Clean Water Network Florida

Clean Water Network of Florida
Got Clean Water?

Got Clean Water in your Town?

sunset over ocean If you do, you are pretty darn lucky because clean water is becoming a rare commodity in the State of Florida. It's a good day for a lot of rivers and bays if there is no toxic algae blooming and people can get on or near the water without their eyes burning and having coughing fits. How did things get so bad? (Read more).

Victories

A long, hard battle is won!: 08/15/07

By  Linda Young

Congratulations to Friends of Perdido Bay!!!

Last week we got exactly what we have been asking for and it was a major victory.  You all remember when earlier this year an administrative law judge recommended that International Paper's permit be denied.  We asked to you contact Governor Crist and tell him to make DEP do the right thing - and stand by that judge!  Many of you did contact the Governor and thank you for taking the time to do that.  Whether our requests had anything to do with DEP's final decision or not - last week DEP secretary Mike Sole issued a final order denying IP's permit. This is the first paper mill permit in Florida that has ever been denied after a hearing.  Please let Mike Sole know you support his final order.  

 We have the same judge in our Buckeye case which will likey go to an administrative hearing next year (Buckeye has it on hold right now).  There is now hope for a victory with the Buckeye permit challenge - where before, there was little reason to expect justice.  Things are getting better, slowly but surely.  Let's keep our shoulders to the grindstone for Florida's waters.  Thank you again for all your hard work and help with these issues - especially those of you who don't even live near these facilities. 

Please go to the alert page to send a message to Mike Sole - let him know we support his final order!

[0] comments   [reply]

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR FLORIDA'S WATERS: 06/16/07

By  Linda Young

IMPAIRED WATERS RULE SINKS A LITTLE DEEPER

Appeals Court Ruling Could Affect New Coal Plant Permits

Environmental groups made new progress this week in their efforts to get Florida’s polluted waters cleaned up.  The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta once again ruled largely in favor of Sierra Club, Save Our Suwannee, Florida PIRG and Linda Young (Clean Water Network of Florida) regarding the EPA’s approval of Florida’s method of listing impaired waters.

The ruling requires some parts of the controversy to be remanded to the lower court (Northern District) for further litigation.  The decision should require the Florida DEP to reconsider its upcoming hearing before the Environmental Regulation Commission where the agency will attempt to adopt the Impaired Waters Rule into Florida’s water quality standards.

In short, the court ruled that:

(1)  EPA and the state could not ignore at least 61 mercury-contaminated water bodies for which they did not have sampling data that was less than 7.5 years old; and the court held, that the law requires them to look at "all" data and "states cannot shirk this responsibility simply by claiming a lack of current data"; 

(2)  EPA and the state must include water bodies on the cleanup list when they have fish-tissue testing that shows mercury contamination in those waterways; and 

(3) by questioning whether EPA/the state obeyed the law and really took into account the severity of pollution when it ranked a large number of mercury-contaminated water bodies as "low priority" for cleanup, and instructing the lower court to take a hard look at this issue.

The decision could have a major impact on several proposed coal-fired power plants that are seeking permits.  Once DEP is required to put mercury-contaminated waters back on it’s 303(d) list, it will then be prohibited by law to permit a new source of mercury pollution to waters that are already too contaminated with the toxic metal.

“Florida’s waters are too important to our health, quality of life and our economy for DEP and EPA to continue ignoring the Clean Water Act,” said Linda Young, director of the Clean Water Network of Florida and a plaintiff in the lawsuit.  “Every time DEP comes up with a new trick to avoid putting polluted waters on the clean-up list, its cost Florida taxpayers dearly in dollars and time.  Governor Crist needs to put his foot down and stop DEP’s nonsense!”

To receive a full copy of the Court’s decision, contact Linda Young at llyoung2@earthlink.net

[0] comments   [reply]

Thank you! It's working.: 04/02/07

By  Kristina Jackson

Hi there -

Thank you to all who contacted the Governor's office in support of Julie Morris for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. She topped the Governor's list of nominees submitted to the federal government for this council seat. We were told by the Governor's Appointment office that our faxes, emails and calls DID make a difference.

Julie has served on the council for the last 6 years and has been a terrific asset in moving the group towards science-based management of our fisheries. We still have a ways to go but with her excellent record we expect her to be re-appointed and continue to be a voice of reason on the council.

Thanks again for your help!

Kristina Jackson
   Sierra Club's Sustainable Gulf Fisheries campaign

[0] comments   [reply]