Government

Cliff Stearns, Rick Scott Turn Up Heat on EPA

Stearns wants agency to defend its standards, Scott wants it out altogether

By: Nancy Smith | Posted: April 23, 2011 3:55 AM

Around the State

U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns of Ocala, left, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott | Credit: stearns.house.gov

Florida continues to pile grief on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the standards it set for the Sunshine State to comply with the federal Clean Water Act.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, wrote a stinging, three-page, all-business letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, challenging her to prove -- paper trail included -- that the federal numeric nutrient rulemaking is necessary to keep Florida’s lakes and flowing waters clean.

Then, on Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced that he authorized the state Department of Environmental Protection to file a petition with the EPA, demanding the federal agency take its criteria back and allow the DEP to decide what Florida's clean water criteria should be.

Said Scott, “Florida is one of the few states that have a comprehensive program in place to address excess nutrients, and we continue to lead the nation in developing innovative tools to ensure the health of our state’s waterways. I look forward to working with the EPA to reach an agreement that will promote clean water standards in the way that makes the most sense for our state.”

Stearns, in his call for transparency, said he wants "a detailed, chronological description of all EPA actions and decisions relating to the rule, an explanation of the scientific and technical analyses for EPA’s determination that Florida required federal criteria to comply with the Clean Water Act, and if the EPA had conducted any analysis of the cost to businesses to comply with the rule."

State numbers crunchers claim the cost to implement EPA standards – which to this point, even by the agency’s own admission, lack sound science to prove they would be a “fix” for the nitrogen and phosphorous pollution of lakes, rivers and streams – would be both significant and oppressive even in a good economy.

Stearns said in his letter, “The state of Florida’s $5.7 billion to $8.4 billion annual cost estimate is 20-to-40-fold higher than the EPA’s estimates."

Stearns, who is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, wants chapter and verse on how the EPA’s decisions were made on its numeric nutrient criteria from Nov. 4, 2008 to the present. And he wants it by May 5.

Stearns’ letter is provided in an attachment below.

No other state in the nation has the EPA dictating statewide numeric nutrient criteria for its clean water.

Leaders in the Legislature, the entire Florida Cabinet and Florida’s congressional delegation have concluded that the EPA’s criteria were less conceived out of necessity to create safe water than to comply with a 2009 legal settlement with environmental groups, including the Sierra Club. The groups had sued the agency for not enforcing the Clean Water Act in Florida.

Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
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Attachments:

StearnsLettertoEPA.pdf

Tags: Clean Water Act, Cliff Stearns, DEP, Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Lisa Jackson, News, Rick Scott, Sierra Club, Government

Comments (18)

Glenn

9:00PM APR 24TH 2011

It is very clear to me that the left is not wanting the EPA to be questioned or show any data to PROVE what they are trying the heap on Florida has any basis in truth. They don't want any daylight because their entire house of cards is built on lies about the enviroment. They lie to create a problem and then use the lie to villianize anyone that opposes them or even questions the data. Just look at the "climate change" fiasco. It was proven in (stolen) secret doccument after doccument that it was a made up lie and the socialist media ignored it. Government also ignored it because they gain power from the lie. People push the lie because they make billions from it. (Al Gore) All regulation is not good and where does it end? It ends when the paperwork is laid on the table and the lie is exposed. That is why we get the "oh you don't care about the earth" BS here. I care, I just don't want to be regulated because of lies and the many un-truths told by the socialist left. The one thing that sepperates the US from any communist/socialist nation is the right to private property. How can you take that away? By making everyones property subject to oppressive enviromental laws that remove your right to do anything without asking government.

LDouglas

6:07AM APR 25TH 2011

"It is very clear to me that the left is not wanting the EPA to be questioned or show any data to PROVE what they are trying the heap on Florida has any basis in truth."

And you inferred that how? Hopefully not from the comments here.The last I read (written by Sen. Rubio and Rep. Rooney) was that the EPA said they're going to sit down with interested parties and go over the science. I support that because it's the right thing to do - and because I don't want to see any business or farmer hurt unnecessarily, as well as see us waste money. After all, it takes resources to create money.

"The one thing that sepperates the US from any communist/socialist nation is the right to private property."

