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Septic Tank Inspections Delayed For Six Months
November 17, 2010
A six-month delay in the implementation of a septic tank inspection that riled several Panhandle lawmakers was easily approved Tuesday by both chamber of the Florida Legislature, setting up an increasingly likely full repeal come regular session this spring.
On separate 38-1 and 112-6 votes, the Legislature put off requiring property owners to pay for inspections on 2.6 million septic tanks in the state every five years, a “costly mandate” that critics said prompted them to include the measure in a special session largely devoted to overriding vetoes penned by Gov. Charlie Crist.
The septic tank inspection requirement, which opponents say could cost property owners $500 per inspection, was part of a larger environmental bill scheduled to kick in January 1 to improve water quality in Florida’s freshwater springs. Crist signed the springs bill (SB 550) in the spring, so it took a new bill to delay its scheduled January4 1 implementation until July.
“This legislation…stops the implementation of a costly mandate in septic tank evaluation in order to allow the legislature to review the financial impact of this program and its scientific necessity on the people of Florida,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, during debate on the floor of the Florida Senate. “Delaying the implementation date for six months…would allow the Senate and House of Representatives to readdress this issue in regular session.”
Gaetz has made it clear he intends to press for a full repeal of the septic tank inspections. Before the vote, he told the News Service he was “hopeful for a repeal.”
“Today the objective (was) to stop the implementation,” he said. “The second step will be to do what should have been done last year, and that’s to have to full and open public debates and discussions about the issue
The votes were clearly there to be had Tuesday, a sharp reversal from a strong vote in the other direction at the close of the regular session in the spring, when the bill containing the septic tank inspections was approved 30-3. The measure was designed to protect Florida’s natural springs and waterways, which are often threatened by septic tank overflow.
Opponents such as Gaetz argued the new standard was quietly tucked into the larger bill before it went before lawmakers this spring, an account which has been disputed by the bill’s sponsor, former Sen. Lee Constantine.
Constantine last week sought to clear the air over the controversial provision by writing a letter to his former colleagues in the Florida Senate, and his name was invoked in defending the bill by the lone senator to vote against the delay, Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole .
“This was a large part of the springs bill that was about five years in developing due to Sen.(Burt) Saunders and Sen. Constantine,” Jones said. “With septic tanks being the number one cause, or certainly ranking, of pollution to our springs and our rivers, I’m concerned about taking this action at this time.”
Jones disputed opponents contentions the inspections would cost more than $500, saying the price would actually be about $185. Gaetz countered that the law would require inspections and “pump outs” of tanks that did not pass inspections.
“There are those in this body who believe that the mandate might be good, there are others who believe that it ought to be repealed, and there are still others who believe – along with the industry that pushed the mandate – that it was a bridge too far,” said Gaetz, who added there might be “a less intrusive, less expensive approach.”
There was more opposition to delaying the septic tanks inspections in the Florida House, but passions there were not nearly as strained. The chamber voted to approve the delay with little discussion, and House Speaker Dean Cannon (pictured top of page) only committed Tuesday to supporting the delay for now.
“All we are doing for the purpose of today is postponing the implementation date,” he said. “One of the principles that President Haridopolos and I agree on before we even considered the special session was that we shouldn’t engage in lengthy, substantive policy debates that would be appropriate for the full committee process.”
Haridopolos said there was “nothing whatsoever” that could stop Crist from striking back at the Legislature by vetoing the delay, but said “he hasn’t given any indication that he has heartburn over postponing the implementation date.”
Without a beat, Cannon said “if he chooses to, certainly we’ll work it,” reflecting a sharply changed reality as Republicans hold supermajorities in the House and Senate.
Emboldened by Tuesday’s vote, Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, said Tuesday she had already filed a bill to fully undo the inspection requirement for the spring.
“Eliminating this government overreach remains my top priority,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “Today I filed legislation to repeal this burdensome requirement altogether in the 2011 regular session. Government should be lifting financial burdens from homeowners, not placing more on them. I’m committed to making sure that some commonsense is put back in our environmental regulations.”
