Pam Bondi: Court Slapped Down Federal 'Overreach' on Florida Rivers, Streams

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement Monday in the wake of a federal court decision invalidating portions of the Environmental Protection Agency's rules governing water standards in the state's river and streams.

This ruling will give Florida an opportunity to enact rules to protect our streams without crippling our economy. Yet another instance of federal government overreach has been prevented," Bondi said.

Bondi had challenged the EPA's numeric nutrient criteria, which pre-empted Florida standards.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle upheld the state's site-specific alternative criteria for streams and rivers. Under this provision, if an applicant for a permit can show that the particular water body at issue should be governed by different numeric criteria, then a variance can be issued.

Florida is currently in the process of adopting its own numeric nutrient criteria which, if approved by EPA, would govern permitting in Florida.