1. Raul Hernandez
Ron Smith
ENC-1102-177
November 11, 2012
Rogerian Environmental Paper 1st Draft
The Sunshine State is unique in a multitude of ways. From its bustling tourism to its diverse
population blend, Florida boasts a medley of attractions, but none draw nearly as much attention
as its unique geography. While not nearly as well known as the Everglades, Central and Northern
Florida’s unique Karst Topography has synonymized the region with sinkhole formations, thus
giving aptness to the Swiss Cheese Topography nickname. Consequently, this unique
geographical phenomenon has resulted in Florida possessing, by large margins, the highest
chances for groundwater contamination in the entire United States. The likelihood of water
pollution is coupled by a lobbyist prone agricultural industry producing tons of annual runoff and
a deeply conservative legislature that has done little for the sake of environmental protection. On
the other side, environmental groups have been arguing for stricter regulation and more effective
government action. With groundwater being the primary source of drinking water for 90% of the
state, the importance of the matter cannot be denied (FDEP Groundwater Program). Surely, with
so many Floridians at risk, a common consensus on the matter is incremental, if not at the very
least worth a shot.
On the one hand, Florida is poised to surpass New York in terms of population at any moment
(HuffPost). This would elevate the state, making it the third most populous in the U.S. Such a
rapid growing populace requires a reliable food supply. Florida’s agricultural industry has been

2. one of the states hallmarks since the land grant college days, long before Mickey Mouse. Back
when Florida was making its name as a U.S. state fresh off of Spanish possession, agriculture
served as the catapult that propelled Florida to prosperity and helped it to secure a sense of
identity. To this day, agriculture remains a vital gear in Florida’s livelihood. Environmental
protection policies could potentially threaten thousands of jobs and cost the state billions of
dollars. Not exactly the best way to tackle a struggling economy in the midst of recovering from
a global recession. And when workers see their sustenance at risk, few can blame them for
fighting to protect it. It is of no surprise to anyone that when fresh new EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency) regulation rolls in groups such as the Florida Farm Bureau Federation,
Florida Electric Cooperative Associations, and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape
Association instinctively demonstrate their resistance. These organizations are defending their
professions, some centuries old and deeply embedded in tradition.
Furthermore, it’s not as if state and federal governments have failed to pass scores of statutes
attempting to combat the predicament. With mounds of legislation piling up, none can say that
there have not been attempts to remedy the situation. From the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) at the federal level, to the Air and Water Pollution Control
Act and the Water Resources Act of 1972 at the state level, to the additional authority allocated
to local governments, there has definitely been an effort to confront the issue. Many bills have
been revised, reexamined, amended, and changed countless times and constantly through their
circulation, yet at all governmental levels measures have been crafted and passed in hopes of
countering water pollution. The problems arrive when it comes time for implementation.
Critics and environmentalists argue that everything falls apart come time for implementation.
The laws are in the books and the intent is clear, but like an old clock that’s been steadily

3. disassembled, all the cogs mash when the arms begin to tick. Take for example the EDB
contamination. From 1962 to 1983, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services conducted widespread applications of a soil fumigant, ethylene dibromide (EDB), to
combat a nematode infestation attacking citrus groves (FDEP Delineation Program). EDB use
didn’t stop there, though. It was also applied by private citizens on golf courses and on other
crops such as peanuts and soybeans. By the time EDB was found to be harmful with the potential
to cause cancer, the contamination was rampant throughout Florida’s groundwater. The
discontinuation and recalling of any unused EDB materials did little to stop the pollutant from
becoming a serious health hazard. The Department of Environmental Protection had to undergo a
process of delineation in an attempt to counter the pollution. Despite these efforts, a recent study
placed two Florida cities on a list of the 10 American cities with the worst drinking water. With
no signs of improvement, figures such as this one are becoming more and more commonplace.
And so the clock derails even further, clinging to its last choking strokes.
Although, a large portion of the blame falls on Florida’s natural limestone bedding, which acts
as a horrible aquifer in the face of water pollution, just as great a portion of the blame falls on its
state government. Instead of fortifying the laws that secure the state’s clean drinking water,
Tallahassee’s conservative body has been trying to appease business and industry to the fullest
extent. Governor Rick Scott in particular has been criticized by environmentalists for allowing a
series of “dirty water” rules to be passed under his administration (Gainesville Sun). These
statutes, drafted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, act as substitutes to the
EPA’s Clean Water Act. Congressman Steve Southerland exclaimed that a recent deal struck
between the EPA and environmental groups had gone “one step too far.” When questioned on
how his planned alternative would impact wildlife, Southerland responded, "You talk about

