11 45 WATER REGULATORY ISSUES Herschel Vinyard Moderator































- Slides: 31
11: 45 WATER REGULATORY ISSUES Herschel Vinyard, Moderator Greg Munson, Gunster
Water Regulatory Update 1. Waters of the U. S. 2. Amendment One 3. Human Health Criteria
Proposed WOTUS Rule (1) All waters used in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; (2) All interstate waters, including interstate wetlands; (3) The territorial seas; (4) All impoundments of waters; (5) “Tributaries” of (1)-(3) (6) Waters, including wetlands, adjacent to/“neighboring” (1)-(5) (7) Special waters with a “significant nexus” (8) Floodplain or Near High Tide Waters with a “significant nexus” New Definitions: Tributary, Neighboring, Significant Nexus (3) All “other waters” the use, degradation or destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce (4) All impoundments of waters otherwise defined as waters of the United States (5) Tributaries of (1) – (4) (6) The territorial seas
New WOTUS Rule WOTUS Y Categorically In ((a)1 -6)? N Y Categorically Out (b)? N Significant Nexus ((a) 7 -8)? Y Ditches are Special N Not WOTUS
Categorical Inclusions (1)All waters used in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; (2) All interstate waters, including interstate wetlands; (3) The territorial seas; (4) All impoundments of waters; (5) Tributaries of 1 -3; (6) Waters, including wetlands, adjacent to/“neighboring” (1)-(5)
Tributaries / Adjacent & Neighboring • Tributaries require a bed, a bank, and a ordinary high water mark OR they contributes flow directly or indirectly to a traditional water. • Breaks in the tributary don’t matter, so long as a bed, bank and OHWM can be identified upstream of the break. • A tributary can be a ditch. If the ditch fits within a categorical exclusion it is NOT a WOTUS, no matter what. • Adjacent = Neighboring. Unlike draft rule is defined within fixed distances of OHWM.
Categorical Exclusions • Waste Treatment Systems, including treatment ponds and lagoons • Prior converted cropland, as determined by EPA • Ditches: • Ephemeral Flow ditches • Intermittent Flow ditches, unless it drains a wetland • Ditches that do not contribute flow, either directly or indirectly to a water in (1)-(3) • The following: o Artificially irrigated areas that would revert to dry land should irrigation stop; o Artificial lakes and ponds, including farm and stock watering ponds, irrigation ponds, settling basins, and cooling ponds; o Groundwater; o Puddles; o Stormwater control features created in dry land; and o Wastewater recycling structures constructed on dry land, including retention basins, recharge basins, percolation ponds, and water distributary structures. What is Dry Land?
Significant Nexus • Water that alone or in combination with out similarly situated waters in the region significantly affects the chemical, physical, or biological integrity of a (1)-(3) water that is not speculative or insubstantial. • Similarly Situated Waters are those that are sufficiently alike and are sufficiently close. • Factors for evaluating significant nexus: • Sediment trapping • Nutrient recycling • Pollutant trapping, transformation, filtering, and transport • Retention and attenuation of flood waters • Runoff Storage • Contribution of flow • Export of organic matter • Provision of life cycle dependent habitat
My Opinion Florida = 100 year flood plain = significant nexus Significant Nexus = WOTUS Florida = WOTUS Similarly Situated: You get a JD when your neighbor gets a JD Exclusions CRITICAL LOTS of room for professional judgment
Going Forward • Effective Date: August 28, 2015 • Permits or J. D. that are issued AFTER that date will be under new rule • Legal challenges filed • Enjoined in 13 states • Rule is effective in Florida despite legal challenge
Amendment One
Florida Wildlife Federation v. Gardiner • Amendment One Appropriations: $740 M ($550 M + Debt Service) • FWF Challenging: $237 M • FWF Seeking: Transfer of $237 M from the $460 M in funds vetoed by Governor. • Timeline: Best guess is a decision in the trial court early 2016. • Other lawsuits?
Constitutional Language • As provided by law, to finance or refinance: the acquisition and improvement of land, water areas, and related property interests, … together with management, restoration of natural systems, and the enhancement of public access or recreational enjoyment of conservation lands.
