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Business Groups Challenge Pollution Notificaton Rule
November 25, 2016
Five major business groups have challenged a plan by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to impose new requirements for notifying the public when pollution incidents occur.
Administrative Law Judge Bram D.E. Canter has scheduled a Dec. 20 hearing in the case, filed last week by Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Trucking Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, according to documents posted on the state Division of Administrative Hearings website.
The Department of Environmental Protection issued a proposed rule that, in part, includes requirements for businesses to notify the news media about pollution incidents. In the challenge, the business groups argue that the proposed rule oversteps the department’s legal authority and that it will create excessive regulatory costs.
“(The) proposed rule requires regulated entities to directly notify the media about certain ‘reportable releases’ into the environment, among other provisions,” the challenge said. “While the proposed rule has a laudable goal, its unprecedented shift of public notification responsibilities from the government to Florida businesses puts a heavy burden on businesses, especially small businesses, and exceeds FDEP’s statutory authority, among other legal shortcomings.”
by The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The Town of Century had 500 gallon sewage spill into this ditch near the Century Woods Apartment on West highway 4 on October 20. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
3 Responses to “Business Groups Challenge Pollution Notificaton Rule”
It is the job of government to protect its citizens from the harm of capitalism.
The DEP’s Objectives:
The Department’s regulatory priorities include administering Florida’s air pollution control programs to best protect human health; protecting and restoring water quality; MANAGING HAZARDOUS WASTES AND CLEANUP; overseeing beach restorations; and reviewing applications for power plants, transmission lines and natural gas pipelines.
The public has proved itself to be too ignorant to understand a press release concerning an environmental incident, anyway. Just look to the reactions to certain ’scary clowns’ incidents, and our President-elect, for proof of this ignorance.
Just evidence of more greed! I am afraid if you knew what was dumped in the river – you wouldn’t even think of eating a fish… My late husband and I were on a trip in Alabama to go hunting and we watched a chemical truck dumping his leftover load in a small creek out in the woods – we called the Highway Patrol and the Police – this is your land the one and only and we deserve to know when there is a pollution issue – it’s your kids and grandkids playing in parks and wading in water…..
So these Businesses want to operate in the dark rather than being good stewards of their community. That’s nice.