TESTIMONY SPOTLIGHTS SERIOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EPA NUMERIC NUTRIENT STANDARDS

Washington, Aug 9 - "We all support clean water, but at a time when our state and its communities are suffering from high unemployment, budget deficits, and depressed real estate values, we must be cautious about forcing unaffordable and scientifically questionable federal mandates on our communities, hardworking families and employers," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. In this hearing on the impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) numeric nutrient criteria on Florida's economy, job creation, and communities, stakeholders outlined the economic hardships the EPA standards would impose within Florida. The State of Florida estimates that implementing the EPA standards would cost $5.7 billion to $8.4 billion annually, as much as 40 times higher than the EPA's estimate.

Kelli Hammer Levy, Watershed Management Section Manager for the Pinellas County Department of Environment and Infrastructure was one of the witnesses. She stated, "Local governments, private businesses, and citizens around the state realize the importance of a healthy water environment to Florida's economy and our quality of life. But we are very concerned with the technical deficiencies in EPA's rule for numeric nutrient criteria for Florida's lakes and flowing waters. It is critically important that water quality criteria are correct to avoid wasting precious resources towards the development of site specific alternative criteria to correct deficiencies in the rule or towards meeting a numeric goal that results in meaningful improvement."

Paul Steinbrecher, President of the Florida Water Environment association Utility Council, testified that "Unfortunately, EPA's nutrient rule is rooted in poor science – and litigation. In order to prompt settlement of a lawsuit, EPA committed to developing and finalizing numeric nutrient standards for Florida's thousands of miles of diverse rivers, streams, lakes, and springs on an unreasonable rapid frame."

Concluded Stearns, "My goal is simple: to have the EPA and the State of Florida work together in enhancing the state's water resources without imposing standards that would further damage the economy and impede job creation."