NO ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ASKED TO TESTIFY AT ORLANDO HEARING ON IMPACT OF EPA'S WATER STANDARDS ON FLORIDA'S ECONOMY, COMMUNITIES UNTIL AFTER HEARING SET

Washington, Aug 8 -

"Although neither Earthjustice nor any other environmental group asked to testify at the field hearing in Orlando, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, asked the panel to invite David Guest, an attorney for Earthjustice, to testify. The Subcommittee is holding a hearing on the impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) numeric nutrient water standards on the Florida economy, job creation, and communities. Said Stearns, "While we were putting together this hearing, no environmental groups asked the majority or minority staffs if they could participate. In contrast to recent false statements, this hearing is open and upon learning after all the witnesses were invited that these groups wanted to offer testimony, I asked for the addition of a group from Florida."