More on Septic Tanks

Hi, Here is some information on the Septic Tank issue from Andrea..... Dave

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In Tallahassee, the Senate Environmental Conservation and Preservation Committee has a bill under consideration that proposes to repeal and replace the septic system inspection provisions of Senate Bill 550 that was passed last year. As you know, the DOH Bureau of On-Site Sewage rule making governing those inspections was totally inappropriate. As a result of our overwhelming opposition to these rules, our lawmakers in the November special session voted to delay implementation of the inspection provisions of SB550. This is still on the table, and legislators are beginning the process of considering what to do about the septic inspections.

The inspection provisions of this draft bill before this Committee are not acceptable in the current form. Unfortunately the committee meeting scheduled for today (Wednesday 2/9) was cancelled and rescheduled for Monday, 2/14. Homeowners and others concerned about this draft bill had planned to attend today, but cannot attend on Monday. We are sending the following information out to you so that the members of this Committee have your input before final decisions are made as to the content of this bill. We are trying to get packets of information into the hands of the committee members by Thursday and Friday, before the meeting on Monday.

THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

(1) Please call the Senate Committee members’ offices starting 2/10 Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. Tallahassee time and continuing through 2/14 Monday 2:00 p.m. There is no need to make calls over the weekend.
(2) Forward this e-mail to everyone in your e-mail circles. We must make volumes of calls to make a difference.
(3) Be courteous and cover the following points:
· Ask them to consider the information in the packet that is being hand-delivered Thursday by Ms. Sharon Glass, Santa Rosa County, as well as input provided by others that will be delivered prior to their Monday meeting.
· Ask them to only consider repealing the septic tank portion of this law and postpone creating another ordinance for septic tank inspections.
· Let them know that you do not believe that affected stakeholders have been provided sufficient opportunities for input on the provisions of this draft bill.
· Tell them you believe that they should not be authorizing FDEP or DOH rule making until ALL the tasks of the Nitrogen Reduction Studies and are completed.
· Assure them that you are following closely the actions of this committee.
Senator Dean - 850-487-5017 (Chair)
Senator Oelrich - 850-487-5020 (Co-Chair)
Senator Detert - 850-487-5081
Senator Jones - 850-487-5065
Senator Latyala - 850-487-5075
Senator Rich - 850-487-5103
Senator Sobel - 850-487-5097