“The state agency most responsible for keeping sewage out of the Indian River Lagoon and drinking water safe went too soft on violators last year, according to a nonprofit group of public employees.
Despite a tripling in overall penalty amounts — driven by a handful of big fines — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection let most polluters off easy in 2020, especially during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), concludes.”
