Pruitt Repeals Clean Water Protections for Nearly 2 Million Floridians

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt proposed repealing the Clean Water Rule, which restored federal protections to half our nation’s streams and thousands of wetlands across the country. Jennifer Rubiello, Environment Florida State Director issued the following statement:
Repealing the Clean Water Rule turns the mission of the EPA on its head: instead of safeguarding our drinking water, the Trump administration is proposing to stop protecting drinking water sources for nearly 2 million Floridians. It defies common sense, sound science and the will of the people of Florida.
Clean water is vital to our ecology, our health, and our quality of life. We are already seeing drinking water contaminated by algal blooms and a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico that scientists now estimate will be the size of New Jersey this summer. Just last year, Florida regulators also voted to increase the acceptable level of cancer-causing chemicals allowed in Florida’s rivers and streams. The last thing we need is the federal government weakening protections for our water as well.
Finalized in 2015 with widespread public and scientific support, the Rule restored federal protections to over 15,000 miles of Florida’s streams, which feed waterways like Tampa Bay and help provide drinking water to nearly 2 million Floridians. The rule also protects wetlands, which help filter out pollutants and provide wildlife habitat.
More than 800,000 Americans – including over 31,000 Floridians, business owners, local officials, farmers, and health professionals – all support the historic Clean Water Rule. On the other side, the most vociferous opponents of the rule include the oil and gas industry, coal companies, developers, and lobbyists for corporate agribusiness.
We call on the EPA to reconsider this reckless repeal and stand up for our drinking water, not for polluters.