Federal Lawmakers Question Florida’s New Water Toxins Rule

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A controversial plan to change the amount of toxic substances allowed in state waters received a green light from the Environmental Regulation Commission Tuesday. Some federal lawmakers, however, are hoping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will closely scrutinize the move before it is put into action.

The state’s new water quality standards were approved by a 3-2 vote Tuesday. The proposal puts standards in place for 39 chemicals that are not currently regulated by the state while changing regulations on 43 other toxic substances, many of which are considered cancer-causing. The proposal raises what the state deems as acceptable levels of toxins for more than two dozen known carcinogens. It also decreases the acceptable levels for 13 chemicals already regulated by the state, several media outlets have reported.

While the state says the plan expands regulation, some environmental groups are not so sure. Opponents say the proposal lowers water quality criteria and increases the amount of cancer-causing chemicals that can be dumped into Florida’s rivers, estuaries and lakes by the oil and gas industries, sewer plants, dry cleaning businesses and others, Florida Today reported.

Before the state’s new rules can be enacted, they must gain approval from the U.S. EPA. Several members of Florida’s Legislative Delegation sent a letter to Gina McCarthy, the EPA’s administrator, following Tuesday’s state-level vote.

“Our waterways are our way of life in Florida,” the letter reads. “That’s why it is critically important that we ensure Florida’s water quality standards preserve the health and safety of all users, especially vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and people whose livelihoods rely on the water, such as commercial fishermen.”

The lawmakers raised concerns that “the state is proposing to raise the allowable levels for dozens of chemicals, including more than half of the most dangerous cancer-causing chemicals in the proposal. In several instances, these proposed levels exceed EPA’s recommendations.”

The letter urges McCarthy to ensure an adequate public comment period before making any decisions and to “carefully evaluate each proposed human health criteria to ensure the utmost protection for our population, environment, and economy.”

Florida lawmakers who signed off on the letter included U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Frederica Wilson, Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel, Gwen Graham, Alcee Hastings, Patrick Murphy and Alan Grayson.

Florida DEP Secretary Jon Steverson insists the new regulations put health and safety first.

“Our number one priority is to continuously protect and preserve the health of Florida’s families, visitors and incredible natural resources," he said in a statement. "Moving forward with the proposed criteria will nearly double the number of chemicals that the department will be able to regulate using stringent and protective criteria so we can continue to provide better public health protection for our state."

The DEP has put together a question-and-answer piece on the rules. To find out more, visit the DEP online.

It is currently unclear how soon the U.S. EPA will take up Florida’s proposal.

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