News Release

(GAINESVILLE, Fla) -- The Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF), the state’s largest general interest agricultural organization, is urging members of the Environmental Regulatory Commission (ERC) to base new phosphorus standards for water flowing to the Everglades on scientific information. The Federation also is asking the ERC to consider economic impacts and to assess the relative risks and benefits to the public as it considers the standard.

“This common-sense approach is nothing more than what state and federal laws require,” said Florida Farm Bureau President Carl B. Loop Jr. “ On behalf of the more than 150,000 Florida Farm Bureau member-families, I am urging the ERC to base the standard on the real-life research that shows 16 parts per billion is an appropriate standard that would fully protect the Everglades.”

The ERC is considering setting the standard for every part of the system at 10 ppb. Scientists at the Duke University Wetlands Center and other respected experts say actual research shows 16 ppb is an appropriate standard that would fully protect the Everglades.

“Federal and state water quality laws recognize the importance of employing cost-effective remedies and processes in setting these standards," Loop said. “The ERC is being asked to consider a standard that is likely to put the issue back in the courts and waste valuable time and public resources.”

Loop said five basic principles must govern the process:

1. The phosphorus standard must be based on all relevant scientific information, a review of economic impacts and assessment of the relative risks and benefits to the public and the environment, just as the law requires.

2. The standard must be attainable through environmentally and economically acceptable means. Implementation and compliance issues are crucial and cannot simply be set aside for another day.

3. The standard must be consistent with the Everglades Forever Act. This law mandates a standard that recognizes natural fluctuations with time of year, location and variation caused by storms, hurricanes, fires and drought.

4. It must accomplish what the law calls “net improvement” for the previously impacted areas, and permanent protection for the 90 percent of the Everglades that have always had excellent water quality.

5. Implementation should focus on the improvement and protection of the ecosystem and avoid a destructive, time-consuming and expensive process of permit-by-permit variances and consent decrees.

While the Stormwater treatment areas that have been built – paid for by farmers and taxpayers – may be capable of lowering the phosphorus concentration to the 15 ppb range, there is no proven technology that can reduce the concentration to 10 ppb.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is based in Gainesville. It is an independent, non-profit advocate for farmers and ranchers, representing the interests of more than 150,300 member-families. There are Farm Bureaus in 62 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic importance.