Current Policy Issues

The Natural Resource Policy department fulfills the Foundation’s advocacy role for natural resource protection, bringing the Foundation’s science and research to bear on the development of natural resource policy. SCCF’s policy efforts link island-based concerns about water quality, natural resources and growth management to regulatory and restoration efforts at the regional, state and federal levels. The goal this active participation by the policy department is to improve water quality, better manage wildlife and habitats, and promote balanced growth management.

Urgent Action Needed on State Fertilizer Bill - March 31, 2008

For more information, follow the links:

Letter sent by SCCF to Senate committee members on April 3

Letter sent by SCCF to Senate committee members on April 2

Fertilizer Task Force Final Report
Urban Turf Fact Sheet

To send a letter to the senators on the state's Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation.

Water Issues

Our most visible and pressing issues over the last several years have revolved around the condition of and efforts to improve our water quality.  These efforts extend all the way to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Island-based efforts to improve the quality of our coastal waters are limited by our location at the confluence of the Caloosahatchee and Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, our local water conditions and quality are influenced by the upstream watershed and operation and function of the greater Everglades ecosystem, which covers one third of the State of Florida. We are actively engaged with the programs outlined in the boxes below, working to contribute a west coast perspective, build consensus on solutions, provide public comment and educate our members and community through public outreach and presentations. These are part of our overall goal of getting more residents involved.

South Florida Water Management District

Governor Charlie Crist appointed two new members to the SFWMD Governing Board.  Follow link to an April 9, 2008, Palm Beach Post editorial:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/04/09/m10a_wmd_edit_0409.html

Land Use Issues

Harbour Pointe, Captiva – We continue our fight to prevent development of five acres of black mangrove basin forest next to South Seas Resort by Mariner Properties. Our battle continues as Lee County revisits the newest plan and the Corps of Engineers begins its review.

Babcock Ranch – We have been following public meetings in Charlotte and Lee Counties for past two years, providing written and oral testimony on comp plan changes, development standards, water use and quality, water privatization, water flows, legislative authorization and management agreements, public lands management and recreational uses.

Phosphate – We are advocating issues with Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties, attending public meetings, and providing oral and written comments to protect water resources in the Charlotte Harbour estuary and coastal waters.

2008 State Legislative Session

SCCF Policy staff is tracking and working on several key state legislative issues this session which began on March 4 and will end the first week in May 2008. To keep up with changes to the bills as they proceed through the process, visit either the Florida Senate website: www.flsenate.gov or Florida House: myfloridahouse.gov and search by bill number.

We are actively working to support:

SB1634 (Bennett) HB 1503 (Aubuchon) "Healthy Beaches Wastewater Management" (proposed by Sanibel Mayor Denham) -This bill requires that the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) identify the source of sewage contaminants when a health advisory is issued based on results of bacteriological sampling that result in beach closures for public health, safety and welfare.

HB 1552 (Saunders) HB 1135 (Mayfield) "Everglades Restoration Bonds" -This bill extends the period during which Everglades restoration bonds may be issued to fiscal year 2019-2020 and increases the amount of such bonds that may be issued each fiscal year to $200 million. This bill will help raise much-needed funding for Everglades restoration projects, including projects in Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.

We have concerns and are working to improve:

SB 2352 (Aronberg) HB 1267 (Nelson) "Protecting Urban and Residential Environments & Water." - This bill requires that local governments adopt "Florida Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes Model Ordinance," require applicator training and certification, and preempts communities from adopting stricter ordinances unless they can demonstrate that they have verified impaired waters.

Our concerns are that the ordinance 1) preempts local communities from developing ordinances responsive to local conditions, 2) requires communities to document impaired waters to qualify for local ordinances and 3) promotes a model ordinance with application rates that could result in as much as 95 times the phosphorus loading to Lake Okeechobee over target restoration levels indicated in the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan. You can find a fact sheet on the DACS urban turf rule and Final State Fertilizer Task Force report on the policy page of our website.

We are working against:

SB 402 (Fasano) HB 147 (Schenck) "Expediting Wetland and Stormwater Permits for Target Businesses." - This bill was developed to help expedite permits for certain industries/businesses claiming that the permitting process in Florida is onerous and driving businesses out of the state. The bill would reduce the deadline for permit approvals from the current 90 days to 45 days. This bill would burden the current permit review system by creating two classes of applicants to track, placing targeted applicants ahead of others in line and forcing quicker reviews. We do not support the premise or intent of this bill. At a time when water quality restoration is needed most, legislation should be focusing on stricter, protective water quality and stormwater standards to help prevent pollution of local waters and protect wetlands and their functions.

We are following with interest:

SB 1208 (Gaetz) HB 547 (Kreegel) "Water Pollution Control and Pollutant Trading" -This bill provides for trading of pollutant credits for impaired waterways when a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) has been developed to improve impaired waters. Although this bill authorizes pollutant trading only in the Lower St. Johns River, Tampa Bay and Pensacola Bay basins, we will watch to assure that the development of the bill is not the “camel's nose under the tent” in undermining water quality standards.

Other issues of interest include:

Florida Forever - There is as yet no legislation for a successor program to this important conservation program that is scheduled to expire in 2010. SCCF has encouraged the City and Lee County to join the Coalition, support the effort through resolution and actively participate in the development of legislation. Detailed information about the Florida Forever initiative can be found at: www.supportfloridaforever.org

Election of Water Management District Governing Board members  - Discussions have begun recommending that the Governing Board members of the state's five Water Management Districts be elected instead of appointed by the Governor. Our concern is that this would make the positions more political and would not provide for a diversity of interests and expertise. As water becomes an even more important natural resource in the coming decades, the needs of the environment must be balanced with human population needs and growth management. An alternative to governor appointments that should be introduced to the discussion is local County appointments.