Now my problem: Environmentalists have been appealing to the Federal government for years to enforce country wide regulation laws in Florida with no success. With the new EPA representative in office the state was encouraged to uphold the compliance laws, and then in accordance with the settlements the EPA informed the state that they would circumvent and set in place new laws that the state would be required to enforce. The state claims that the Federal government should not be aloud to interfere in the matters, and then supported claims that their own research was unfounded. Now the lobbyists for the industrialists are suing the federal government, with support from many state officials.
Should not the jobs of state officials be to protect us from health and environmental risks. I am in no way an advocate for every aspect of our government but this is my biggest problem with not having the support of Federal Government, I may be speaking too soon, but they seem to be the only ones on the side of natural, public, and wildlife health and safety risks in these matters. One of the states own representatives for the Department of Agriculture seemed to think it more important to argue jurisdiction debates than to be active in trying to remedy the problem.
Here's what I wrote for school, but more importantly the links at the bottom on the subject:
Introduction:
This proposal is an appeal to Congress Representatives and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to stand firm on the federal ruling in Florida last year to limit the amount of Nitrogen and Phosphorous dumping by commercial companies into the states waterways. Since the ruling last year many industrialists have filed lawsuits against the federal government in order to nullify the newly set in place order to reduce the numeric limits of phosphorous and nitrogen compounds dumped in Florida’s lakes, streams, rivers, and estuaries. These laws are to be fully enforced by March of 2012. Dumping in our waterways of improperly treated sewage along with fertilizers and manure can trigger excessive and destructive growths of toxic algae in streams, lakes, and coastal waters.
The Problem:
Some algae produce natural toxins. Nitrogen and phosphorous are both part of a healthy natural ecosystem, the problem lies in the excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorous being dumped. Unhealthy levels of nitrogen and phosphorous can cause rapid growth of algae both toxic and nontoxic. This process presents serious and dangerous ecological problems. Over abundance of nitrogen and phosphorous in our waterways has been attributed to improperly treated sewage, fertilizers and manure. These overgrowths of toxic algae can bring with them fish deaths, cause underwater plants to not receive nutrients necessary from sunlight, and even cause human health issues. The toxins in huge abundances can even affect our groundwater.
Florida’s department of agriculture is in a dispute with the EPA over issues of state and federal government jurisdictions. When Florida instated it’s own “Clean Water Act” they had trouble with lobbyists campaigning against them, none of the laws were ever set in motion because they could not get them into effect due to legal red tape. As a result of the states failure to protect our waterways, the EPA stepped in and made the laws that Florida’s representatives did not enforce, apparently due to the encroachment by industrial lobbyists. Since then the EPA has not had success in keeping these industries in compliance because they have been locked in lawsuits against the enforcement of these new laws. A series of lawsuits were filed against the state by environmentalists’ groups, the lawsuits stated that if the state did not get up to code with the EPA’s regulations in a specific amount of time that the EPA would step in and ensure that the codes were being met. When the EPA stepped in they were met with lawsuits from lobbyists and business owners claiming that they should not be allowed to interfere with state law
Possible Solutions:
I propose in order to solve this problem that Congress and the EPA stay active in enforcing the rules already set in motion by our federal government. While these litigations are still going on our Ecosystems are suffering drastically, and certain industrialists and their lobbyists are using all resources to circumvent national laws. We are appealing that the EPA make these polluters comply with regulations, the result is unprecedented if they do not take action immediately.
One possible solution could be that the EPA adapt to the state’s law in requiring the companies to comply up to a certain level of toxicity and when they are no longer an environmental threat they can then be marked as “Green”. This compliance level would not leave the companies exempt from being tested periodically, but would lift any issues with environmental compliances off of them, and put them out of default. This would also nullify some of the claims in the lawsuits against the EPA, claims that this stipulation was in the state’s proposal but the EPA’s proposal is for an indefinite amount of time. Allowing that claim to be squashed could go a long way in finally seeing some results on this serious environmental issue.
