EPA Grants Florida Pollution Waivers For Irma Repairs.
On Sept. 10, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent a letter to all electricity carriers that allowed them to violate certain environmental policies in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which left 6.52 million utility customers without power, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) said on Sept. 11.
The Associated Press reports that the number of people without power is more than 65 percent of all the electricity customers in the state.
The New York Post reports that the EPA granted the policy lifts (called No Action Assurance) at the request of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
A press-release by the EPA confirmed that Florida will be "allowed to operate without meeting all pollution controls in order to maintain the supply of electricity to customers and critical facilities across the state as a result of Hurricane Irma," Quartz reports.
Coal plants will be allowed to release wastewater into waterways with higher amounts of toxic heavy metals than is normally permitted.
The New York Post reports that the EPA’s permissions might result in certain companies resorting to dirtier fuels.
According to Quartz, companies are still mandated to report levels of pollutants in excess of their permits to the EPA "as soon as practicable".
Though the regulations will help to restore citizens’ power access, it is likely that the pollution will linger.
Florida will return back to normal pollution emission standards after the Sept. 26 deadline.