Governor Scott & His DEP: Snap Out Of It! Guest Blog By Kathy Aterno

FAST TRACKING NEW ESTUARY AND COASTAL WATER STANDARDS WON’T HELP OUR COASTAL ECONOMY

Politically derived agendas could destroy Florida’s future economy. In the past month, we have seen the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) get approval from the Feds to create a new class of water quality protections with lower standards than any that have existed before. At the same time, DEP has been rolling out its sorely insufficient proposed standards to regulate how much pollution from toxics like nitrogen and phosphorous is legally allowed to be dumped into our fresh and flowing waters. The agency has barely finished wrecking havoc on our lakes, rivers, streams and canals, and now they want to fast-track another set of deficient standards for our estuaries and coastal waters. DEP plans to release its draft criteria, host only ONE public workshop, allow just two weeks for public comment, and have the criteria finalized all in only three months!

This process will directly impact the health of critical water bodies like Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the Keys. Wake up, Miami -- you should be worried!

Why are Governor Scott and DEP rushing through the rulemaking process and cutting out the public? Is it so certain private sectors of our economy will benefit at a cost to us taxpayers? Our coastal communities and tourism-based industries rely on clean and safe water. Residents and business owners with first-hand experience dealing with polluted waters should be engaged to ensure the final product is as strong as possible.

DEP will host ONLY ONE public meeting to take comments on this highly scientific and complicated issue. The meeting will be held on October 4th at Rookery Bay Research Reserve in Naples. As the draft criteria was publically released only five days prior to the public hearing, there is not ample time to weed through all of the documents and find scientists who can give their professional opinion as to the impacts this rulemaking will have on our estuarine and coastal waters. Based on DEP’s current trend and our initial read of the draft documents, we know the proposed criteria will undermine our existing efforts to prevent pollution and restore safe water quality of Biscayne Bay, the Keys, and other important coastal waters.

DEP is moving like the speed of light. The agency released its draft criteria on September 28th, set one meeting to be held on October 4th, and will accept public comment only through October 18th. Why don’t they have additional meetings in Miami- Dade? The Keys? Tampa Bay? It’s outrageous to know that such a serious decision, and one so incredibly important to the future of Florida’s tourism-based economy, beautiful beaches, and natural areas is moving on a bullet train.

I’m not a big gambler, but it’s a sure bet that we’ll have even more polluted water if DEP’s fast-track criteria are adopted during next year’s legislative session -- and that it will cost our local economy, threaten public health, and jeopardize all of the investments we have made to restore our water supply and beautiful native ecosystems. You don’t have to be a politician or a rocket scientist to know that preventing pollution is much cheaper than cleaning it up.

Come on Miami residents -- let’s take back our POWER. Be heard, be aware, and be involved. Please join Clean Water Action’s citizen POWER campaign (Protect Our Water, Economy and Rights) and help bring power back to the people. Stay informed and get involved with decisions that affect your quality of life and pocketbook. Visit Clean Water Action or email power@cleanwater.org today to sign up or learn more.