HB 703 will hurt our springs, wetlands, and water resources.
For the fourth year in a row, Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-Panama City) has filed a damaging environmental permitting bill. Enough is enough.
This year's wide-ranging bill, HB 703, prohibits local governments from enforcing wetlands regulations and springs protections. It also grants up to 50-year consumptive use permits for dispersed water storage projects and 30-year consumptive use permits for water projects associated with Development of Regional Impacts.
Issuing 50-year permits means the public will have no say in how that water is used for half of a century. Other worthwhile projects, such as Everglades restoration, may then have to take a back seat.
At a time when there is finally strong consensus at the Capitol for protecting and restoring Florida's springs and doing proper water supply planning, why should citizens put up with this backwards bill?
This petition is our chance to show developers and special interests that our conservation voices matter.