4. wildlife, but the EPA sometimes sets standards that aren't compatible with human life, and we
have to strike a balance" (Tampa Bay Times). This clash between the state and federal
governments only serves to delude the implementation of actual clean water policy. Instead of
clean water, what results are government programs irresponsibly acting against the purpose of
their own inception. And with that, the whole clock comes crumbling down.
Whereas deregulation is seen as a short-term economic booster, in the long run it leads to
negative fiscal impacts. If water contamination is not properly controlled, not only would health
costs take a price hike, but several of Florida’s industries will also inevitably suffer. Widespread
water pollution will have clear (or rather murky) aesthetic implications. Tourism will take a
tumble, followed by fishing and real estate. Eventually, the very measures meant to secure the
economy could be its undoing. For this reason, experts agree that deregulation is not the solution,
but the catalyst. Rather than spend taxpayer dollars for the sake of deregulation, alternatives that
yield more positive, beneficial results must be sought out.
The more and more that water contamination is openly discoursed the more and more it is
becoming a political issue, rather than a health issue. Debate has shifted the issue from the
compromising haven of reasonableness to the harrowed clutches of domestic affairs. Regardless
of personal angle, it is safe to assume that this should not by any means be a political issue.
Human health and safety should never be confined to partisanship. Yet, the reality isn’t far from
the verdict. With conservatives and liberals scrimmaging their ideologies away, issues such as
water contamination are being devalued, eroded underneath the grinding of political babble. This
is in no way good for anyone. The politicizing of such crucial topics drives them away from the
public’s span. This lays further waste to the rubble, sweeping it to the place where lost health

5. concerns go. Shelved alongside E. Coli and cellphone radiation. This cheapening of the subject
only results in ignorance. And it can lead to some very dire consequences.
Not too long ago, about two weeks to be exact, I received a call from my mother living in
Miami. Everything seemed fine, until I came across a recent news article by the Miami Herald
warranting extreme caution to a particular proximity. It seemed a local construction accident had
lead to a water hazard and I quickly scanned the article to check if my family was within the
radius of contamination. I rapidly relayed the information to my parents, who were blissfully
unaware of the matter, and certainly enough, my family’s house was right smack in the middle of
the pollution vicinity. One can only imagine my expression when my mother told me that
perhaps the contamination had something to do with the aching chest pain she had been feeling
all day.
Ultimately, water regulation has real effects on the lives and wellbeing of millions. It is
something that we have an obligation to compromise on, because politics should never get in the
way of human safety. Despite compelling arguments from both politicians and
environmentalists, we must seek out alternatives that satisfy both parties. Deregulation, is
certainly not a viable option, but there is no reason for job loss under safe water treatment
policies. Farmers should utilize irrigation methods that compliment Florida’s Karst Topography
adequately, preventing agricultural runoff from funneling into groundwater aquifers. Federal and
state environmental agencies should meet in the middle, with Florida adhering to the EPA’s
commonsense legislation and passing additional legislation to add to the efficiency of regulation,
not subtract from it. Finally, constituents should express their concern over partisanship and its
detractions from safe environmental practices, which would in turn cause the Florida legislature
to change face, regardless of party affiliation. Although the situation is undoubtedly bleak, and

6. there’s a long uphill battle ahead, nothing in place is capable of breaking the resolve towards
compromise. Through these practices Floridians can build upon the necessary steps to secure and
protect the crystalline water that gives Florida its unique beauty. And who knows, with time on
their side, maybe the old clock will start up again.

7. Citations
Florida. Dept. of Environmental Protection. “Delineation.” Dep.state.fl.us. 26 Jul. 2012. Web. 30
Oct. 2012.
Florida. Dept. of Environmental Protection. “Groundwater Program.” Dep.state.fl.us. 26 Jul.
2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
Florida. Dept. of Environmental Protection. “The Laws of Water.” Protectingourwater.org. N.D.
Web. 2 Nov. 2012.
“Florida has third largest population growth.” Huffingtonpostcom. The Huffington Post, 27 Dec.
2011. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.
Andrew McElwaine. “No room for ‘dirty water rules’.” Gainesville.com. The Gainesville Sun,
24 Sep. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
Brittany Davis. “Congressman hones in on water pollution controversy.” Tampabay.com. Tampa
Bay Times, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012.