Environmentalists, Former Staffer Urge EPA To Reject Florida CWA 404 Plan

摘要

Environmentalists and a retired EPA employee are urging the agency to reject Florida's request to assume Clean Water Act (CWA) section 404 dredge-and-fill permitting authority, with environmentalists arguing there are significant gaps in the state's plan and the agency alumnus raising concerns that it will decrease environmental protections. The arguments made during an Oct. 21 virtual EPA public hearing are in stark contrast to the business community's enthusiastic support of Florida's effort. The reaction also previews likelv written comments that the asencv is accepting until Nov. 2 on whether to allow Florida to become the first state since 1994 to assume 404 permitting authority and only the third state overall. A second public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27. Representatives for several national and local environmental groups urged EPA to pause its consideration of Florida's application until several deficiencies are addressed. Lindsey Dubin, a staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, said her organization is opposed overall to Florida assuming 404 permitting but until there is a final biological opinion and incidental take permit for public review, the public cannot fully assess the impacts of granting the state's request. Her group has "serious concerns about the impact on wildlife" from transferring permitting authority to the state, she said.