For the third year in a row, the Legislative session featured an all-encompassing environmental regulation reform bill. The pattern is always the same. The bill starts out as a large collection of bad ideas and gets whittled down as reactions are registered and issues are worked out.

Last year, Audubon was able to eliminate a threat to the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve as HB 503 passed. This year we tripled that success rate with HB 999 and were able to remove a dangerous definition of the "mean annual flood line", a local government pre-emption of wetlands regulation for Chapter 298 Drainage Districts, and a last minute attempt to include a fertilizer moratorium.

The charge to remove the Chapter 298 Drainage District exemption is a stellar example of how advocates like you can make a difference. The driver behind the proposed exemption centered on the Ranger Drainage District in Orange County and a long standing dispute over permitting requirements and restoration plans. Once this issue was explained in the very real terms of lessening protection of the lands surrounding the Econlockhatchee River (and subsequently the St. Johns River), the reaction of many Legislators changed.

We extend our appreciation to Rep. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) for her relentless pursuit to address this issue in the House with the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-Panama City.)

But over in the Senate, it was people such as the sponsor of companion bill SB 1684, Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) who shined by removing this exemption from the bill and Senator John Thrasher (R-Jacksonville) who sent a strong message that the language needed to stay out of the bill. Audubon advocates helped in that process when you responded to our alerts and sent those emails and made your phone calls. We call that success!

It is true there are still many provisions left in HB 999, such as limitations on the local government permitting process for development projects, creation of new general permits for mooring fields, reduced lease fees for docks and marinas, exemptions for man-made farm ponds from wetland permitting, etc..., but all of those provisions started out much worse and both bill sponsors were receptive to improving the language to lessen impacts. Our success came with removing the worst of the provisions from HB 999 and for that, Audubon will not be requesting a veto of the bill from Governor Scott.

As always, stay tuned to this blog and our Facebook Page for the latest from Tallahassee. Thank you Advocates!