UF/IFAS Publishes Primer On Proposed Water Rule
February 25, 2010 To help Florida residents understand proposed federal limits on nutrients in surface waters, University of Florida experts have published a primer explaining the details.
Released this month, “A Guide to EPA’s Proposed Numeric Nutrient Water Quality Criteria for Florida,” was developed by researchers with UF/IFAS and summarizes a 196-page federal document in nine pages. It is available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss528.
“We tried to use the simplest language possible,” said author Tom Obreza, a soil and water science professor. “This proposed rule would affect everyone in Florida.”
The publication focuses on proposed limits for the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a in Florida streams, canals, rivers and lakes. The limits were formally put forward in January; in October, the EPA will set final limits. EPA also has proposed regulations to help restore waters impaired by excessive nutrients.
Written in question-and-answer format, the UF publication outlines events leading to the proposed limits, scientific issues involved and possible implications for agricultural and municipal stakeholders.
The EPA is accepting public comment until March 29. More information is available at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida.
The state Department of Environmental Protection had been developing numerical limits on nutrients, and conducted extensive studies of state waters, Obreza said. The federal effort came about in response to a lawsuit claiming that EPA had not met its responsibilities under the federal Clean Water Act.
Currently, Florida waters are evaluated for excessive nutrients based on assessments of aquatic ecosystem health, rather than specific nutrient concentrations. A 2008 DEP report indicated that about 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, 350,000 acres of lakes and 900 square miles of estuaries were considered impaired due to high concentrations of nitrogen and/or phosphorus.
Source: UF/IFAS news release