Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) today said an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to delay controversial new water regulations for Florida by one month is a good step, but that the agency still needs to do more. 

The proposed rules are the result of litigation and would apply only to Florida.  Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, members of Congress, municipal utility managers, and business and agriculture leaders have been unified in questioning both the effectiveness of the rules and their extreme costs.

“A delay is meaningful only if the agency uses this additional time to address the very real concerns Floridians have repeatedly raised,” said Putnam.  “Across our state we have heard the alarms raised over the tremendous burden these new regulations will have. Some water utilities are projecting that consumers will see a doubling in their sewer costs.  These costs will be borne by every single Floridian.”

Putnam also noted inconsistencies in the way in which the rules are being implemented.  “EPA says it’s giving South Florida a year’s extension,” said Putnam.  “Why is it treating the rest of the state differently? These rules already single out Florida from the rest of the nation, and now EPA is singling out different parts of the state.”

Hours before the EPA announced its delay Putnam and other members of Florida’s House delegation sent a letter to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) urging him to support a provision that would have delayed the rules at least until Congress reconvened in a “lame duck” session following November’s elections.

“EPA must do more than simply delay until after Election Day what it has already planned to do,” said Putnam.  “EPA must adjust its regulations to lessen the economic impact on Florida, which is already struggling with 11 percent or higher unemployment.  We need all hands on deck working together to get our economy moving in the right direction.”

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12^th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.