{"id":594,"date":"2012-02-23T10:28:44","date_gmt":"2012-02-23T15:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/?p=594"},"modified":"2012-02-23T19:57:26","modified_gmt":"2012-02-24T00:57:26","slug":"conservation-community-unites-to-oppose-fla-senate-bill-724-domestic-wastewater-discharged-through-ocean-outfalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/2012\/02\/23\/conservation-community-unites-to-oppose-fla-senate-bill-724-domestic-wastewater-discharged-through-ocean-outfalls\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservation Community Unites to oppose Fla Senate Bill 724, Domestic Wastewater Discharged Through Ocean Outfalls"},"content":{"rendered":"

This bill, if passed, will weaken the Outfall Legislation passed by the Florida Legislature 4 years ago which gave municipalities in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties 10 years to phase out ocean outfalls that reduced water quality for the area’s coral reefs. They were mandated to implement advanced wastewater treatment and re-use that would be beneficial because it would increase much-needed fresh water supplies.\u00a0 Now efforts are underway once again to weaken these standards and allow some pollution to be discharged on the coral reefs that support the area’s dive and tourism industry.\u00a0 We don’t need more closed beaches; we need clean water for the corals to thrive.\u00a0 This is an ideal opportunity to begin needed infrastructure projects that will boost the economy as well.\u00a0 Now is not the time—vote no on this bill. Please add your name and send in your own letter to the Senators listed below.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0 DeeVon<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From: Reef Rescue <etichscuba@aol.com<\/a>>
\nTo: alexander.jd.web <alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; altman.thad.web <altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; benacquisto.lizbeth.web <benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; bennett.mike.web <bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; bogdanoff.ellyn.web <bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; braynon.oscar.web <braynon.oscar.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; bullard.larcenia.web <bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; dean.charles.web <dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; detert.nancy.web <detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; dockery.paula.web <dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; evers.greg.web <evers.greg.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; fasano.mike.web <fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; flores.anitere.web <flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; gaetz.don.web <gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; garcia.rene.web <garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; gardiner.andy.web <gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; gibson.audrey.web <gibson.audrey.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; haridopolos.mike.web <haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; hays.alan.web <hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; jones.dennis.web <jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; joyner.arthenia.web <joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; latvala.jack.web <latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; lynn.evelyn.web <lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; margolis.gwen.web <margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; montford.bill.web <montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; negron.joe.web <negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; norman.jim.web <norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; oelrich.steve.web <oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; norman.jim.web <norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; oelrich.steve.web <oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; rich.nan.web <rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; richter.garrett.web <richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; ring.jeremy.web <ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; sachs.maria.web <sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; simmons.david.web <simmons.david.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; siplin.gary.web <siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; smith.chris.web <smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; sobel.eleanor.web <sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; storms.ronda.web <storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>; thrasher.john.web <thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov<\/wbr><\/a>>; wise.stephen.web <wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov<\/a>>
\nSent: Thu, Feb 23, 2012 9:06 am
\nSubject: Senate Bill 724, Domestic Wastewater Discharged Through Ocean Outfalls<\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/wbr><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Clean Water Network of Florida,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0February 23,\u00a02012\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/wbr><\/wbr><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Cry-of-the-Water, <\/span><\/div>\n
Eastern Surfing Association, <\/span><\/div>\n
Global Coral Reef Alliance, <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Greater Fort Lauderdale Dive Operators Association,<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Nature Travelers Club, <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Ocean Rehab Initiative Inc., <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Palm Beach County Dive Industry Association, <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, <\/span><\/div>\n
Surfrider Foundation, <\/span><\/div>\n
Reef Relief, <\/span><\/div>\n
Reef Relief Founders<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Re: Senate Bill 724, Domestic Wastewater Discharged Through Ocean Outfalls<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Dear Senator: <\/span><\/div>\n
We, the undersigned ocean advocacy, industry and conservation organizations, on behalf of our ten\u2019s of thousands of members and supporters strongly urge you not to support Senate Bill 724 (Domestic Wastewater Discharged Through Ocean Outfalls). SB 724 is intended to delay implementation of the 2008 Florida Ocean Outfall legislation which was enacted to phase out the archaic practice of discharging inadequately treated sewage into southeast Florida\u2019s coastal coral reef ecosystem.<\/span><\/div>\n
