Follow Us | 
FaceBook Page 
Florida lawmakers blast new EPA water-pollution rules
Submitted by Special on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 5:50pm.
"We're from the government. And we're here to help you."
A congressional subcommittee meeting near Orlando Tuesday bashed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new water-pollution rules for Florida as "devastating" for jobs, families and industry.
Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, also pressed an EPA representative to say whether the rules are poorly designed for the state's diverse environments.
"I guess I'm trying to get you to admit that Florida has particular needs," said Stearns, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
"I think we all agree that Florida has a unique topography and a unique jewel in its water sources," Gwen Keyes Fleming, regional EPA administrator from Atlanta, said in response. "What we did was to help protect the economies that rely on that water source."
The EPA rules, to take effect next year, target nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that are in treated sewage, storm water and industrial discharges and are linked to harmful algae growth in waterways such as the St. Johns and Caloosahatchee rivers.
- Login or register to post comments
- Send to friend
Local News
Figuring that public input at its budget workshop would cramp its regular chambers, the Citrus County Commission on Tuesday moved its discussion of the next fiscal year's budget to the county auditorium in Inverness.
A Citrus County Sheriff's Office deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the Feb. 24 shooting of a Beverly Hills man.
During the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, commissioners approved a resolution to send a letter to Gov. Rick Scott expressing their objections to the recent Medicaid Cost Shift Bill (House Bill 5301).
Homosassa Walmart begins countdown to Grand Opening...
» Read more
The countdown has begun for Citrus County’s newest Walmart store to open.
Florida East Coast Industries is planning a $1 billion project to develop a three-hour Miami-to-Orlando passenger train service by 2014, using a right of way that runs through the downtown areas of S
