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EPA Proposes New Limits on Nutrient Pollution to Lagoon
Lagoon House Nears Completion
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17 segments of the Indian RiverLagoon impaired by nutrient pollution, have had new nutrient limits proposed by the EPA.
The EPA was required to set pollution limits by a lawsuit brought by the Florida Wildlife Federation and Earthjustice Defense League that forced the EPA and the State of Florida to comply with the Clean Water Act.
The Clean Water Act in 1972, required that all impaired waters be restored by the mid 90s. The deadline has come and gone, and the number of impaired waters in Florida alone is over 800.
Total Maximum Daily Loadings is the maximum amount of pollutants a waterbody can receive without being impaired. Current pollution loads to the Indian River Lagoon were determined based on 1995 land uses. EPA estimated that over 3 million pounds of nitrogen and over 400,000 pounds of phosphorous is washed into the Lagoon each year. Most of the nitrogen and phosphorous comes from lawn fertilizers and groundwater enriched in nutrients due to septic tanks.
EPA estimates that over a million pounds of nitrogen and over 170,000 pounds of phosphorous would need to be kept from being washed into the lagoon in order to keep its fishing and water quality unimpaired. So far the EPA is suggesting local governments and agencies should create a plan to reduce nutrient pollution. Florida DEP has been concentrating its efforts at creating obstacles to considering waters impaired rather than upsetting the polluters by seeking to reduce pollution.
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