Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and Nathaniel P. Reed of Hobe Sound were among the speakers in November during an environmental rally outside the Capitol. They called on Gov. Rick Scott to show leadership on environmental issues and for the Legislature to undo some of the harmful law and budget changes they said occurred during 2011. Environmentalists didn't get what they were calling for, but they may have somewhat begun to turn the tide that has been running against the programs they support. Any success those groups enjoyed during the 2012 session may be better measured not by what was passed as by what didn't pass. Efforts to restrict local fertilizer ordinances and to encourage oil drilling on state lands failed. Other bills were modified to gain environmental support. However, a bill repealing the statewide requirement for septic tank inspections passed. The Sierra Club and Florida Stormwater Association opposed the bill's new restrictions on local septic tank inspection programs. Meanwhile, visitors to state trails and state parks could see advertising and herds of African wildlife. The Florida Forever land-buying program and Everglades restoration received some funding, but not as much as environmentalists had hoped.
KEY ISSUES
TRAILS, STATE LANDS: SB 268, which is headed to the governor, allows businesses and groups to sponsor trails and put their advertisements at trailheads. The bill still faces opposition because it allows the Department of Environmental Protection to negotiate agreements for trails other than the seven identified in the bill. … HB 1117, which is headed to the governor, would allow giraffes, elephants, rhinos and other zoo animals to roam state parks with approval by the Cabinet. .... A provision in SB 1998, a budget conforming bill related to transportation that is headed to the governor, requires an expedited hearing process for a legal challenge to the proposed dredging in Biscayne Bay to deepen the port of Miami. ... HB 1103, which environmentalists opposed as a state-lands giveaway by changing the definition of submerged state lands, stalled after its first committee stop. ... HB 695, encouraging oil and gas exploration and drilling on state lands, died on the House calendar.
WATER QUALITY: The 2010 requirement for septic tank inspections statewide will be repealed if Gov. Rick Scott signs HB 1263. That Department of Health reorganization bill contained the language from HB 599. The bill also places limits on local septic tank inspection programs, prohibits inspection requirements when a home is sold, and prohibits local ordinances requiring advanced "performance-based" septic tanks until a DOH study is completed. … The Legislature in HB 7051 waived approval of water quality rules proposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Those rules, which face a legal challenge filed by environmental groups, would replace federal rules that utilities and industry groups oppose. The bill was signed by Scott on Feb. 16. … There was a fight again this year between environmentalists and the landscaping industry over local fertilizer regulations. SB 604, exempting certified landscaping professionals from local ordinances, was killed by the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation by a 4-3 vote.
WATER POLICY AND PERMITTING: HB 503 resembled an environmental permit streamlining bill that passed the House last year but wasn't voted on in the Senate. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, was praised by environmentalists for resolving a variety of concerns. The bill also fixes 2010 recycling legislation that would have allowed counties to claim recycling rates in excess of 100 percent. … Environmentalists also backed HB 639 dealing with treated wastewater after an objectionable provision was removed. The bill encourages the use of such "reclaimed water" by exempting it from water management district permitting. … HB 1389, which would exempt landowners from wetland regulations for participating in environmental water storage programs, passed during the final day of the session. … HB 7003 directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to undertake writing a statewide Environmental Resource Permit rule. … HB 7045 allowing permits for up to 37 years for alternative water supply projects passed the House 116-0 but wasn't taken up by the Senate.
BUDGET: SB 1986, a budget conforming bill that lifts the property tax revenue caps imposed in 2011 by the Legislature, passed the House and Senate. The Florida Conservation Coalition initially opposed a requirement in the bill for legislative approval but dropped its opposition after the language was modified … After vetoing Florida Forever spending authority last year, Gov. Rick Scott requested $15 million for the program in fiscal year 2012-13. The Legislature provided $8.3 million. … Scott also requested $40 million for Everglades restoration. The Legislature provided $30 million for Everglades restoration plus $5 million for the northern Everglades (north of Lake Okeechobee) and estuaries programs. ... The budget also includes $10 million for beach sand restoration projects, $4.8 million in debt service towards a $50-million wastewater plant in the Florida Keys, $5.6 million for St. Johns River restoration projects, $125 million for petroleum contamination sites and $4.8 million for Lake Apopka restoration.
AGRICULTURE: HB 1197, which gives the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sole authority to regulate beekeeping, is on its way to the governor. Language from other bills that were languishing was added to HB 1197, including an exemption from local government stormwater fees for farms. Citrus harvesting equipment and fruit loaders would be added to the list of farming vehicles that are exempt from paying state motor fuel taxes. The beekeeping provisions of HB 1197 were prompted by local restrictions on beekeeping cropping up in some suburban areas. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling for a veto because of a Senate amendment the group says would allow chicks and bunnies to be sold at Easter and then discarded. ... HB 1237, which returns the executive director of the Department of Citrus to being an appointed position without Senate confirmation, also is headed to the governor.
A comprehensive list of Environment and Natural Resources legislation that was passed during the 2012 Regular Session can be found here.
Reporter Bruce Ritchie can be reached at britchie@thefloridacurrent.com.
Col. Alfred A. Pantano, Jr., the district commander of the Corps of Engineers, received the Bill Sadowski Award from 1000 Friends of Florida at the 27th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference in Stuart.
The Jan. 7 award was one of several special recognitions and honorable mentions Pantano received during his last Everglades conference as the district commander before changing command in June.
The award was presented to Patano by Nathaniel Reed, chairman emeritus, founder of 1000 Friends and a Sadowski recipient himself. The award is a framed original watercolor by Quincy artist Dawn McMillan depicting wetland grasses fringed by cypress trees, a symbolic ibis in the foreground. The award is reserved for a public servant at the regional or state level whose work exemplifies the high level of commitment to growth management and the philosophy of negotiation for which Sadowski, former Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs, was known.