Consent Decree to Establish Federal Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida

In August 2009, EPA entered into a Consent Decree with Florida Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, and St. Johns Riverkeeper, committing to propose numeric nutrient criteria for lakes and flowing waters in Florida by January 14, 2010, and for Florida’s estuarine and coastal waters by January 14, 2011. Under the original consent decree, final rules needed to be issued by October 15, 2010 for lakes and flowing waters, and October 2011 for estuarine and coastal waters.

Inland Water Bodies outside of the South Florida Region

On October 27, 2010, the original deadline of October 15, 2010 was extended to November 14, 2010 for EPA to finalize numeric nutrients criteria for Florida's lakes and other flowing waters (streams and springs), outside of South Florida. On November 14, 2010, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson signed the final "Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters."

Estuaries, Coastal Waters, and Flowing Waters in the South Florida Region

On June 7, 2010, EPA and plaintiffs filed a joint notice with the Court expanding the deadlines for promulgating numeric nutrient criteria for Florida’s estuaries, flowing waters in south Florida (including canals), and the downstream protection values for flowing waters into estuaries. On September 30, 2011 the Consent Decree was revised again to extend the date for the proposal of this rule to March 15, 2012.  The deadline for the final rulemaking is extended to November 15, 2012.