Yes, and if that right allows me to let my wastes run off or blow off my property onto yours, let me know where you live. I'll set up shop across the street and save myself a fortune in paying to have my wastes properly disposed of.

Otherwise, there are plenty on the "left" who'll use lies to make money and push their agenda and they do give environmentalism a black eye, But IMO, they're not any different than those on the "right" that also use lies to make money or push their agenda.

LDouglas

12:54PM APR 24TH 2011

Just think of the jobs we could create or save if we could just stop the EPA from enforcing the Clean Air and Water Acts. The bonus would be we'd be able to grow the rates of cancer, as well as heart and lung diseases too. Think of all the additional jobs that would create on top of the others. Really, we all know how profitable the health care industry is.

It makes me realize how horrible the EPA really is. Just think. If it wasn't for them, instead of cancer clusters, we could be like China and have cancer villages.

On the bright side, despite their efforts, there's enough toxins already in our environment- and in our food that the rates of profitable diseases like Alzheimers and Autism are growing.

Sarcasm now off...

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money." ~Cree Indian Proverb

If it weren't weren't for government regulations and environmental groups, I doubt there'd be any clean water or clean air in the USA. And who knows what they'd be putting in our food- on top of the unhealthy things they already put in it.

Pay today in more regulations and less jobs and profits or pay tomorrow in health care costs- or your life, or the life of someone you love.

Glenn

8:45PM APR 24TH 2011

Oh yes, ONLY government and enviromental groups care about the enviroment. This is the lie that is told time and time again by the left. It makes my my butt ache to hear the self righeous left try to make out like they are the saviors of the earth. That is why they lied about "climate change" remember when it was "global warming" and now they are not so sure if it will get cold or hot and nobody can predict a week accurately let alone 100 years. The truth is the left lies and they lied (A real proven fact) about all the data. They made it up to create another crisis so they could be heroes and anybody that opposed them vilians. Yes we have to have regulations. Sensible regulations, not government oppression and socialist taking power from creating lies. I am a father and a grandfather, tell me I want pollution. What I want is for the government to quit spending my grandchildren's future and get out of my business where they don't belong. All the trees are gone? There goes my butt again. Make me sick with your self agrandizing enviromental BS. Maybe we can save the earth if we all just commit suicide and leave it to the trees? Better still just outlaw breathing after all it creates carbon dioxide, Just like those cow poots that now are ok, but before were killing us before.

LDouglas

6:30AM APR 25TH 2011

"Oh yes, ONLY government and enviromental groups care about the enviroment."

I didn't say that. Just like with trying to stop the spending in Washington and the march towards socialism, as you can see, it takes a collective effort to get anything done. That's all I was saying...

As for the rest of your comment, it's just too ridiculous to comment on.

LDouglas

6:08AM APR 25TH 2011

Andy Dubois

11:39AM APR 24TH 2011

I applaud Rep. Stearns and Gov. Scott for challenging the EPA. It’s about time! Our journey to restore fiscal responsibility and constitutional limited government at all levels of government will absolutely collide with the likes of the EPA. I encourage all Floridians to join in this fight to oppose any and all federal mandates assaulting individual liberty and property rights.

George Donahue

5:00PM APR 23RD 2011

Gov. Scott and the legislature are stripping state regulations from such occupations as auto repair shops. Need we say more. It will cost 115 jobs and deprive the state of $6 million. That makes sense if you believe up is down and down is up. Cong. Stearns added a rider to the 9/11 Responder bill that requires these heroes to swear they are not terrorists and subjects them to background checks. What a shocking insult to our heroes. Stearns and Scott's opinions are useless. They are for damn the consumer, the public and emergency responders. Anything for business at any cost.

Glenn

11:01AM APR 24TH 2011

I think you have your down up and visa versa. You think 115 government jobs is progress while needless regulation is killing the private sector job market. I know I run a small manufacturing business and the regulations I have to comply with take so much money and man hours I cannot afford to expand or hire new employees. Rick Scott you are my hero!

