TOMORROW: E.P.A. Press Conference Call on Final Requirements to Protect Florida’s Waters

(TALLAHASSEE - Nov. 14, 2010) Tomorrow, Nov. 15, 2010, E.P.A. (EPA) Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming will hold a press conference call to discuss the Agency's final requirements to cut harmful nutrient pollution in Florida's inland waters.

Nutrient pollution is made up of nitrogen and phosphorus and comes from wastewater, urban stormwater and excess fertilizer that flow off the land into our waterways. Nutrient pollution causes harmful algae blooms-the thick, green muck that fouls clear water-that produce toxins harmful to both humans and animals, deplete oxygen needed for fish and shellfish survival, smother vegetation and discolor water.

The Florida Wildlife Federation filed a 2008 lawsuit against EPA, resulting in a finding under the Clean Water Act that nutrient pollution requirements are necessary for Florida. The need for these numeric requirements was 1st determined in January 2009 during the previous Administration. The resulting settlement, reflected in a consent decree entered in August 2009, requires E.P.A. to adopt specific or "numeric" nutrient pollution requirements by November 2010. The final rule complies with this consent decree. Under the consent decree, E.P.A. is required to issue additional requirements for Florida's coastal waters by August 2012, and will shortly be submitting the underlying science for these requirements to its independent Science Advisory Board for peer review.

WHEN: Tomorrow, November 15, 2010, 9:45AM (EST)

WHO: Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming

WHAT: EPA's Florida requirements to reduce nutrient pollution

WHERE: Members of the media should RSVP to [email protected] to gain

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