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Florida’s Agricultural Commissioner wants the Environmental Protection Agency to back off Florida’s bodies of water. As Matt Galka tells us, the state says a new rule from the Environmental Protection Agency could wind up costing Florida millions of dollars.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam joined North Florida Congressman Steve Southerland Monday. The two stood with other policy groups and were trying to send a message to the environmental protection agency: nobody knows Florida’s water better than Florida.

“An outrageous new rule that would expand its regulatory authority under the clean water act, to almost any body of water,” said Southerland.

A regulation from the EPA would expand federal Government authority on Florida’s water.

The group says that the EPA’s proposal would extend their reach from traditional rivers to even ponds and puddles. Putnam scoffed at the new definitions of what the feds would have control of.

“Land that is seasonably or occasionably wet. Folks, your front yard in North Florida is mushy right now. Should that be subject to Army Corps regulation?” asked Putnam.

He says the rule will put a burden on multiple industries in the state. Jim Handley says cattle farmers are one of them.

“We’re worried about more government intrusion in how we do business. We think we do a tremendous job taking care of the environment,” said Handley.

Ultimately, water projects like ditches and culverts would feel the biggest squeeze. A survey of 8 county water projects in the state showed it would cost taxpayers more than $180 million dollars to implement the regulation.

Southerland says he will introduce a bill blocking the EPA’s water authority expansion when Congress comes back from break.