Bob F

9:35AM APR 25TH 2011

No Glenn, greed and corporate profits are killing jobs here, not regulations. Regulations will be implemented in other countries the same as here, in response to pollution and worker deaths. Ask Foxconn about the Chinese government getting in their business (but only after 13 suicides in their worker housing complex in Shenzhen).

Thank God we have regulations in place, it's guys like you who wouldn't mind burying waste in the back of your building if you could - that was happening all over the U.S. back in the 70s (and I know for a fact it still goes on and guess who pays for the clean-up - me, you and your grand kids).

Shirley Webb

4:31PM APR 23RD 2011

When are the people of Florida going to educate themselves on issues directly relating to their lives and future generations? Step number one is to get angry about any legislation that is detrimental to our environment. Step number two is to research actual facts and then advocate for congressional leaders who actually ARE leaders. If of course you can find any who are truly interested in what is really in the best interests of the people on a state and global level. Let budget cuts start with the lobbyists and big business interests. Where is Robin Hood when we need him??

Glenn

11:06AM APR 24TH 2011

Robbing Hood is alive and well and in the White House. He is stealing the jobs in the private sector and "spreading the wealth." Most people call that socialism as di I. I am sure the Sierra Club and the other socialist organizations support the Federal Government taking over Florida, but that is why we have heros like Cliff Sterns and Rick Scott. Everything that sounds enviromental is not good, sometimes it is just what it is; socialism and federal takeover of citizen and states rights.

steve

12:54PM APR 23RD 2011

This total sellout of state officials is redonkulous. 60% of Florida waters do not meet clean water standards. Look at Lake Apopka and the St Johns, one is dead and the other is suffering mortal wounds. A 100 mile algae bloom last ye ar on the St Johns. We cannot rely upon this governor to protect these vital resources, he is an abject failure to all Floridians. He won't sue BP does anyone honestly think he will do anything to protect our natural resources. He will say we cannot afford it or it restricts job growth.

Glenn

11:49AM APR 24TH 2011

Let's see if this makes sense. The biggest poluters of the St Johns is municipal sewer systems that are overloaded and dumping untreated waste. Some actually use open pits for sewerage disposal. Now the sensible thing is to burden Florida property owners with pumping sewerage from thier working septic systems and dumping it in Municipal systems. Great idea! If you like making ice cream in the oven. The truth is septic tanks are great systems and 99.9% do not leak and do not pollute anything. The nutrients are kept within a small area, smaller than your yard. "This" Governor, Rick Scott, is the best thing to happen to Florida in many decades and perhaps the best thing for the nation. Rick Scott wasn't in office when the BP thing happend but like George Bush he will get the blamed by liberals. BTW I didn't like George Bush but I love Rick Scott and what he is doing for Florida.

steve

12:45PM APR 23RD 2011

JakeG

9:21AM APR 23RD 2011

Would it really be that hard to convert to Organic Fertilizer?

With the technology used by a company called Converted Organics and the organic fertilizer they are able to produce, a smart City or State could set up a Converted Organics’ processing plant at every major city landfill and produce enough high quality fertilizer to help solve this problem, and help reduce the amount of food waste that goes into landfills. Converted Organics process can produces a liquid fertilizer from food waste in less then week. , and per their customers testimonials, the product is working great. And since the majority of the nitrogen run off is produce by farms and golf courses, they both use a lot of liquid fertilizers. And what is pretty cool about this, if the Cities or States were to put these fertilizer plants into operation, this could be a valuable source of income for them. It would be like a WIN WIN WIN

I am not affiliated with this company, just thinking that someone might want to look into this as part of a solution.

Glenn

11:53AM APR 24TH 2011

Yea that makes too much sense to me too. Maybe we could tax food waste and regulate what we have for supper. Oh wait aren't we already on the road to doing that? Yea, too much sense won't ever fly in DC. Good Post!

Sharon

10:44AM APR 23RD 2011

Jake, doing what you suggest would be too simple for EPA, they want to always do it the hard way, off the backs of the people of the state. They are one of the most powerful agencies in our government and they should be stopped from what they are doing to our country. I have learned that most legislators don't look at simple solutions either and most do not listen to suggestions like this. They often have their own agendas and some have to be in the back pocket of the special interest groups whose goal is to own the waters of not only our state, but our country.