Environmental Sustainability

Numeric Nutrient Criteria | Environmental Resources Permits | Alternative Water Supply | Recycling | Session Priorities Index

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Numeric Nutrient Criteria

AIF ENCOURAGES the Florida Legislature to ratify the proposed numeric nutrient criteria rule proposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

We also engage and support our Congressional delegation in their efforts to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) imposition of unreasonably restrictive water quality standards only on the State of Florida. These proposed federal standards are unscientific and costly (some estimates show a price tag of $50 billion) for businesses and consumers. Florida is currently facing the possibility of having to meet strict water quality standards regarding numeric nutrient criteria (for nitrogen and phosphorous) in all water bodies as a result of a lawsuit by radical environmental organizations. The proposed criteria are technically and scientifically flawed, as well as economically unattainable by the business and public sectors. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued new rules that will help Florida achieve better water quality standards by using biological confirmation and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL). Since the new rule will have an impact of more than $1 million over the next five years, the Florida Legislature will have to ratify the rule, and AIF supports the ratification of this rule.