The EPA today, in a long anticipated, politically motivated, last gasp effort to eviscerate one of the most meaningful pieces of environmental legislation - the Clean Water Act - finalized a water transfer regulation which will end any meaningful protection for the Florida Everglades.

The regulation, titled the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Water Transfers Rule, exempts the most harmful pollution discharges into the Everglades from any federal regulation whatsoever.

The Regulation is in direct response to federal lawsuits filed (and won) by Friends of the Everglades, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the Florida Wildlife Federation over the last ten years to stop the South Florida Water Management District from collecting and dumping urban and agricultural runoff into the Everglades.

That pollution has so far impacted nearly 50% of the Everglades and now threatens to destroy the remaining half.

It is simply appalling that those agencies and entities charged with the protection of such an environmentally sensitive and important resource would act with such callous disregard for their mission and duty.

Friends of the Everglades will now file yet another lawsuit to overturn this shameful rule. Please help us in this fight. We once again need your financial help! Anything you can donate to FOE Legal is needed and appericated.

As always, thanks for your support!

David P. Reiner, President