LAGOON

Fine pushes Indian River Lagoon cleanup bill

Jim Waymer
Florida Today

Legislation that would tap $50 million in state money annually to help keep sewage out of the Indian River Lagoon eked forward Tuesday.

Florida Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, has proposed that the state provide that much money each year in matching funds for certain types of lagoon cleanup projects. The bill also calls for substantial increases in the fines for illegal raw sewage spills.

A bill that would provide $50 million a year in state funds for the Indian River Lagoon, sponsored by Florida Rep Randy Fine, was strongly supported by speakers at Tuesday's Brevard legislative delegation meeting in Palm Bay. Fine, who chaired the meeting, is seated on the dais next to his district assistant, Nancy Bernier.

"It became a personal issue for me," Fine said Tuesday of his concerns about the safety of his children entering the lagoon, because of sewage spills.

His bill, House Bill 141 (and companion Senate Bills 216 and 368), would add a required $50 million yearly appropriation for projects dedicated to the conservation and management of the lagoon. Sens. Joe Gruters and Gayle Harrell, Republicans who represent Southwest and Southeast Florida counties, respectively, sponsored similar companion bills.

Fine and Gruters' bills were expected to be heard in committee Tuesday.

More:Indian River Lagoon advocates vow to fix Brevard 'plumbing problem'

More:County commissioners break logjam so lagoon projects funded by sales tax can continue

Fine's amped-up focus on sewage ramped up around the time Hurricane Irma caused widespread sewage spills in Florida.

"The problem we have is that the penalties are too small," Fine said Tuesday during a news conference in Tallahassee. 

After heavy storms, warning signs for contaminated water from sewage spills have become a mainstay in recent years at the canal and retention pond on Anchor Drive off of South Patrick. FLORIDA TODAY FILE PHOTO

According to the staff analysis of House Bill 141, the bill would:

  • Build or upgrade existing sewage treatment plants that provide advanced treatment that removes nitrogen and phosphorus.
  • Expand existing sewer treatment plants to bring sewer service to more homes and businesses now on septic tank systems.
  • Require utilities to notify customers within 24 hours if it unlawfully discharges raw or partially treated sewage into any waterway or aquifer.

Under the proposed legislation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would require local utilities receiving the grants to match at least 50 percent of the project cost.

In February of 2018, an estimated 375,000 gallons of raw sewage leaked from a corroded pipe near the Cassia Boulevard canal in Satellite Beach.

Fine's bill also creates penalties for illegal discharge of raw or partially treated sewage into any aquifer or waterway. The utility would have to pay DEP an amount equal to $1 for each gallon of sewage discharged or spend $2 for each gallon discharged to upgrade or fix the problems that caused the unlawful discharge.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused more than 20 million gallons of raw sewage to spill in the lagoon.  

Fine blasted local governments in Brevard for at the same time seeking to spend millions on a basketball arena in Titusville and artificial turf sports fields in Viera and hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new kayak ramp near where millions of gallons of sewage had spilled into the lagoon. Money for those projects would come from Brevard's 5 percent Tourist Development Tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rentals.

"That's fun," Fine said of the ceremonies local governments give those projects. "No one claps when you fix a 50-year-old pipe."

Julie Wraithmell, executive director Audubon Florida, called Fine's efforts laudable.

"I'm happy to say that there is a lot of legislation this year dealing with Florida's water challenges," Wraithmell said.

Contact Waymer at 321-242-3663

or jwaymer@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @JWayEnviro