Treasure Coast Sun

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) has demanded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) comply with federal law in developing a plan to stop harmful discharges to the northern estuaries. Rep. Mast's Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan, signed into law in 2022, requires the USACE to submit a plan to Congress for new infrastructure to eliminate harmful discharges. However, the Army Corps failed to submit the first interim report by the end of December 2023, putting them in violation of federal law.

“The east and west coasts are currently being pummeled by harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee, and there’s a law in place to stop this,” Rep. Mast stated. “Yet, the Army Corps is willfully breaking this law, refusing to develop the Congressionally-mandated plan to protect Florida’s public health. The Army Corps must comply with the law immediately.”

Rep. Mast's Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan aims to improve water quality for various bodies of water, including Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee Estuary. The USACE is required to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress by the end of 2025, with yearly interim reports. However, the USACE has failed to meet the deadline for the first yearly interim report, prompting Rep. Mast to demand compliance with the law.

As a response to the USACE's decision to discharge massive amounts of water into the northern estuaries, causing ecological damage and endangering lives, Rep. Mast is requesting all internal documents related to the implementation of the Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan. This includes communication between relevant agencies and legal opinions regarding the Army Corps' requirements under the law.

The full text of Rep. Mast's letter to the USACE can be found on his official website.