Bill Nelson urges EPA transparency on Florida's water toxins rules

FLORIDA TODAY
Original Published 4:00 p.m. ET March 9, 2018 | Updated 4:09 p.m. ET March 9, 2018

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) this week urged federal environmental officials to ensure Florida's tweaks to the state's toxic chemical water standards protect human health and reflect public input.

The two congressmen sent a letter Thursday to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, regarding pending controversial new water toxins rules created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The "surface water" rule will govern how much toxic chemicals polluters can dump into rivers and lakes used for drinking water, including benzene — a cancer-causing petroleum byproduct used in hydraulic fracking and pervasive in tobacco smoke.

"We wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to express concern that DEP’s proposal did not adequately consider potential health impacts, especially for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly," the letter said. 

The new criteria would impact the types of chemicals released during hydraulic fracking, oil and gas drilling, by sewer plants, paper and pulp plants, dry cleaning businesses and other industries. Those chemicals can wind up in the water we drink and the shrimp, fish and other seafood we eat.