FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 30, 2002
Waters
Restoration Roadmap Taking Shape
-- Targets identified, prioritized
--
TALLAHASSEE
- Florida is one
step closer to cleaning up the state’s impaired waters
with the final approval by the Department of Environmental
Protection of a priority list of water bodies that need
restoration. Culminating months of public evaluation, DEP
Secretary David B. Struhs signed the final order
identifying the first round of targeted water bodies. The
list of impaired waters will be forwarded to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency for approval by October 1,
2002.
Over the
next five years, hundreds of water bodies will be
evaluated in accordance with federal and state law using
the latest science. A plan for restoration will be
established for those demonstrated to be impaired.
“Thanks
to input from the public, scientific experts, community
partnerships, and regulatory agencies, a workable,
common-sense environmental plan is in place,” said
Secretary Struhs.
Each year,
one of five groups of water bodies from around the state
will be assessed. The “rotating basin” approach,
endorsed by the respected National Academy of Sciences,
will be repeated to allow DEP to closely monitor their
health.
“By
anyone’s definition, this is a massive undertaking, but
by dividing the job into five equal parts, state resources
can be more effectively managed,” said Struhs. “The
career professionals at DEP have again performed a
valuable public service, and it is rewarding to see their
hard work recognized favorably by their peers.”
The
official impaired waters list is available on the DEP website at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl.
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Protecting Florida's Water Resources - Myth vs. Reality
| Myth |
Reality |
| DEP
is weakening water quality standards.
|
DEP
devised a rule that, for the first time, attacks
all sources of water pollution through an approach
that is fully consistent with the Clean Water Act.
The Department is implementing a
comprehensive, five-year plan to identify
waters that are “impaired” and prioritize
them for clean up.
|
| DEP
is removing 600 water bodies from the official
list of impaired waters.
|
DEP is not taking 600
waters off the official list of impaired waters.
DEP is evaluating waters in each of the
state’s basins on a five-year rotating schedule.
If a waterbody has not been evaluated this
year, or is not meeting standards, it will remain
on the official list of impaired waters.
|
| DEP’s
methodology for identifying impaired waters is
arbitrary.
|
DEP’s
methodology is based on sound, verifiable
scientific data and analysis.
DEP’s “rotating basin” approach is
endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences and
was upheld by an administrative law judge.
|
| DEP’s
approach will prevent or slow the clean up of
impaired waters.
|
DEP’s
approach is designed to accelerate clean up of
impaired waters.
Identifying stakeholders is only the first
step. The
plan establishes a comprehensive approach using
sound science and the involvement of a broad range
of stakeholders.
Cleaning up impaired waters will take
the participation of local governments, businesses
and citizens.
|
|
DEP’s Impaired Waters rule raises the bar so high
that few waters will ever be classified as
“impaired” and will not then be restored.
|
DEP’s
rule reasonably requires valid, reliable water
quality data to establish impairment.
If the data is not available, DEP will work
with local stakeholders to secure other scientific
documentation.
|
| Because
it is no longer on the list of impaired waters,
polluted
Lake
Okeechobee
is being ignored.
|
Lake Okeechobee
was the first
Florida water body to
have a pollution limit, or total maximum daily
load (TMDL) established.
It is now being implemented and restoration
of the lake has begun.
|
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