If You Like Your Septic System, You Should Be Able to Keep Your Septic System

PLEASE READ AND ACT!

SB 1576 - a threat to our property rights AND bad legislation. This bill is titled "An Act Relating To Springs." Sounds like something that will protect our fresh water sources. But it doesn't do that. And besides,  the EPA through the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection's "Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) has committees that already include regional representatives from counties and municipalities with the expertise to identify, design, and implement projects likely to achieve clean water standards, including those that impact surface water, ground water and springs.

This bill targets septic systems as a significant contributor to nitrogen pollution. There is NO scientific evidence to show such. AND there is evidence to show that connecting to treatment plants (which is what this bill promotes) can cause pollution. Any industry expert will admit that between a home and a waste treatment plant, a minimum of 10% of the raw sewage leaks from the sewer pipes into the environment.
SB 1576 also proposes creating a new layer of local government called a "Responsible Management Entity" (RME). This entity will consist of non-elected appointees with rule-making authority to “manage” all septic systems and do whatever they deem
appropriate to “remediate” alleged pollution from septic systems. They will be given the power to assess fees to cover costs, whatever they are. This duplicates the responsibilities already delegated by statute to the Department of Health, Bureau of On-Site Sewage.

And possibly, worse of all, SB 1576 calls for "prevention" strategies.  It justifies rule-making and land acquisition hoping to “remediate” anything that MIGHT be a threat. .It is possible that this prevention strategy could trigger eminent domain action in the name of “preventing” or stopping potential harm to water quality, and do it in the name

of the public good.

Property owners should look carefully at SB 1576 and be very wary of it and those who support it.

If you feel strongly, as I do, that this bill should not go forward, please contact Committee members - as well as your own Florida Senators and
Representatives - and let them know how you feel. Committee members and their email addresses follow. To send an email, simply copy and paste their email addresses.

Senator Charles Dean (R) (Chair) dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Joseph Abruzzo (D) (Vice Chair) abruzzo.joseph.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Thad Altman (R) altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Dwight Bullard (D) bullard.dwight.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Andy Gardiner (R) gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Denise Grimsley (R) grimsley.denise.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jack Latvala (R) latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Wilton Simpson (R) simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Darren Soto (D) soto.darren.web@flsenate.gov

Thank you!

Carol