Pictured top: Speaker Dean Cannon addresses the Florida House Tuesday. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
By Keith Laing
Comments
25 Responses to “Septic Tank Inspections Delayed For Six Months”
Many people are haveing a hard time trying to afford to have there septic pumped out just from regular use. we had a lady on Dec 2 pumping her septic in a ditch information on the news herald. Maybe we need to work on a program to reduce the cost of pumping out the septic and helping those who can not afford to do so. when you live with a certain income you are caught in a catch 22. you do not have money to do these things or money enough to pay your bills.this become tragic for the septic issue. Getting inspected every 5 years unless the county will pay for it will make nightmares for the poor that have no other home to go to. for those who can afford may not be such trouble. please think of this when considering this matter. Many Thanks.
if the math is right that is 481 mill that would be great money for some one da. if it is needed so bad then let the government pay for it.
Mmmm clean water act???So u run what 20 miles + /- of sewage line from downtown to the north end of the county to a new poop plant,what happens when u have a leak there???and their talking about putting a nuclear power plant in up here …LOL…WOW u got to love big government,especially when it’s to benefits them,, We were also told that the lottery was going to help the schools too? How many schools have we close? how many teachers lost their jobs….Kinda makes u wonder why the state wants more money? what r they wanting the buy now?( at our expense,)One of the seven deadly sins GREED,the only time we r recognized in the north end of the county is when THEY need something what a shame…
Yes i know i got off the subject a bit Sorry (just Venting)
KILL THE BILL…………………….
That “hole” that is intentionally put in septic tanks leads to the drainage field – it is a required part of the septic system.
If there is no “hole” to drain it, then it is not a septic system, it’s an indoor outhouse, and once filled would need to be re-dug in a different location.
Seems like an awful lot of city-folk have opinions about septic systems – especially when they don’t even know how they function. Like most of th people that voted this stupid bill into Law in the first place.
KILL THE BILL – REPEAL this CRAPPY TAX
REGARDING:
” about nitrates and phosphorous. Those compounds are not from septic tanks they are from fertilizers used in groves and farms. This is just another intrusion by the Nazi organization called the EPA.”
Actually, they ARE found in septic tanks. Urine contains or produces nitrates and phosphorus, feces contains phosphorus. You find them on farms because they are fertilize and because animal waste contains them just as human waste does. Every living cell has phosphorus (adenosine tri-phosphate for example, ATP is the energy source of cells)
David for truth
This is just another way for the government to get their hands in our pockets. If someones system is not working , they will be the first to know there is a need for repair. There is no escaping it !
We don’t have to create a new group of bloodsuckers to over analyze the problem.
If legislatures feel they must implement something to protect the water why is there not stiff prosecution for the idiots who throw remains from deer into the creeks. Yes, Folks, it has already begun this week – directly into the water because they do not bury the carcass. Having a motion sensor camera at each creek crossing would surely catch some of these lazy people. That is fair and if stiff fines were imposed – it should only cost the guilty. That would help water quality immediately.
I’ve heard from several people that they purposely put a hole in their septic tanks to let the water drain from them … oh great right into our drinking water.
We just found out last week the house we have been renting for 8 years does NOT have a septic tank, something our landlord failed to tell us and is now “concerned” that the house will be inspected and she will be forced to have one installed. If anything she should be fined too for every year that house did not have one in use.
I build sheds for a living and see a lot of back yards. I can only remember seeing 2 bad septic systems in 15 years so don’t tell me this is about clean water its about money and power. thanks senators! KILL THE BILL
What this amounts to is extorsion. And also where is the proof that septic tank owners are so far out of complance? I some how get the feeling that this is like global warming, they really do not have the proof , but its sounds good,and they think that if they say it enough it will become the truth. It does seem to me that it is a way to rule in the rural class, and put us under more government rule. I am going to agree with Rocky , The socal elitist, do not like our independence, because we can raise our own food , hunt and fish. We are not a group that can be controled easily. By the way the land in the panhandle is much differnt than land in central FL. We have dirt, most every one else in fl has just sand. So will it be fair? Most likly not. Seems to me government will say what ever it takes, true or not to enforce their will. KILL THE BILL!!!!!!!!!
To Mr. Etheridge comments about nitrates and phosphorous. Those compounds are not from septic tanks they are from fertilizers used in groves and farms. This is just another intrusion by the Nazi organization called the EPA. This is similar to Seminole county’s attempt to make gross assessments to rural property owners based on the EPA’s Clean Water Act. I read the act and it was totally misuses as a driving force there and I see it again being misused here. Americans are not going to go down the European or UN path quietly. We are going to retain our authority over government. Oh and by the way if you study where our Florida spring water comes from you will find that it originates in Georgia!
