News & Public Affairs

EPA won't set estuary pollution standards until 2011 listen

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Tags: fertilizer, EPA, FDEP, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, EPA water standards, EarthJustice, Sierra Club, phosphorous, nitrogen fertilizer, nitrogen pollution

On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it’s not going to enforce key pollution restrictions in the state’s estuaries. That is, not until next year.

In 2008, several environmental groups sued the EPA, claiming it wasn’t enforcing the Clean Water Act in the Sunshine State. As a result, it developed standards for the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that can flow into Florida’s lakes, rivers and estuaries...

Hillsborough Environmental Protection Commission considers fertilizer ordinance listen

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Tags: fertilizer

The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, or EPC, voted unanimously today to hold public workshops on whether to limit the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to the lawns of county residents.

WMNF’s Seán Kinane has more.

Tampa Bay and most of the region’s waterways are loaded with nutrients, especially nitrogen, causing algae blooms which in turn cause a decline in seagrass cover due to reduced light penetration.

Scott Emery, an environmental consultant for Hi...

EPC considers nitrogen fertilizer ban listen

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Tags: Environment, fertilizer, pollution

To cut down on nitrogen pollution entering the region’s water, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program has suggested that local governments forbid their residents from using nitrogen fertilizers on lawns during the summer rainy season. In their meeting this morning, the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) heard about why such an ordinance is needed.

To make it easier for local governments to enact these nitrogen fertilizer restrictions, last month the Tampa Bay Estuary Prog...

Florida Friendly landscaping imminent in St. Pete? listen

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Tags: water, landscaping, fertilizer

Florida is in the midst of a severe drought, which has led to major restrictions on water use. In response, St. Petersburg City Council member Karl Nurse announced this morning that he is requesting that the city examine landscaping on property it owns and, where appropriate, replace St. Augustine grass with landscaping that is Florida Friendly.

“And the logic of that is twofold. One, it will save money because the maintenance is radically reduced...