TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A bill clearing the way for Florida
water pollution rules favored by business, agriculture and utility
interests is now law.
      Shortly before Gov. Rick Scott signed it into law Thursday, U.S.
Sen. Marco Rubio filed a bill in Congress that would block
implementation of stricter federal regulations favored by
environmentalists.
      The new state legislation waives a requirement for legislative
approval of the rules proposed by the Department of Environmental
Protection.
      Environmental groups, though, have filed an administrative law
challenge. A hearing in that case is set to begin Feb. 27.
      The environmentalists contend the state rules are too weak to
halt or clean up toxic algae blooms that are choking Florida
waters.
      Opponents of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's rules
say they'd be too expensive to implement.
     

     
      (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)