Stuart, Fla. – Following yesterday’s announcement that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will “conduct a full assessment of system conditions” and Governor Rick Scott’s announcement that he will declare a State of Emergency in Martin County, U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today urged the Army Corps to use emergency authority to cease discharges until they “can definitively prove that the toxic algae pollution problem no longer exists.”

On Thursday, July 5, 2018, Rep. Mast urged the Army Corps to not resume discharges as planned today.  In response, the Army Corps announced a temporary suspension of discharges to “conduct a full assessment of system conditions.”  Rep. Mast’s letter today urges the Army Corps during this review to use emergency authority granted under Section 7-13 of the Water Control Plan, which authorizes the Army Corps to take emergency water control actions “necessary to abate…pollution problems.”

In part, the letter reads: “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charged with protecting human safety, yet the safety of my constituents has been systematically ignored and deprioritized.  The toxic pollution stemming from algal blooms covering more than 90 percent of Lake Okeechobee presents an imminent and dangerous threat to public health and safety…Because this is a life or death situation for our community with serious ramifications on human health, your immediate attention to this issue is needed and appreciated.”

The text of the letter is below and attached:

July 9, 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, the Department of Defense is currently conducting a “full assessment of system conditions” regarding water discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries.  I first want to thank you for the decision to suspend discharges effective today while this review is conducted.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charged with protecting human safety, yet the safety of my constituents has been systemically ignored and deprioritized.  The toxic pollution stemming from algal blooms covering more than 90 percent of Lake Okeechobee presents an imminent and dangerous threat to public health and safety.  As a result, Governor Rick Scott declared a State of Emergency for Martin and Lee Counties today.  Section 7-13 of the Water Control Plan For Water Conservation Areas, Everglades National Park, and ENP-South Dade Conveyance System states that, under emergency conditions when there are “pollution problems,” water control actions “necessary to abate the problem are taken immediately.”  Our toxic algae crisis undoubtedly qualifies as an emergency “pollution problem.”

Therefore, while you are conducting your assessment, I urge you to formulate a solution that ceases discharges until you can prove definitively that the toxic algae pollution problem no longer exist or a greater imminent threat emerges.  Because this is a life or death situation for our community with serious ramifications on human health, your immediate attention to this issue is needed and appreciated.

Sincerely,

 

Brian Mast

Member of Congress

 

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