WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today called on the United States Army Corps to cease discharges from Lake Okeechobee “until the water quality is deemed safe or an imminent threat to life exists.”  Rep. Mast also invited the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (who overseas the Army Corps) to tour the 18^th District of Florida to “see the damage being brought onto us by these discharges.”

The full text of the leader is below and attached:

 

June 7, 2018

 

The Honorable R.D. James

Assistant Secretary of the Army—Civil Works

Department of the Army

108 Army Pentagon

Washington DC, 20310

 

Dear Assistant Secretary James:

As you know, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ discharges from Lake Okeechobee have wreaked havoc on the communities east and west of the lake.  I appreciate that you have engaged on this issue, including a favorable referral of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) Post-Authorization Chance Report (PACR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that will enhance storage and water quality treatment capacity south of Lake Okeechobee. 

While this is a necessary long-term solution, more must be done in the short-term to save our communities.  Our waterways are a delicate ecosystem that is critically important to the 18^th Congressional District of Florida.  Nutrient buildup in Lake Okeechobee is known to have caused harmful algal blooms in our waterways following discharges from the lake. These algal blooms have resulted in health problems for my constituents and significant economic damages to our community. I cannot stand idly by while discharges destroy our backyards, businesses are shuttered, people get sick and our environment is destroyed.

It is my understanding that the recent round of discharges from Lake Okeechobee, which began on June 1, 2018, were initiated prior to any determination of the quality of water being released.  While water quality testing is currently ongoing on the state level, I cannot fathom why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would see fit to discharge massive amounts of water into our community without knowing, with certainty, whether the water was safe—especially since there is no immediate risk of flooding or dike failure. 

Therefore, I request that, as a matter of policy, the Army Corps tests and publicly reports the water quality prior to authorization of discharges.  Moreover, I request that the current discharges cease immediately until the water quality is deemed safe or an imminent threat to life exists.

Furthermore, I would welcome the opportunity to give you and your staff a tour of our community myself so that you can see the damage being brought onto us by these discharges.  I believe it would be an eye-opening experience for everybody involved.  I request that you coordinate with my office on an opportunity to visit the 18^th Congressional District of Florida at your earliest convenience.

Again, I thank you for your immediate attention to this issue and your ongoing willingness to partner with us.  Your favorable referral of the PACR for a southern storage reservoir will lead to a tremendous improvement in the quality of life of our community, and I look forward to continuing to work with you on short-term improvements that must be made in the meantime. 

Sincerely,

 

Brian Mast

Member of Congress

 

CC:

 

LTG Todd T. Semonite

Commanding General and Chief of Engineers

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters

441 G Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20314

 

BG Diana M. Holland

Commander

South Atlantic Division

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

60 Forsyth Street SW, Room 10M15

Atlanta, GA 30303

 

COL Jason A. Kirk

District Commander

Jacksonville District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

701 San Marco Boulevard

Jacksonville, FL 32207