Sherwood Boehlert: “Mr. Chairman, the Florida Keys are a unique marine environment and include the only living coral reef barrier system in…”

“Mr. Chairman, the Florida Keys are a unique marine environment and include the only living coral reef barrier system in North America. So this is not something that is just about Florida, it is about America. In 1990, Congress recognized the importance of the Florida Keys and created the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. A Water Quality Steering Committee created under the sanctuary's implementing act has identified inadequate waste water and storm water controls in Monroe County, Florida, as the largest source of man-made pollution into the waters of the Florida Keys. To make the necessary waste water improvements, the estimated cost to improve near shore water quality in the Florida Keys is between $184 million and $418 million. To make the necessary storm water management improvements, the estimated cost is between $370 million and $680 million. We are not going to bear the entire cost, even though this is a national resource. The State of Florida is obligated to come up with 25 percent cost share. H.R. 673 authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to public agencies in Florida to replace inadequate waste water and treatment systems and to establish, replace, or improve storm water management systems in Monroe County, Florida.”