protect public

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Bill would prevent Florida from implementing federal water standards

2011 Legislature, Federal Agencies, Government, Pollution, Water /

A bill introduced by the chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee would ban the state from implementing new federal water quality criteria that were adopted in November. Utilities, industries and agricultural groups say the numeric standards will cost billions of dollars to comply with. But an attorney representing environmental groups says

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Estimates of federal costs of water rules vary widely, Florida DEP says

FDEP, Federal Agencies, Government, Pollution, Water /

Uncertainty over how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to enforce new water quality standards continues to create wide-ranging cost estimates for meeting the new requirements, a state environmental official said Wednesday. The EPA in December adopted new numeric nutrient standards for phosphorus and nitrogen in Florida waterways. The standards are needed to reduce the

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Septic tank delay bill goes to Gov. Rick Scott

1 Comment / 2011 Legislature, Gov. Rick Scott, Government, Pollution, Water /

A bill that would delay implementation of a statewide septic tank inspection requirement was presented Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott — after agency rule-making already had been halted. A Senate spokesman declined to say whether the Legislature had delayed sending the bill to avoid a veto by then-Gov. Charlie Crist. He signed SB 550 in

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Judge not pleased with Florida in Everglades case

2010 archive, Government, Misc, Pollution, Water /

A federal judge on Friday expressed support for a new $1.5 billion federal plan to reduce Everglades pollution while raising concerns with Florida’s response to the proposal, according to the Associated Press. United States District Judge Alan. S. Gold, who in April threatened the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with contempt of court over chronic water

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Florida DEP credits controversial federal water standards

2 Comments / 2010 archive, Federal Agencies, Government, Pollution, Water /

Environmental groups say this algae bloom in 2009 on a tributary of the St. Johns River was fueled by excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection official on Thursday for the first time sounded a note different from the sharp criticism leveled by state officials and industry representatives towards

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New Senate environmental chairman wants to repeal septic tank inspections

1 Comment / 2010 archive, 2011 Legislature, Government, Pollution, Water /

The new chairman of the Senate’s environmental committee has introduced a bill that would repeal a new requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years. The inspection requirement in SB 550 earlier this year was promoted by supporters as a springs protection measure. But legislators voted during the special session on Nov. 16 to

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