The Republicans sold you out to big business, what more did you expect?
Thank you Mr. Etheridge for the more detailed information you provided us with . Everything we learn along the way, will only help us all better understand what were up against.
On to complete victory–KILL THE BILL!!!
S.L.B.–
I do not work for the EPA, but I read a wide array of news and am plugged in to a lot of environmental issues due to my job. The EPA will be enforcing water quality standards they came up with as a result of a lawsuit filed because the State of Florida has been woefully out of compliance with the Clean Water Act for many years. We Floridians rely heavily on groundwater for our drinking water–and we have been overloading our waterways and springs with excess nitrates and phosphorus for years. In order to comply with the EPA’s standards, public sewage utilities and water utilities will have to install expensive retrofits and upgrades–with the costs passed on to us. The number I quoted for our individual cost are the early estimates of the impact on us. Sounds like you do a great job maintaining your system, and I applaud you. Many septic tank owners do not–and I see it everyday in my work. Hope I answered your questions, or at least pointed your way to more info.
Ditto – KILL THE BILL!
In reply to Mr. Jeff Etheridge who wrote:
EPA’s water quality plan is enforced requiring numeric standards be met by the State of Florida. Which is going to cost all of us an estimated $500 per year.
Do you work for EPA, because it seems as if you have a little insight to what they are planning for the future forour water/septic situation for the northend? If so, please explain why you said this plan will cost each property owner an estimated $500 per year? If not, where do you get your information?
All I know is that there is nothing wrong with my septic tank, works perfectly fine! We maintain it with the suggested chemicals that you flush down monthly to eat up the waste. We closely observe what is flushed in the toilet and we clean our filter annually. So if my system is in propper working order with no issues, why spend $500 to fix something that isn’t even broken, that’s just plain stupidity on my part.
The “Big Pipe” will probably come this way from Cantonment in time, regardless if we accept or dont accept SB 550, because that is probably their long term plan anyway, so that will just have to be another seperate fight when that subject comes up.
*KILL THE BILL*
THANKS to all who had a hand in delaying this bill. Now we just need to get it KILLED.
This is all wonderful and power to the people, huzzah!
You’ll all cheer saving that $500 every 5 years ($100 annually) right up until the time that the EPA’s water quality plan is enforced requiring numeric standards be met by the State of Florida. Which is going to cost all of us an estimated $500 per year. And guess what–as a part of that plan, septic maintenance and inspections will be required anyway. Wouldn’t it make more sense to write our own rules and keep the Federal government out of it? And if the big pipe comes because we refuse to take care of our water problems, that $100 a year is going to look like pocket change folks.
Reply to S.L.B. You have hit the nail dead on the head, Very well put. It is time for Government to start listening to the will of the people.
First, thank you William and Northescambia.com for keeping us informed on important matters that personally effect all of us and for giving us a format to voice our opinions, concerns & complaints that apparently get noticed here.
Second, “thank you” to all of the Government Representatives that are listening to the tax payers and voters and acting upon resolving this very important issue at hand. Hopefully Charlie Crist learned a very valuable lesson from signing the sneaky SB 550 into act without allowing us to even discuss it and may I say, such a very stupid move on his part to do it right before the elections. At the end of the day, the peoples vote showed him who is still in charge!
This fight is not over people, only delayed. So we must keep up the pressure of letting them know how this is not the right answer to a water polution problem they say we have. Also, sneaky government ethics is not acceptable either!
“Common sense” In government ? What a novel idea!!!
THANK YOU SENATOR GAETZ AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO WORKED TO GET THIS DONE! LET’S GET RID OF IT PERMANENTLY!
Do not forget to keep this in the mind of our legislators…let’s keep the petitions going and the emails to our legislators! I want to thank all the people who signed this petition and sent emails, etc….this is how government SHOULD work!!!
“Government should be lifting financial burdens from homeowners, not placing more on them. I’m committed to making sure that some commonsense is put back in our environmental regulations.”
AMEN!!!!
KILL THE BILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets hear it …………………….
KILL THE BILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!