Slime Tour highlights Florida's polluted waterways

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Environmental groups want you to take a so-called Internet "slime tour" of polluted waterways in Florida as they try to raise public pressure for stricter pollution controls.

Today Earthjustice announced it is suing the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation over a new state rule for nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

Those are the elements that come from wastewater and fertilizer and can cause bright green algae outbreaks in waterways like pictures show in the St. John’s River in 2005 and 2009.  The toxic blooms can be harmful to people and pets and cause fish kills.

Earthjustice attorney David Guest says the department is failing to protect residents and tourists from toxic algae outbreaks.  "We’re filing this case to protect the citizens of Florida that want and have a right to clean water.  The system we have now favors polluters over people.  That’s not fair."

He accuses the state of trying to delay action on the problem with studies that go on for years and years.  "Functionally what you have here is we have toxic slime outbreaks, green-covered waters all over the whole state and instead of saying it’s time to stop, this rule basically covers those slime ponds with studies."

Neil Armingeon says his nonprofit group, 'St. Johns Riverkeeper,' has been fighting for stricter pollution limits for 14 years and the river is still sick.  "Here’s my message to Gov. Scott: if he is concerned about the economies of Florida then he should come to the St. Johns River and see what is happening there.  Because when the river looks like this, it is not just an environmental impact.  It is an economic impact."

The Sierra Club has put together a collection of photos showing how green muck has polluted rivers, springs and lakes and placed it on the Web.

You can get a closer look at the so-called slime tour at the Florida Slime Crime Tracker Google map at http://goo.gl/N7kVI