EPA's Proposed Rule May Significantly Impact Property Owners

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed water quality standards in the State of Florida that would set a series of numeric limits on the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution, also known as “nutrient” that would be allowed in Florida’s lakes, rivers, streams, springs and canals.

BOMA was in attendance at one of the recent public hearings conducted by the EPA and has confirmed that the EPA’s rule, and resulting compliance requirements, would apply to lakes and retention ponds on private property that are currently classified as Class III Surface Water by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

EPA is currently in the Public Comment period and has announced that they are extending the Public Comment Period for an additional 30 days. The public comment period will now close on April 28, 2010. They will also be holding additional public hearings in Florida. The dates, locations, and times of these hearings have yet to be confirmed.

Please see the attached Fact Sheet from EPA and the links below.

EPA site on the proposed rule: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida

Public Comment Site:

http://www.regulations.gov - Enter the following in the “Enter Keyword or ID:” box

EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0596

Our sub-committee needs to hear from managers and owners of property that have lakes and/or ponds that would be affected by this rule.

Thank you.

Murray Greene - Water Sub-Committee Chair