During the Florida Legislative session, Audubon tends to focus on those bills that relate to water policy, land conservation, wildlife issues, etc. Every now and then, a bill will surface that demands a harder look and results in an issue of true concern. Such is the case with SB 682, a bill relating to Fossil Fuel Combustion Products…or coal ash as it is also known.
Florida has a total of 16 coal-fired power plants that are located throughout the state. Industry proponents pushed hard to exclude the disposal facilities at these plants from statutory provisions on hazardous waste landfills as they worried about an expected ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding how coal ash will be classified and regulated. The desire of the industry is to use this waste “beneficially” and to not have to dispose of it.
The main problem with the bill is the over-reach that occurs as various “beneficial uses” are allowed with little or no input from the Department of Environmental Protection.
So how does that impact the birds, you ask?
Take for example, the Seminole Generating Station in Palatka. This is an active waste cleanup site where improper handling of coal ash resulted in ash being placed in nearby wetlands and causing extensive damage. Recognizing that things like this happen, the bill requires that coal ash used in the loose form of pavement aggregate must be at least 15 feet from the nearest wetland. People can be affected too as improper placement of coal ash, when used as fill material, can contaminate groundwater. The problem is that no one is given responsibility to ensure requirements for setbacks and other criteria are met and likely no compliance programs will address this either.
Given the high priority that Audubon places on the protection of wetlands, habitat and our water supply, we have sent a veto request to Governor Scott.
