News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement today hailing the agreement between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow oversight of numeric nutrients regulations to be directed by Florida’s authorities instead of Washington-based bureaucrats:

“For several years, the EPA has been on Florida’s back trying to force their way into regulating our state’s water quality instead of letting the local authorities who know this state best do their jobs. The result has been not only soaring costs but also constant uncertainty for job creators who need greater predictability in knowing what regulations they’ll need to comply with in the coming years and who’s in charge of oversight.

“Keeping the EPA out of Florida on this effort is a significant win for job creators across the state. It will better ensure that the proper balance can be struck between protecting our water and making sure over-regulation doesn’t drive businesses and jobs out of Florida. By limiting the federal government’s interference in Florida’s affairs and preserving the proper relationship between federal and state regulation here, we’ve set a good example other states can emulate when facing similar undue pressure from EPA bureaucrats.”

A timeline of Rubio’s efforts on this issue follows:

• March 2011: Rubio writes a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting that they maintain language to defund the EPA’s effort to take over the regulatory role of the Florida under the Clean Water Act inserted by Congressman Rooney in the Fiscal Year 2011 continuing appropriations legislation.
• March 2011: Rubio files an amendment to the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 493) to defund the EPA’s over-reaching rule to take over the regulatory role of the Florida under the Clean Water Act.
• June 2011: Rubio files an amendment to the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011 (S. 782) to defund the EPA’s over-reaching rule to take over the regulatory role of the Florida under the Clean Water Act.
• September 2011: Rubio spearheads a letter with the Republican members of the Florida House delegation to the EPA pointing out the national inequities between EPA’s treatment of the state of Florida under the Clean Water Act and their decision to maintain a cooperative approach in the Mississippi River Basin.
• February 2012: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection submit their proposed state rule regarding numeric nutrient criteria to the EPA.
• February 2012: Rubio introduces the Senate companion of the State Waters Partnership Act of 2012 (S. 2115), legislation that would compel the EPA to approve the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s rule regarding numeric nutrient criteria in the state of Florida.
• March 2012: Rubio and Republican members of the Florida House delegation write a letter to the EPA requesting that the EPA approve the Florida Department of Environment Protection’s rule in its entirety.
• June 2012: Rubio and Republican members of the Florida House delegation write a letter to the EPA reiterating the delegation’s request that the EPA approve the Florida Department of Environment Protection’s rule in its entirety.
• November 2012: The EPA approves the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s numeric nutrient criteria rule but maintains federal regulatory control over certain state waters.
• March 2013: The EPA returns state regulatory power to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection after significant lobbying by Rubio, Governor Rick Scott and the entire Florida Congressional delegation.