WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Steve Southerland, II denounced the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today for refusing to reconsider its overhaul of nonpoint source pollution regulations for forestry roads, setting a dangerous precedent for North Florida’s forestry economy.
“I am deeply concerned that North Florida’s forestry economy is going to face the job-crushing consequences of a court decision made 2,500 miles away in San Francisco,” said Southerland. “The Ninth Circuit’s water quality ruling upends existing rules and imposes unnecessary permitting requirements for forestry roads, a decision that could kill jobs and increase costs struggling rural communities. I encourage the EPA to work with Congress and the forestry industry to reaffirm the effective nonpoint source standards already on the books.”
“We applaud Rep. Southerland’s support for Florida’s forest landowners, wood producers and our working forests,” said Jeff Doran, Executive Vice-President of the Florida Forestry Association. “The Ninth Circuit’s decision to overturn longstanding EPA forestry regulations is unfounded. It jeopardizes the partnership that has already been formed between Florida’s Division of Forestry, forest landowners and timber harvesters to implement home-grown solutions that create jobs and protect our water quality.”
The Ninth Circuit’s decision leaves in place a court order from last August that overturns current point source permitting requirements, a move that essentially identifies forest roads as a primary source of water pollution. Southerland signed a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson encouraging the agency to fight for maintaining the current rule, which was established in 1976.
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