1.  EPA approved Florida DEP’s nutrient rules for 15% of the state’s waters.  DEP’s rules contain “thresholds” and standards that are less stringent than EPA had proposed.

2.  EPA proposed strong rules for the remaining 85% of Florida’s waters, but it also has signaled that it is prepared to withdraw those rules and transfer that authority to Florida DEP.  — That would turn a major clean water victory into defeat.

Polluter lobbyists, in fact, crafted the DEP’s ineffective rules. They hold enormous influence in the Scott Administration and in Legislature. It is simply irresponsible to turn this over to the DEP. 

See the attached fact sheet for our detailed assessment of EPA’s action.

EPA also announced that it would hold public information sessions in Tampa on January 17-18 to answer questions and take comments on the rules.   It is of vital importance that hundreds of clean water advocates gather in Tampa to demand that EPA not turn clean water enforcement over to Florida DEP.  Details follow below in our action alert.

EPA will soon decide whether it will enforce the Clean Water Act or hand a “get out of jail free card” to Florida’s polluters.  The moment is now to let our voices be heard and take action together. 

– Frank

http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=12219

Support the effort to add corals to the endangered species list.  Sign the action alert and check out the list of public hearings and where to send comments at Center for Biologic Diversity website above.  DV

Our coral reefs are in trouble, and the proposal from the federal government to protect 66 corals under the Endangered Species Act is a wakeup call on the urgency of this crisis.

Under the proposal, 12 coral species would be listed as endangered and 54 as threatened. Seven of the most imperiled in live in Florida and the Caribbean, and many of the others are found in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

The decision is the most sweeping effort ever by the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect imperiled marine animals. It’s also an important step toward raising public awareness about the plight of corals and providing them lifesaving protections.

Help make sure this proposal becomes a reality. Send a message in support of protections for corals.

The government has also set up a number of meetings to take public comments about its plans to protect the 66 corals. Click here to see the full list of events and to RSVP.