On behalf of National Parks Conservation Association, we recently requested that the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) exercise its authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to restrict dredge and fill permits for future oil and gas exploration and extration activities in the fragile ecosystem of Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. If EPA agrees to do so, it would mark the first time EPA has exercised this authority within the borders of a national park. The letter contends that action by EPA is imperative to avoid unnecessary adverse effects to wetlands, hydrologic functions, many protected and other species, and wildlife habitat that are vital to the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. More information about the request, as well as a link to the letter itself, can be found here.

Photo Courtesy of National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/things2do.htm