A second solution would be to simply just tell the companies if they do not comply they would have to be shut down due to public health concerns. In a time when we are so economically uncertain, it is undoubtedly difficult for government officials to tell any company that they cannot stay open for business, but when it comes at the cost of thousands of acres of natural resources, that are in fact irreplaceable, there needs to be legal ramification.
A third option, campaigning for public awareness of the problem funded by polluters and regulated by the government. Not enough people are aware of this imminent danger, as members of congress and the EPA Admin, there should be certain level of responsibility to protect the wildlife, nature, and population of the country. We live in a democracy and thus should be aloud to use the public opinion and will to the advantage of working for them. When people are not fully aware that these dangers are in their local water, they have no way of determining what their stance is on the outcome of their natural resources. Educating people on matters like this would be a great way to go about getting support to demand these compliance issues be resolved.
Lastly, I propose that the government also educate the companies. The government should help new and upcoming industry understand and take seriously the importance of environmental compliance, and the consequences of noncompliance. Existing companies should be assisted in pinpointing exactly where the problems are, and the government could assist with the most economically sound ways of obtaining necessary equipment, and the best and most cost efficient ways of installation.
Is it feasible?
Strictly enforcing environmental compliance is not so far out of reach. When it comes to the health and well being of our people there needs to be a point where we as taxpayers can feel as if we as humans, our countries land, and waterways are protected by our government. These things are feasible because it is resulting in a matter of dangerous levels of toxicity that could damage our drinking water, our fishing industry, tourism and recreation. When this issue has become a matter of life and death, it is necessary to these enforce laws, recently a girl in central coastal region of Florida died after falling fatally ill from swimming in a local waterway. These incidents of death are telling us that these companies creating the pollution can no longer be aloud to persuade our sense of authority in these matters.
Costs:
Where these companies are economically benefitting by not complying, others suffer. It is predicted in 2006, 82 million dollars were lost in the US due to the ecological impact of these out of control algae. In Florida, tourism and real estate are two of our most thriving industries. These algae are not only health hazardous, they are unpleasant to look at and often emit foul odors in the stage of decomposition, they also cause respiratory problems. These problems are sure to have a profound affect on the tourism and real estate industries in Florida. The companies engaged in the lawsuits to circumvent the law should be not exempt from the liabilities of their unwillingness to comply with these environmental laws, and the inconveniences to other industry their negligence has created. Commercial fisheries, health costs of those infected, and even the government costs are all tied into financial strain as a result of allowing for the noncompliance to these laws.
The costs to the companies being targeted could be very great as well. This is why these companies are fighting that the laws not be enforced in March 2012. It is estimated by the EPA that the costs cold be between 108-219 million dollars to the offenders, where as the state (who has seemed to be on the side of the companies' lobbyists) are estimating between 5.7-8.6 billion, a substantially higher and likely inflated figure to persuade the federal government to back down. Either way the costs are great, but the costs of our public health could potentially come at a much higher price.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, I would like to take a look at how beautiful and truly breathtaking the Sunshine State is. People come here for a number of reasons, seeking refuge from the harsh winters of our northern neighbors, to sit on our beautiful beaches with toes in the sand or to take a dip in the ocean. People come here to swim in our lakes and streams, and to fish or go rafting or boating. All of these activities are in peril, not only to tourists but also to our residents. Water, the very element that sustains life is being tainted in our local waterways and there are actions that could be taken to prevent these events. Please, as public and state representatives do not allow this to continue. Do not allow false accusations that the same scientific data collected by the state, is now being claimed insufficient by the state in compliance with lobbyists. Please remember that the costs to that these companies have put into lobbying and lawyers could have gone to minimizing their risks to the environment, and do not turn a blind eye to the profiteering that is coming at such a great cost to our citizens and waterways. Do not allow the economic gain of some to out weigh the ecological needs of everyone.
Works Cited:
Article on the compliance costs and lawsuits:
Environmentalists website on toxic algae:
Green Blue Algae, State of Florida website:
Article Orlando Sentinel:
EPA website, effects of nitrogen and phosphorous:
Costs of Green Algae in US: http://www.cop.noaa.gov/stressors/extremeevents/hab/current/econimpact_08.pdf
