After a number of attempts by Congress to interfere with the implementation of the numeric nutrient criteria that EPA recently approved for Florida, the EPA has backed down and has stated its intent to approve the less effective standards being proposed by the State instead. EPA approved the new nutrient standards after the State had failed to adopt any of its own. The targeted pollutants are the nitrogen and phosphorus found in fertilizer, sewage and animal manure that trigger algae outbreaks in Florida’s lakes, rivers and bays. These often severe algal blooms have wreaked havoc on coastal ecosystems, have had major public health impacts and are costing Florida money from recreational and tourist opportunities lost.
To read more: http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/epa-plays-politics-with-floridas-waterways
