Statement by Commissioner Putnam
~ On the U.S. District Court Ruling Related to Numeric Nutrient Criteria ~
For Information, Contact:
Sterling Ivey
Communications Office
(850) 617-7737
Sterling.Ivey@freshfromflorida.com
February 20, 2012
Tallahassee, FL - “The ruling this weekend by the United States District Court confirms that portions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final numeric nutrient criteria are overly restrictive and unnecessary to protect Florida’s streams. I continue to believe that Florida knows best how to protect Florida’s water resources.
“Any nutrient reduction strategy should focus on measurable environmental improvement, while optimizing the use of public dollars and avoiding costs that have no environmental impact. By invalidating the final EPA criteria for Florida’s streams, the Court has mandated that water quality standards be based on the best science available.
“Now that the Florida Legislature and Governor have taken action to approve nutrient standards developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, I urge the EPA to act swiftly in approving them in their entirety, restoring Florida’s rightful place in protecting its water resources.”
For more information about the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com.
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