Judge Delays Implementation of NNC Rules for Lakes Until July 6th

Just hours before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new water standards for Florida lakes were scheduled to take effect, a federal judge on Monday postponed the move until July 6. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle pushed back EPA’s March 6 target date to match the date he previously had set for springs and streams. At issue are the rules governing nitrogen and phosphorous levels. The judge’s latest ruling is designed to give the EPA more time to consider whether to allow the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to use its own state criteria for the nutrients in place of the EPA’s limits.