The flag of the Seminole Tribe. Photo by Walter
The Seminole Tribe is challenging new water quality standards approved by the state of Florida. The tribe believes the standards fail to address the subsistence needs of its people, The News Service of Florida reported. A petition filed with the state Division of Administrative Hearings seeks to invalidate the new rule. The state Department of Environmental Protection finalized the changes last month and they were adopted by the Environmental Regulation Commission by a 3-2 vote, The News Service reported. Environmental groups have criticized the standards as too weak. "Moving forward with the proposed criteria will nearly double the number of chemicals that the department will be able to regulate using stringent and protective criteria so we can continue to provide better public health protection for our state," Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson said in a press release on July 25. The Seminole Tribe has long criticized the state for failing to address the presence of chemicals and pollutants in its homelands, located in the Everglades. The tribe's water standards have been approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The case is Seminole Tribe v. Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Environmental Regulation Commission, No: 16-004431RP. Read More on the Story:
Seminole Tribe challenges water standards (The News Service of Florida 8/10)
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