Southeast and Gulf Coast Regional Office

Beefalo hybrid of cattle and bison

Colleen Teubner, JD
phone: (202) 464-2293
cteubner@peer.org

Barry Sulkin, Technical Consultant
4443 Pecan Valley Road
Nashville, TN 37218
phone: (615) 255-2079
sulkin@hughes.net

From the southern Appalachian mountains to the beautiful sandy beaches of Florida, to the rich, diverse ecosystems of the Gulf Coast, the Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States supports a wide range of industries, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and recreation. But the fragile environment in these areas is weakening and under attack, an attack often advanced by government agencies and powerful interest groups. Our challenge is to right the ship to ensure that the area’s precious ecosystems are preserved for generations to come.

One area of focus for PEER is in Florida, where we are actively engaged in helping state and local employees do their jobs. These employees often find that they are marginalized, even blackballed, if they try to abide by the very laws that they are sworn to uphold. PEER’s work is focused on protecting these employees and shining a light on the government’s failure to do its job.

Unfortunately, an eroding of environmental and public health protections is common not only in Florida, but throughout the entire region, and at all levels of government. If these trends are not changed, the destruction of the region’s fragile environment and its natural resources- will continue, ultimately causing a continued die-off of wildlife, more polluted waters, poorer health outcomes, and a weaker economy.

Florida Pollution Enforcement Reports

Since 2004, PEER has examined Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) files to assess pollution enforcement. In a state heavily reliant on its natural beauty for tourism revenue, it has fallen far short of acceptable pollution levels primarily in its waterways and wastewater management.

Despite pledges to strengthen pollution enforcement, Florida state records show declines in virtually all meaningful measures. Notably, violations and significant noncompliance with pollution limits are growing while major enforcement actions are declining.

What’s New in the Southeast and Gulf Coast Region?

NEWS FROM THE SOUTHEAST AND GULF COAST

Water & Brimstone

Environmental scientist Barry Sulkin begins to study the impact of recreational ATV activity on the rivers and creeks that feed into the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, a protected national treasure

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Florida Governor Announces Sweeping Changes in Water Policy

From: Trade Only Today “Two days after taking office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has released a proposal to clean up Florida’s waters. The action items include more aggressive policies to address green algae in Lake Okeechobee and toxic spills into coastal waterways....

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Phone: 202-265-7337

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