EPA responds to FL NNC

Afternoon All!

 

The following came out on Monday of this week, if you haven’t already seen it:

On June 13, 2011 EPA sent an initial response (PDF) (3 pp, 120K) to FDEP's petition. EPA supports FDEP's commitment to recommence its rulemaking efforts for both inland and estuarine waters. EPA recognizes that states have the primary role in establishing and implementing water quality standards for their waters. Therefore, EPA is prepared to withdraw the federal inland standards if FDEP adopts, and EPA approves, their own protective and scientifically sound numeric standards. In addition, EPA is prepared to adjust the timetables for implementing the inland rule and proposing our estuarine and coastal waters rule if FDEP's rulemaking efforts progress in accordance with FDEP's proposed schedule to avoid overlap with the final stages of the state rulemaking process.  There’s more at: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/florida_index.cfm

On June 16^th (tomorrow), DEP is conducting a public meeting in Leesburg to discuss a "Conceptual Framework for DEP's Nutrient Standards, June 2011 Draft” see attached.  The meeting will start at 9am in the City of Leesburg Community Center, 109 E. Dixie Avenue, Leesburg, Florida. 

 

DEP held a similar meeting this past Tuesday (June 14^th) in Tallahassee.  DEP is planning on conducting rule development through the summer and early fall with final adoption by January 2012 for consideration during the 2012 legislative session.  More information can be found at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wqssp/nutrients/index.htm

 

And one more bit of info on a new study by the National Academy of Sciences on the cost of the NNC.