Renzo Downey
A bill to reduce algal blooms, and protect Florida’s declining manatee population, is inching forward in the Legislature.
A Senate panel voted unanimously Monday to approve the proposal (SB 832), which would implement the state Blue-Green Algae Task Force’s recommendations on prevention, cleanup and mitigation. The legislation, filed by Orlando Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart, strives to help reduce nutrient pollution that fuels algal blooms.
The effort comes after Florida’s worst year on record for manatee deaths, with more than 1,000 dead. Clearing the waters of the harmful blue-green algae that kills their seagrass food source could eventually help save the population.
Monday’s vote was the second time the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved a version of the bill, after committee members did so during the 2021 Session.
“I do hope this helps us with our manatee situation,” Stewart told the panel.
The bill’s central component would require the Department of Environmental Protection to implement a septic inspection program. Officials would have to inspect septic tanks every five years.
The legislation is part of a multiyear effort for Florida to tackle algal blooms that have become increasingly common and worse in the past decade. Those blooms come from nutrient runoffs and choking water systems throughout the state, particularly from Lake Okeechobee outward to the coasts.
Gov. Ron DeSantis created the Blue-Green Algae Task Force as one of his first acts when he took office in 2019. Lawmakers approved most of the task force’s recommendations issued that following October. However, Stewart’s bill would round up a couple steps the Legislature left off when it passed the package in 2020.
Authorities expected another bad year for manatees, with more deaths to come as Florida enters the winter months. During that time, manatees gather in warm-water areas where food can be hard to find, according to The Associated Press.
Paul Owens, president of 1,000 Friends of Florida, called headlines about manatee die-offs “painful reminders” that water can’t be taken for granted. He told the committee the proposal would reduce nutrient pollution and make the best use of public investments in water quality.
“It’s good for the environment. It’s good for taxpayers,” Owens said.
The bill next heads to the Senate Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, its second of three scheduled committee stops.
Democratic Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil of Maitland sponsored the companion measure (HB 561), which would receive its first hearing in the House Environment, Agriculture & Flooding Subcommittee.
4 comments
Jim Tatum
January 11, 2022 at 8:10 am
“Lawmakers approved most of the task force’s recommendations issued that following October.” This is not true. This bill was re-written by the polluters’ lawmakers so that it had no teeth for fixing the problem. What was passed was a useless facsimile of the original bill. DeSantis’ task force is only a re-election ploy to pretend he wants to fix the environment. He will fix it as long as no polluters have to change their ways.
Charlotte Greenbarg
January 12, 2022 at 7:16 am
When you claim something has no teeth and it’s only an election ploy you have a responsibility to be specific. Why do you say it has no teeth? Or are you just another far left parrot?
Amor Amankwah
January 17, 2022 at 3:04 pm
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/07/15/desantis-as-green-governor-more-like-blue-green-algae-governor-column/?outputType=amp
I think this is what they are taking about. You can read the task force’s recommendations and then compare to the bill
Mary Shaheen
January 19, 2022 at 8:34 am
That’s true and I am glad you stated so clearly. Note: Orlando Sentinel Editorial section calls to Vote NO on this today.
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