By the editors of the Orlando Sentinel
November 28, 2016
Orlando Sentinel
Three months ago, as Florida was still reeling from one environmental disaster — toxic algae blooms on both coasts — the state suffered another. More than 200 million gallons of contaminated water leaked into the Floridan Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for millions of people in Central and North Florida, through a sinkhole at a phosphate plant south of Lakeland. Yet the public wasn’t told about the spill for almost three weeks.
While state leaders are divided over how best to deal with the main culprit behind the algae blooms — polluted water from Lake Okeechobee — they seem to be closer to agreeing on stricter public notification rules after environmental accidents. That’s progress. Now, it’s crucial for leaders to resist pressure from industry groups and some local governments to do any less than what’s essential to warn the public about threats to their health and the environment.
DEP’s weak excuse
To his credit, Scott on Sept. 26 ordered his DEP secretary, Jon Steverson, to issue an emergency rule requiring the owner or operator of a facility to notify the agency, local governments and the public within 24 hours of a “pollution incident,” whether or not the contamination remains on-site. The governor also said he would propose a bill for consideration during the next legislative session that would put the 24-hour requirement into law and stiffen penalties for violations.
Scott’s order also followed on the heels of yet another environmental calamity, when heavy rain during Hurricane Hermine flushed 150 million gallons of raw and partially treated sewage and wastewater from St. Petersburg into Tampa Bay. The public wasn’t told for five days.
Industry strikes back
In public hearings about the rule since Scott’s order, representatives of utilities and other industry groups have complained that the DEP, not the polluter, should be responsible for notifying the public. Why not both? That would increase the chances that word would get out as quickly and widely as possible. And why not stiffen requirements for plans to contain spills from owners and operators of facilities that can threaten the environment?
Up to now, Scott has not been a strong advocate for environmental protection. State enforcement actions against polluters fell sharply after he was elected. He slashed budgets at the DEP and the state’s water-management districts. While he has boosted funding more recently for environmental restoration projects, he has put a higher priority on encouraging businesses to create jobs. But no good employer wants to locate or grow where clean air and water are in jeopardy. How many businesses are lining up lately to invest in Flint, Mich.?
We hope Florida’s toxic summer will spur Scott and legislative leaders to do much more to safeguard the state’s most valuable asset for its businesses, residents and visitors — its environment.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-pollution-notification-20161128-story.html