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WETLANDS POLLUTE, SAYS STUDY OKAYED BY EPA
Date: 031024
From: http://www.peer.org/
EPA BIOLOGIST RESIGNS IN PROTEST;
STUDY CLEARS WAY FOR SW FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTS
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, October 22, 2003
Washington, DC - A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency biologist has
resigned in protest of his agency's acceptance of a developer-financed
study concluding that wetlands discharge more pollutants than they
absorb, according to a statement released today by Public Employees
for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). EPA's approval of the study
gives developers credit for improving water quality by replacing
natural wetlands with golf courses and other developments.
A group comprised largely of local developers in Southwest Florida
contracted Harvey Harper to write the report outlining how the
developers could address worsening water quality problems in the
region. The resultant Harper Report concludes that -
- Wetlands generate pollution, based upon sampling collected in
wetlands next to highways and bridges; and
- Developers can escape federal wetlands restrictions by employing a
tactic called "rent-a-cow," whereby the land owner allows a few
cattle to graze in the wetland so it can classified as "improved
pasture."
Often called "nature's kidneys," wetlands are protected by the Clean
Water Act in part because of the role they play in purifying water.
Despite these legal protections, America's wetlands are shrinking as
regulatory agencies find ways to approve more development.
Bruce Boler, a former state water quality specialist, resigned after
three years with EPA. Boler, in his resignation statement, cited the
stance taken by the EPA Regional Administrator Jimmie Palmer that "EPA
would not oppose state positions, so if a state had no water quality
problems with a project then neither would EPA." The state of Florida
has already signed off on the Harper Report.
"In the Bush Administration's bizarre world of `sound science,'
wetlands cause pollution and there is no evidence of global warming,"
commented PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. PEER is leading a
coalition of environmental groups seeking to stop ten projects in the
Western Everglades that would destroy more than 2,000 acres of
wetlands. "EPA's new position that wetlands pollute stands the Clean
Water Act on its head and sends the all-clear signal to developers
that no project is out of bounds."
WETLANDS POLLUTE, SAYS STUDY OKAYED BY EPA
Date: 031024
From: http://www.peer.org/
EPA BIOLOGIST RESIGNS IN PROTEST;
STUDY CLEARS WAY FOR SW FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTS
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, October 22, 2003
Washington, DC - A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency biologist has
resigned in protest of his agency's acceptance of a developer-financed
study concluding that wetlands discharge more pollutants than they
absorb, according to a statement released today by Public Employees
for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). EPA's approval of the study
gives developers credit for improving water quality by replacing
natural wetlands with golf courses and other developments.
A group comprised largely of local developers in Southwest Florida
contracted Harvey Harper to write the report outlining how the
developers could address worsening water quality problems in the
region. The resultant Harper Report concludes that -
- Wetlands generate pollution, based upon sampling collected in
wetlands next to highways and bridges; and
- Developers can escape federal wetlands restrictions by employing a
tactic called "rent-a-cow," whereby the land owner allows a few
cattle to graze in the wetland so it can classified as "improved
pasture."
Often called "nature's kidneys," wetlands are protected by the Clean
Water Act in part because of the role they play in purifying water.
Despite these legal protections, America's wetlands are shrinking as
regulatory agencies find ways to approve more development.
Bruce Boler, a former state water quality specialist, resigned after
three years with EPA. Boler, in his resignation statement, cited the
stance taken by the EPA Regional Administrator Jimmie Palmer that "EPA
would not oppose state positions, so if a state had no water quality
problems with a project then neither would EPA." The state of Florida
has already signed off on the Harper Report.
"In the Bush Administration's bizarre world of `sound science,'
wetlands cause pollution and there is no evidence of global warming,"
commented PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. PEER is leading a
coalition of environmental groups seeking to stop ten projects in the
Western Everglades that would destroy more than 2,000 acres of
wetlands. "EPA's new position that wetlands pollute stands the Clean
Water Act on its head and sends the all-clear signal to developers
that no project is out of bounds."