Topic: Pollution

Springs supporters were stymied in efforts to get more money to protect north Florida springs but a powerful ally in the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee secured funding for the Everglades and Indian River Lagoon during the 2014 Legislative Session.

SB 1576, requiring septic tanks in areas with polluted springs and tightening laws to prevent over pumping of groundwater, died in the House. "Like the bill's sponsors, we get frustrated to hear the springs bill is not the right approach -- but we don't hear what the alternative is," said Eric Draper of Audubon Florida.

Rep. Steve Crisafulli, the incoming House speaker in 2015, said he will take a comprehensive approach to dealing with water issues. The Senate's spring bill was never heard in the House. " There was a lot of folks who didn't see that as being the right approach for what is right for the future," he said after the session ended. Senators vowed to be back with legislation in 2015.

On the final day of the 2014 legislative session, several environmental bills are ready for a vote in the Senate. But in the House, the question remains whether the springs bill passed by the Senate will be heard. "It's got as good a shot as any bill that's coming over from the Senate," House Speaker Will Weatherford said, before mentioning that a two-thirds vote will be needed to hear it on the House floor.

SB 1576 passes Senate 38-0. But a two-thirds vote will be needed to bring it up in the House, House Speaker Will Weatherford said. "So it does create a little bit of a logistical hurdle on that front," he said.

Groups representing cities, counties, industry and utilities line up to oppose SB 1576 after a provision providing for one-time funding was approved in place of a recurring funding source for water quality improvement projects."A one-time appropriation, no matter the amount, I don't believe would satisfy the needs of the state," said Ryan Matthews of the Florida League of Cities.

A rewrite of a springs proposal is among more than 50 bills on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 1576 designates $55 million for water projects and sets runoff requirements in areas of springs designated as "impaired."

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection says it is cleaning up contamination sites faster and cheaper than ever before. But the Florida Ground Water Association says there are too many sites that have not been assessed and cleaned up. DEP requested $125 million for the program this year and next year compared to the $192.8 million in revenue estimated to be collected from a tax on petroleum imports.

While renewable energy legislation remains stalled and a memorial supporting coal as an energy source advances, the Democratic candidate for governor said if elected he will push some of the same alternative and renewable energy policies he proposed when he was a Republican governor.

"God gave us this resource (coal)," said Rep. John Wood, R-Winter Haven. "Until we have better technology at some point in the future we need to use it to keep our economy going." Democrats on the House Local & State Affairs Committee disagreed but HB 1027 passed by a 10-6 vote.

DEP overhauled its petroleum site cleanup program last year to require competitive bidding. SB 1582 would delete portions of state law for the previous pre-approval program. Groups representing site owners and cleanup contractors supported the bill with an amendment that allowed owners of 20 or more contamination sites to hire contractors if there is a 25 percent savings to the state.

Some property rights advocates and septic tank owners spoke up against the bill but other groups say their working with the bill sponsors, or they're not saying anything at all.

Sen. Charles Dean navigated a springs bill over the concerns expressed by property rights and tea party groups. It calls for wastewater improvements. "You are not going to study us to death on this one," Sen. Andy Gardiner told the opponents. "And you are not going to run out the clock."

Proponents executed a procedural move to buy extra time for SB 800. Meanwhile, DEP says it will likely spend only $110 million of the $125 million it received for petroleum contamination cleanups this year but plans to spend all of the $125 million it is requesting for next year.