Challenged Appropriations • DEP, DOACS, FWCC, DOS salaries and overhead: $175 M • Sewage Treatment/Stormwater (Springs): $39 M • Agricultural BMPs: $5 M • Agricultural Pollution Reduction Projects: $5 M
Human Health Criteria
Human Health Criteria Background • May 2014: EPA draft updating national recommended water quality criteria for 94 chemical pollutants found in industrial and domestic wastewater, herbicides, and pesticides: Acenaphthene, Acrolein, Acrylonitrile, Aldrin, alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane, alpha-Endosulfan, Anthracene, Antimony, Arsenic, Asbestos, Barium, Benzene, Benzidine, Benzo(a)anthracene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Beryllium, beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane, beta-Endosulfan, Bis(2 -Chloro-1 -methyl) Ether, Bis(2 -Chloroethyl) Ether, Bis(2 -Ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Bis(Chloromethyl) Ether, Bromoform, Butylbenzyl Phthalate, Cadmium, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chlorobenzene, Chlorodibromomethane, Chloroform, Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2, 4 -D), Chlorophenoxy Herbicide (2, 4, 5 -TP), Chromium (III), Chromium (VI), Chrysene, Copper, Cyanide, Dibenzo(a, h)anthracene, Dichlorobromomethane, Dieldrin, Diethyl Phthalate , Dimethyl Phthalate, Di-n-Butyl Phthalate, Dinitrophenols, Endosulfan Sulfate, Endrin Aldehyde, Ethylbenzene, Fluoranthene, Fluorene, gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane, Heptachlor Epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Hexachloroethane, Indeno(1, 2, 3 -cd)pyrene, Isophorone, Manganese, Methylmercury, Methoxychlor, Methyl Bromide, Methylene Chloride, Nickel, Nitrates, Nitrobenzene, Nitrosamines, Nitrosodibutylamine, Nitrosodiethylamine, Nitrosopyrrolidine, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine, Nitrosodiphenylamine, Pathogen and Pathogen Indicators, Pentachlorobenzene, Pentachlorophenol, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Pyrene, Selenium, Solids Dissolved and Salinity, Tetrachloroethylene, Thallium, Toluene, Toxaphene, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Zinc, 1, 1, 1 -Trichloroethane, 1, 1, 2, 2 -Tetrachloroethane, 1, 1, 2 -Trichloroethane, 1, 1 -Dichloroethylene, 1, 2, 4, 5 -Tetrachlorobenzene, 1, 2, 4 Trichlorobenzene, 1, 2 -Dichloroethane, 1, 2 -Dichloropropane, 1, 2 -Diphenylhydrazine, Trans-1, 2 -Dichloroethylene, 1, 3 -Dichlorobenzene, 1, 3 -Dichloropropene, 1, 4 -Dichlorobenzene, 2, 3, 7, 8 -TCDD (Dioxin), 2, 4, 5 -Trichlorophenol, 2, 4, 6 -Trichlorophenol, 2, 4 -Dichlorophenol, 2, 4 -Dimethylphenol, 2, 4 -Dinitrotoluene, 2 -Chloronaphthalene, 2 -Chlorophenol, 2 -Methyl-4, 6 Dinitrophenol, 3, 3'-Dichlorobenzidine, 3 -Methyl-4 -Chlorophenol, p, p′-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane, p, p′Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, p, p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
Human Health Criteria Background • July 2014: Florida’s (FDEP) Response • June 2015: EPA finalizes criteria • Exposure Factors critical: drinking water intake, fish consumption rate, cancer risk, bioaccumulation. • September 2015: EPA Response to FDEP • Timeline: DEP rulemaking likely to begin in early 2016
QUESTIONS? Greg Munson Gunster Law Firm gmunson@gunster. com (850) 521 -1980
1: 15 PM SCIENCE AND FERTILIZER: WHAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO KNOW Dr. Mike Dukes, IFAS, University of Florida, Moderator Ryan Matthews, FL League of Cities Ann Aquillo, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Mac Carraway, Carraway Consulting
Ann Aquillo Vice President Corporate Affairs
At Scotts, We’re Working on Smarter Solutions for Cleaner Waterways Product formulation Product Innovation Consumer Communications Collaboration 21
1: 15 PM SCIENCE AND FERTILIZER: WHAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO KNOW Dr. Mike Dukes, IFAS, University of Florida, Moderator Ryan Matthews, FL League of Cities Ann Aquillo, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Mac Carraway, Carraway Consulting
When the Facts Are Not the Facts Mac Carraway, Carraway Consulting
Getting It Wrong The Cholesterol story as a parable SWUCA / SWFWMD; Tampa turf moratorium The Tampa Bay Miracle The demonization of landscapes and lawn care
Really?
Kicking Science In The Head …because you don’t like the answer I’m sure you have seen the story about Dr. Kevin Folta at UF? It’s happened to others at UF as well over the years It is the lowest aspect of the fertilizer discussion
Legislation At All Levels Local governments and state legislators have a difficult time ahead All reasonable people, especially lawmakers, need to keep the focus on solutions Jobs and the economy cannot be forgotten
Getting It Right Put science and research at the top of the budget; followed closely by education Get stakeholders to the table early and often Silver BB’s not bullets It’s OK to be patient
Thank You. www. Carraway. Consulting. com www. Living. Green. Florida. com
1: 15 PM SCIENCE AND FERTILIZER: WHAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO KNOW Dr. Mike Dukes, IFAS, University of Florida, Moderator Ryan Matthews, FL League of Cities Ann Aquillo, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Mac Carraway, Carraway Consulting