“At the first of two public hearings over Florida’s bid to take control of wetlands permitting from the U.S. government, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the state’s powerful utilities argued the plan would be good for business.
Over the last decade, the agency has shrunk dramatically, with inspections and enforcement steadily declining. Fines also decreased, from an average of about $12 million a year to less than $4 million in recent years, according to a study by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. ”