Our policy intern, Monique Paul, was awarded the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Master of Professional Science Student Award for Excellence in Ocean Stewardship!
Welcome to our new Program Intern, Maria Briz! Maria has always had a passion for conservation and environmental education so she is currently pursuing a Professional Science Master’s Degree in Environmental Policy and Management at Florida International University.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2019
Contacts:
Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper & President of Waterkeepers Florida
(904) 509-3260, lisa@stjohnsriverkeeper.org
Jen Lomberk, Matanzas Riverkeeper & Vice President of Waterkeepers Florida
(904) 471-9878, jen@matanzasriverkeeper.org
Waterkeepers Florida Launches Moms for Clean Water Campaign Inspired by Florida’s First Lady
FLORIDA, USA — Earlier this year, First Lady Casey DeSantis made a powerful statement: “We feel an obligation as parents and we feel we should work on behalf of all the parents of this great state to make sure their children have a clean environment and clean water to grow up on."
Waterkeepers Florida applaud the First Lady’s commitment to restoring and protecting our state’s waters, although it is clear our legislature does not share that same sense of urgency. Unfortunately, this legislative session failed to yield any meaningful protective policies for Florida’s waterways. Florida Moms demand better for our children and their children.
Inspired by First Lady DeSantis’ words, Moms for Clean Water represents moms around the state of Florida calling for greater protection for ALL of our water resources. We believe that our water should be clean for our children to safely fish, swim, and drink.
“Seeing my son explore the wonders of the ocean is one of the simplest joys of being a mom. I can’t imagine living here and not being able to swim in our waterways. It is our collective responsibility to ensure clean, healthy waterways for all of our children today and for future generations.,” said Rachel Silverstein, Miami Waterkeeper.
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is a property through which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
The EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through five competitive grant programs: multipurpose grants, assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and environmental workforce grants.
On April 15, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an Interpretive Statement (“Interpretive Statement on Releases of Pollutants from Point Sources to Groundwater”), which states that: “releases of pollutants to groundwater are categorically excluded from the Clean Water Act’s permitting requirements because Congress explicitly left regulation of discharges to groundwater to the states and to the EPA under other statutory authorities.”
What does this mean? Well, the agency would be formally reversing its longstanding interpretation of the Clean Water Act. If pollutants are discharged from point sources through groundwater before they reach surface waters -- those pollutants would be EXEMPT from Clean Water Act regulation. Meaning, pollutant discharges to Waters of the United States from things like pipelines, wells, mines, deep well injection, animal feeding operation, and other pollution sources through groundwater would be near impossible to regulate under the CWA. It could also create an incentive for polluters to discharge waste into the groundwater, instead of getting the proper permits to dispose of it otherwise.
Kristen Ranges, a current J.D./Ph.D. student at the University of Miami, started her higher education at the University of Delaware, College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment where she majored in marine sciences with a concentration in biology and minor in public policy. After research-based experiences in marine biology, Kristen decided to focus her studies on the conservation of the marine environment through policy and law. Kristen began her legal studies at the University of Miami in 2017 where her curriculum has focused on environmental, coastal, and maritime law. Wanting to further her interdisciplinary education, Kristen recently matriculated into the Ph.D. program at the University of Miami’s Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.
Before their graduation, our Junior Ambassadors' final task was to deliver a public presentation about an environmental topic of their choice. Some of our Ambassadors decided to complete this program requirement by participating in a panel discussion of threats to South Florida's waterways.
The theme of the panel was threats to South Florida's waterways. The Junior Ambassadors shed light on the issues, while also providing attainable solutions that they have learned about throughout the year long program.
We have some exciting news! Miami Waterkeeper has been selected to receive a Community Grant from the Miami Foundation in the Resiliency category! The Miami Foundation's community grants invest more than $1.3 million in Miami-Dade non-profits. This year, 71 non-profits are sharing the $1.3 million. Community grants provide support to Greater Miami organizations whose initiatives improve local quality of life in three areas: Opportunity, Creativity, and Resiliency.
Our Executive Director, Rachel Silverstein was interviewed by CNN about sea level rise and pollution threats. Sea-level rise is already impacting Miami by way of flooding, ecosystem and habitat loss, and saltwater intrusion. Sea-level rise is also impacting our wastewater infrastructure -- including our sewage system and many backyard septic tanks.
