Numeric Nutrient Criteria Task Force

Florida is facing a challenge like it has not seen and it is all due to a lawsuit by EarthJustice and other environmental organizations.  They filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Florida was not moving fast enough to set numeric nutrient criteria for its water bodies.  EPA settled the suit and is now in the process of setting the numeric nutrient criteria for our state.  Florida is the only state that is currently being subjected to EPA setting numeric nutrient criteria for bodies of water in our state.  The economic impact of this arbitrary move on Florida’s economy will be devastating for consumers and business owners. Florida’s economy cannot sustain this hit … especially given our record levels of unemployment.

Florida companies are not promoting dirty water for our state.  Instead we are promoting a scientific approach on how to set standards appropriate for Florida.  Florida has established a Total Maximum Daily Loads program that numeric nutrient criteria is based on watersheds, making Florida recognized as a national leader in water quality protection and restoration.  The EPA proposes to abruptly change that and cause Florida to spend billions and billions of dollars to meet their arbitrary standards.

AIF urges our members to get involved in this issue by contacting your elected representatives in Tallahassee and in Washington to let them know that taking away Florida’s ability to set its own numeric nutrient criteria is unacceptable!  We also invite you to join the Numeric Nutrient Criteria Task Force to participate in our ongoing efforts on this issue.