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Feds To Limit Nutrient Pollution In Florida Waters
Last week, the EPA announced a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife, Federation and other environmental groups. In the settlement, the EPA will set legal, numeric limits for farm and urban runoff of fertilizers and animal waste. This will be the first time EPA will force numeric limits on nutrient runoff on a state.
Environmental groups hailed the EPA settlement and credited the Obama Administration for action on the measure. In a statement, EPA noted the standards are needed “to protect Florida waters from the impacts of nitrogen and phosphorous pollution.”
Given the federal action, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is considering whether it would be prudent to continue its own rulemaking efforts on the issue. In a statement, DEP Secretary Michael Sole, noted: “Over the last 10 years, Florida has invested thousands of staff hours in development of numeric nutrient criteria, and throughout the last year we have moved aggressively to analyze the massive amount of nutrient and biological data available for Florida waters. Alone, Florida accounts for 30% of the national water quality dataset far surpassing any other state in the nation. Our efforts have focused on appropriately addressing the complexity of Florida's ecosystems and coinciding with the intent, schedule and guidance provided from EPA.
“Florida has made a tremendous investment to collect and analyze the data necessary to define how nutrient enrichment affects the biological health of our surface waters. To ensure that there is no duplication of work, we will continue to work with EPA in the same manner they have worked with us as they develop the criteria. We look forward to EPA presenting its criteria to both DEP and the stakeholders of Florida.”
The EPA has until Jan. 14, 2010 to set the new limits for Florida’s creeks, rivers, and lakes. The rules must be finalized by October 2010.
Comments:
August 27, 2009
It's about time! How many dead fish, dead waterways and red tide outbreaks does it take to wake people up to the idea that a super-green lawn shouldn't be the highest goal in life. The time for turfgrass alternatives has come!
August 27, 2009
It is imperative that we now use water conservation practices to reduce runoff. Drip or xerogation in landscape as well as alternative ground covers. Rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and matached precipitation irrigation systems.
August 27, 2009
Way too much govt. interference in our lives. And when was there any time when the Sierra Club had the best interest of ALL Americans in their hearts? Solution to any fertilizer problem: EDUCATION! The post about dead fish and red tide? Hyperbole and lies. "In the case of Florida red tides, these mortalities are caused by exposure to a potent neurotoxin called brevetoxin which is produced naturally by the marine algae Karenia brevis." There is scientific and historical perspective as well as logic behind a lawn. Short vegetation around the home (hut or lodge) decreases the likelihood of pests and vermin entering. Lawns also help to conserve moisture that would otherwise be lost to runoff and evaporation. To the reduce runoff poster: not all Americans can afford the technology you suggest. I do not have ANY irrigation for my St. Augustine or garden here in NE Florida. Nor do I use any chemical pesticides. The use of permeable pavers instead of concrete and asphalt in commercial projects would help immensely. Planting more trees and shrubs would certainly be the recommendation I have to the general public. It would not involve an act of Congress and more laws to control our behaviour and the small businesses and general economy would benefit. We need to stop teaching our children this left wing bs that we see regurgitated in these posts and in our Congress.
August 27, 2009
Let's apply some political logic. Carol Browner, former EPA administrator under President Bill Clinton and, until 2008, chair of the Audubon Society, is President Barack Obama's nominee for White House Energy Czar was in Florida under Lawton Chiles adminstration, Director of Department of Environmental Protection. She proclaimed, not incorrectly I'll add, that water protection was and is her first priority. If I were a betting man, I think some boxes of items from the 96' Clean Water Act "goals and objectives" are getting opened up for the first time in a long while. The Green Industry BMP are good but do not affect the "Joe Homeowner" out there throwing 2-3 lbs N / 1000 s.f. on the home-lawn so they do not have to keep the bag in the garage. Let's hope science prevails and hot-heads and kooks do not steer the discussion.
August 28, 2009
I deal with the questions and problems of DIY homeowners. The overwhelming majority of my clients are extremely interested in managing their landscapes in an environmentally-friendly manner. Many of them use lawn services and have in-ground irrigation systems. There is a wealth of training, resources, and help for homeowners out there. I am continually sending them to the extension office, telling them about classes and services offered by IFAS and extension, and sending them to the online sites of Extension and Florida Yards and Neighborhoods. Our WMDs are also sources of information for homeowners. However, when I attend extension workshops and training events that are offered for commercial landscape entities I am amazed at the meager turn out. I live in Alachua county where anyone with a mower can work in the landscape biz as there are no licenses or rules to get in the way. Therefore, these entities are not compelled to attend anything. The result is the majority of these services operating as professionals but not having the knowledge their own, unsuspecting clients expect them to have. I don't agree with the argument of less government in this case. Thankfully, the move is on to require licensing and mandatory education for landscape care and irrigation firms statewide. I look forward to the day when I can actually, in good conscience, tell my clients that most of the lawn maintenance and irrigation businesses in Alachua county are proficient in Florida-friendly, sustainable, science-based techniques. Until then, only the ones I see at the extension office get my recommendation. So, before our homeowners are faulted for not getting with the program lets make sure we, as landscape professionals, are committed to getting and staying with the program so we can serve as up-to-date sources of knowledge for our clients.
September 4, 2009
How sad that our commercial growers, who would rather NOT have their fertilizer run off and be wasted since it cuts into their bottom line, are having laws set against them, when the majority of runnoff problems that I have seen are from homeowners who over fertilize in order to have the "perfect green" lawn! Who is going to start handing them tickets for over fertilizing, then over watering and allowing all those nutrients to wash into our waterways?
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