Fw: Senator LeMieux: Hasty EPA Rule Will Harm Florida's Families andEconomy

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

---

From: "Cronin, Meaghan (LeMieux)" <Meaghan_Cronin@LeMieux.senate.gov>

Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:50:29 -0500

Subject: Senator LeMieux: Hasty EPA Rule Will Harm Florida's Families and Economy

 

 

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Contact:
Ken Lundberg 202-228-5957
Jessica Garcia 202-228-5113

 

Senator LeMieux: Hasty EPA Rule Will Harm Florida's Families and Economy

Senator LeMieux proposes amendment to block harmful rule from going into effect

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) today will offer an amendment to pending Senate legislation to block a controversial and non-science based water regulation the EPA is forcing on Florida.

 

"This rule will hurt Florida's families. It will cost our state billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and drive up water bills. This is lawsuit-driven regulation without a sound scientific basis and the result will be unnecessarily catastrophic for Florida," said LeMieux. "The EPA's actions threaten Florida's economy and is unlikely to provide little, if any biological benefit."

 

In an August 2, 2010 letter to the EPA, signed by Senator LeMieux and 20 other Florida members of the House of Representatives, the delegation asked for the agency to delay their rule until a peer review of the science and an independent economic analysis can be conducted. The EPA responded, six weeks later, indicating no further review was necessary and the rule would proceed, despite the protestations of local, state and federal officials.

 

"We all support clean water.  Florida is a nationally recognized leader in promoting water quality. But at a time when our state is suffering from high unemployment, budget deficits and depressed real-estate values, we must be cautious about forcing unwise, unaffordable and unproven federal water mandates on our communities," said LeMieux. "It is estimated that under this new mandate, the average Florida family will pay an additional $700 dollars a year in water bills."

 

The Senate is expected to consider the LeMieux amendment this afternoon.

 

BACKGROUND: The EPA has issued a proposed rule establishing federal numeric nutrient criteria for Florida water bodies. The EPA views the mandate as being in accordance with a consent decree the agency entered into with several litigants. The first rule is set to go into effect in October of this year.

 

###

 

Editors: Please note attachments.