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One-Stop Permitting In County's Interest

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By DENISE LAYNE

Special to the Tribune

Published: March 19, 2009

For the fifth year in a row, the Florida Legislature is attacking local government control of wetlands permitting, especially aiming at Hillsborough County's Environmental Protection Commission (EPC). In the name of streamlining, legislators maintain that local wetland review duplicates that of other state agencies and is a reason for the state's economic crisis. Ha!

We in Hillsborough learned last year there is no duplication between EPC and other agencies. And, there would be no economic stimulus by eliminating local control of wetlands, only additional environmental damage that will have to be paid later at a much higher price.

In other growth-related issues, such as a proposal to abolish the Department of Community Affairs (the state's growth management overseers), the legislators tell us control of growth is best at the local level. So, why would this not apply to local review and control of wetlands? Isn't the environment part of growth?

These are "smoke and mirror" arguments at best.

One of EPC's goals has been one-stop permitting from federal, state and local agencies for wetlands in this county. All have delegated their review to EPC but one. For years the EPC has tried unsuccessfully to obtain review of wetlands from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. EPC meets all the state criteria. So, what is the reason for its refusal? Just, no, they don't have to. And that's true. There are no enforceable laws requiring the water districts to give up wetlands review even if the state's criteria are met. Thus, the problem.

There is a very simple solution. The county commission and state lawmakers should support an amendment that allows one-stop wetlands permitting in a county that meets the state's criteria, as does our EPC. Talk about saving time and money.

What a wonderful win/win for this county if our commissioners and legislators would provide the leadership needed to help achieve true streamlining goals for its citizens. We can only hope.

Denise Layne is executive director of the Coalition 4 Responsible Growth.

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