Report for 09/12/2011
THE VERDICT IS IN!
NOT GUILTY!
Florida Journal of Environmental Health, Spring/Summer 2011, Issue
207 (www.feha.org)
I was enjoying a little light summer reading and will summarize for
you an interesting study just published in the above mentioned
journal. It seems 13
years ago, 750 septic owners along the Suwanee River were targets
for sewers because of pollution issues involving salmonella, fecal
coliform (poop), and nitrogen.
Water quality samples were taken before sewers were brought
on line and recent intensive water quality studies were conducted to
assess the results of converting septic systems to sewers.
The study reveals fecal coliform (untreated sewage) was
reduced as a result of installing the sewers, but total coliform
increased. Nutrient
(nitrogen) levels were unchanged, and salmonella levels were
unchanged.
What does that mean? It
means the problem of fecal coliform could have been eliminated by
simply making sure septic systems along the river were working
properly. It means the
total coliform level had to
be attributed to something other than septic systems.
That “something,” the study
says, was probably wildlife and other non-septic system sources.
It means, for all practical purposes, the money homeowners
and government agencies spent on sewers was unnecessary and
unproductive, i.e. wasted! It
means that regardless of the separation between the drainfield and
the high water table, or the distance between the drainfield and the
waters’ edge, septic systems
were not contributing nitrogen, nor were they responsible for
salmonella levels. IT MEANS,
NOT GUILTY!
EDITOR’S CORNER:
Cruising through the Florida Environmental Health Association (FEHA)
website, the source of the above article, I stumbled across a
position statement of the organization…..very revealing.
After reading it, it’s understandable why citizens and
legislators keep fighting the same battle over and over again with
bureaucracies and their rule-making.
The position statement discusses the commitment of this organization
to the Kyoto treaty that accepts climate change as a fact.
It commits members of this association to support the United
Nations model that identifies rural and suburban development as
unsustainable. The position statement further directs its members to
take all actions that will counteract climate change and promote
“sustainable development” principles.
Membership in this association includes state employees
working in the Dept. of Health, Bureau of On-Site Sewage, and
others.
Belief drives actions.
Rural and suburban development typically includes the use of septic
systems. This may
explain how it happens that legislation is “misinterpreted” again
and again by our bureaucracies.
Given rule-making authority and given their internal
commitment to support the “guiding” principles of the association,
those in the Bureau will probably continue on this path of
inappropriate rule-making.
As a result, legislators’ time and attention will continue to
be diverted from dealing with legitimate constituent, economic, and
science-based concerns.
If anyone is inclined not to believe this is happening, just
look at the amount of time, energy and money has been spent over the
past four years trying to stop the rules promoted by the Bureau of
On-Site Sewage.
In fact, those in the Bureau (and elsewhere in a non-elected
government role) who have perpetually promoted rules in opposition
to stated legislative intent need to understand
they are acting outside
their legitimate role.
They have no constitutional or statutory authority to
super-impose personal or professional belief onto laws or onto
society.
While they are entitled to
a personal, or even a professional belief in climate change and
sustainable development, they are not policy makers or law makers.
Their only legitimate role is to advise when consulted
and implement, not
interpret, or manipulate, or embellish, the will of the legislature.
If they want to set policy or make law, they need to run for
office and win based on their commitment.
That is our structure of
government and how it works.
To do otherwise, creates chaos, costs taxpayers money, and in
fact, mocks and undermines our form of government.
IN THE NEWS:
Editorial Opinion authored by A. Samson, TRI-County Association
H.E.L.P. appeared in print in two Florida newspapers, Tampa Bay –
TBO On-Line, and in Gainesville –
The Topic: “EPA Rules
Will Inflict Heavy Toll on People.”
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110824/NEWS/110829769/1123/opinion?Title=Andrea-Samson-Humans-The-8220-other-8221-endangered-species
Evers files
bill to repeal septic tank inspections
Summarized from Northwest Florida Daily News. ( nwfdailynews.com )
Sen. Greg Evers, who filed a repeal bill during the 2011
legislative session, has introduced Senate Bill 114, a bill that
will repeal the state-wide mandated inspection provisions of SB550
passed in the 2010 legislative session.
Senator Evers has strong support from Rep. Marti Coley who
has also filed a repeal bill for the second time.
Evers is confident the new repeal bill will pass next year.
Both Coley and Evers were quoted as saying the inspections
are “overreaching and expensive in tough economic times.”
Repeal is fully supported by various tea party groups who
believe the responsibility for inspections should reside with local
governments, not the state.
For more information please refer to the Northwest Florida
Daily News:
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/evers-43135-inspections-septic.html
Additional inspection repeal bills have been filed by Rep. Coley
(HB79) and Senator Lynn (SB178), and one bill has been filed by Rep.
Drake (HB115) to repeal the ban on land application of septage
contained in SB550.
TRI-COUNTY ASSOCIATION H.E.L.P., Inc. welcomes new Advisory Board
Members:
TRI-County Association welcomed two new members to the
group’s Advisory Board.
Brenda Carey, Chairman, Seminole County Board of County
Commissioners has accepted an invitation to serve in this capacity.
She joins Orange County Commissioner, Fred Brummer, and Lake
County Commissioner, Leslie Campione to round out advisory
representation for the three counties whose homeowner and business
members live and work in the three counties served by TRI-County
Association.
In addition, Mr. Dan Peterson, newly appointed
Executive Director of Coalition for Property Rights has agreed to
serve on TRI-County’s Bd. of Advisors, replacing Carol Saviak, who
resigned to take on a new position with the St. Augustine Chamber of
Commerce. If you would
like more information on Coalition for Property Rights (CPR), please
contact Dan at 407.481.2289, or through CPR’s website
www.proprights.com.