Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Chair, ERROR: 404 not found. It is the dreaded computer message that appears when you visit a website or access a file that no longer exists.

Unfortunately, it is also the message that more than 1,000 critical development projects throughout the free State of Florida may receive due to the uncertainty surrounding the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's continued ability to issue section 404 program permits.

Lake County, Florida, alone estimates a billion dollars of economic development that now faces uncertainty. This is due to a District of Columbia Federal judge's decision to vacate Florida's 404 permitting program, a decision that will have serious implications for the future of our environment and our economy.

The ability for States like Florida, Michigan, and New Jersey to take the lead in regulating their natural resources is vital, but it is especially important for a State like Florida where our growing economy is contingent on the continued protection of our environment.

That is why my amendment simply seeks to provide permitting certainty to the now more than 1,000 projects that are lined up in limbo by codifying Florida's successful 404 program. Our program has proven time and time again that Florida can do a much better job, more efficiently and effectively, issuing permits for necessary projects better than the Federal Government has.

Mr. Chair, as Floridians, we understand the important role our environment plays in our economy and in Floridians' way of life.

Florida, please, is asking everybody to join us because we need the flexibility to make decisions that are best suited for the Sunshine State's environmental and economic needs, reduce project costs, and save taxpayer dollars, all while improving responsiveness to applicants and the communities' projects they serve.

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Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Chair, the Environmental Protection Agency still maintains a strict permit-by-permit oversight of Florida's permitting decisions, but you have heard me say that thousands of projects are on hold.

You may ask: What are you talking about, Congressman Bean? What projects are we talking about? What projects are on hold right now?

Let me tell you what is on hold, Mr. Chair: Projects to restore Florida's Everglades and prevent damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee are on hold; public projects to build sidewalks, improving bridges, utilities, roads, highways across the Sunshine State are on hold. We can't do them. Solar energy projects, including solar power stations and other electric utility projects impacting our grid in the Sunshine State are on hold; stormwater infrastructure repairs at U.S. Naval Air Station Pensacola damaged due to Hurricane Sally, but the repairs are on hold because we can't get the Federal Government to act fast. We are ready to go. We are ready to go.

What else is on hold? We have a school in Jacksonville, a desperately needed school ready to be built. It is on hold because the Federal Government put everything on hold.

Give us the chance to continue this important work in the State of Florida. I ask my colleagues to reconsider their opposition. Join us and let's take the Sunshine State back on course to bring these projects to light.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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