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 239,000 acres of coral reefs and associated reef resources lie within the four-county area affected by SB 724. This northern portion of the Florida Reef Tract stretches more than100 miles from the northern boundary of Biscayne National Park in Miami-Dade County to the St. Lucie Inlet in Martin County. <\/em>These reefs are part of the third longest reef system in the world which annually sustains more than 71,000 jobs and <\/em>generates $6.3 billion dollars<\/strong> <\/strong>in sales <\/strong>and income for Florida.<\/em> <\/strong>(http:\/\/www.dep.state.fl.us\/secretary\/news\/2009\/02\/files\/0212_02.pdf<\/wbr><\/wbr><\/a>)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Florida\u2019s corals are dying at an alarming rate; between 1996 and 2001 the Keys experienced a 40 percent decrease in coral cover. Since the 1980\u2019s, 97% of Florida\u2019s Staghorn and Elkhorn reef building corals have died prompting the federal government to elevate these species to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. Recent studies have linked Elkhorn coral white pox disease with Serratia marcescens, <\/em>a human pathogen found in sewage, (<\/em>Sutherland KP, Shaban S, Joyner JL, Porter JW, Lipp EK (2011) Human Pathogen Shown to Cause Disease in the Threatened Eklhorn Coral Acropora palmata<\/em>. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23468. doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0023468).<\/wbr><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
(http:\/\/www.plosone.org\/article\/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0023468<\/wbr><\/wbr><\/a>)<\/span><\/div>\n
Along with the mix of nutrient pollution and pathogens spewing from south Florida\u2019s ocean outfalls, EPA reports Personal Care Products and Pharmaceuticals (PCPP\u2019s) now represent and ever increasing threat to the environment. Recent studies have found Prozac in fish organs and disrupted sexual development in fish cause by estrogen.<\/span><\/div>\n
The 2008 Florida Ocean Outfall legislation was not all about saving coral reefs. <\/span><\/span>A key driver of the legislation was the need to conserve water in south Florida. Water needed for agriculture, population growth and Everglades restoration. The southeast counties have one of the lowest water reclamation and reuse records in Florida. Everyday 396,000,000 gallons of wastewater is discharged into the coastal waters of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The 2008 legislation mandates that 60% of this wastewater be allocated for reuse.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
We strongly urge you not to turn back the clock; time is running out for Florida\u2019s coral reefs. Please vote no on SB 724.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Sincerely,<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Clean Water Network of Florida<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Linda Young, Director<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Cry-of-the-Water <\/span><\/div>\n
Dan Clark, President<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Eastern Surfing Association National Head Quarters<\/span><\/div>\n
Eastern Surfing Association South Florida District
\nEastern Surfing Association Palm Beach County District <\/span><\/div>\n
Tom Warnke, Chairman of the Board<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Global Coral Reef Alliance <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Thomas J. Goreau, PhD, President <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Greater Fort Lauderdale Diving Association<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Jeff Torode, President<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Nature Travelers Club, Delray Beach<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Hope Fox, President<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Ocean Rehab Initiative Inc.<\/span><\/div>\n
William Djubin, President<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Palm Beach County Dive Industry Association<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Van Blakeman, Director<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Ed Tichenor, Director<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
PEER, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility<\/span><\/div>\n
Jerry Phillips, Director Florida Chapter<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Surfrider Foundation <\/span><\/div>\n
Miami Chapter <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Broward Chapter<\/span><\/div>\n
Treasure Coast Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Sebastian Inlet Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Cocoa Beach Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Volusia Flagler Chapter<\/span><\/div>\n
First Coast Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Suncoast Chapter<\/span><\/div>\n
Central Florida Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Emerald Coast Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Ericka Canales, Florida Regional Manager<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Surfrider Foundation Palm Beach County Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Todd Remmel, Chapter Chair<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Reef Relief<\/span><\/div>\n
Peter Anderson, Chairman & President<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Reef Relief Founders<\/span><\/div>\n
Craig & DeeVon Quirolo<\/span><\/div>\n
Special thanks to Reef Rescue of Palm Beach.\u00a0\u00a0 Learn more and read their action alert at:\u00a0 http:\/\/reefrescuealert.wordpress.com\/<\/wbr><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This bill, if passed, will weaken the Outfall Legislation passed by the Florida Legislature 4 years ago which gave municipalities in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties 10 years to phase out ocean outfalls that reduced water quality for the area’s coral reefs. They were mandated to implement advanced wastewater treatment and re-use that would … Continue reading Conservation Community Unites to oppose Fla Senate Bill 724, Domestic Wastewater Discharged Through Ocean Outfalls<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=594"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":598,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594\/revisions\/598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}