Moves to block local-government bans on summertime fertilizing and prohibit septic-tank inspections are among provisions feared by environmentalists monitoring this year’s session of the Florida Legislature.
“My general impression of this legislative session is that there has never been such blatant servitude to moneyed interests,” said Sonny Vergara, a former director of two state water-management districts and now author of the Internet blog SWFWMDmatters.
Local bans on fertilizing lawns during rainy seasons, known as “strong” ordinances, have become popular as a way to protect waterways from pollution that feeds algae blooms, including the fertilizer washed off lawns by rainstorms. As an alternative, cities and counties can adopt the state’s “model” ordinance that does not ban fertilizing during the rainy season.
“There are several new studies out there that address the issues related to many of the fertilizer ordinances,” said Rep. Jake Raburn, R-Lithia. “We are looking at creating a council that will study those things and, in the meantime, have a moratorium on ordinances other than the model ordinance.”
Cris Costello, a Sierra Club organizer, said the fertilizer-and-lawn industries have turned their attacks on strong ordinances into annual events.
“For the seventh year in a row they are trying to do this,” said Costello, who thinks taxpayers are the victim of when fertilizers are used in the rainy season. “There isn’t a local government around that can afford to spend millions and millions of dollars to clean up their waters.”
Leesa Souto, executive director of the Marine Resources Council, which seeks restoration of the algae-plagued Indian River Lagoon along Florida’s east coast, said it’s disturbing that lawmakers are taking a “hard line” against local efforts to protect water bodies. “We’re looking at fisheries collapsing in the Indian River Lagoon,” Souto said.
Separate legislation (SB 1252 and HB 1245) would prohibit the state Department of Health from inspecting the septic systems of homes that are getting additions – if the additions don’t include a bedroom.
Bill sponsor Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, said home expansions that don’t include added bedrooms won’t increase a home’s sewage output. But Roxanne Groover, executive director of the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, said such additions are still likely to increase water use.
“If I build a den with a new 72-inch television, chances are I’m going to invite more folks over,” she said.
Last year, state health inspectors examined 19,000 pre-existing septic systems and found that 17 percent needed to be replaced.
Lee Constantine, a Seminole County commissioner active in water issues, said the bill shows a continued relaxation of oversight of the millions of septic systems in the state. While a state senator in 2010, he helped pass a law that required regular inspections of septic tanks. Under pressure from business interests and homeowners, lawmakers eventually repealed the requirement.
“I don’t know why anybody should be afraid of an inspection, other than they think their septic tank has failed,” Constantine said.
Environmentalists are concerned about what they described as a “cluster bomb” bill (HB 999) that would weaken a variety of water protections. Tacked onto the bill this week was the proposed moratorium on local bans on fertilizing lawns during the rainy season.
“I’ve been involved in state government since 1974 and I have never seen so much arrogance and rudeness from lobbyists,” said Victoria Tschinkel, a former secretary of the state Department of Environmental Regulation and a member of the 1000 Friends of Florida executive committee. “They are getting greedier.”
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