Resolution 168-2000
RESOLUTION NO. 168-2000
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING SENATORS BOB GRAHAM AND
CONNIE MACK TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN REQUESTING THE
UNITED STATES SENATE PASS INTO LAW THE FLORIDA KEYS
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2000 DURING THE
CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL TERM
WHEREAS, adjacent to the Florida Keys land mass are located spectacular, unique
and nationally significant marine environments, including seagrass meadows, mangrove
islands, and extensive living coral reefs;
WHEREAS, these environments are the marine equivalent of tropical rain forests in
that they support high levels of biological diversity, are fragile and easily susceptible to
damage from human activities, and possess high value to human beings if properly
conserved;
o ~EREA~, these marine environments are subject to damage and loss of their
ecijog.1~~1 !!:1te9!ity from a variety of sources of disturbances, including inadequately
trgjte~a~e~ter in the Keys;
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~ ~H~~, the Federal government and the State of Florida are required by Public
Law }:Ul-etfsZFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act, to reduce
r:@lu~ iif~waters offshore the Florida Keys to protect and restore the water quality,
qeral~ef~~other living marine resources of the Florida Keys environment;
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WHEREAS, Monroe County is undertaking extensive efforts to correct long-
standing wastewater impacts to the Florida Keys marine environment, including
allocating $1,000,000 to replace non-functioning septic systems, completion of the
Monroe County Wastewater Master Plan, implementation of an aggressive cesspool
removal plan, and passage of a is-year one cent infrastructure sales tax - 65% of which
will provide an ongoing local contribution to address water quality impacts;
WHEREAS, the Mayor of Monroe County is authorized to lead a broad coalition of
interests committed to the passage of this bill, including the Board of County
Commissioners, Monroe County staff, responsible citizen organizations, the Florida Keys
Aqueduct Authority, Monroe County's congressional and administrative consultant,
Monroe County's wastewater and stormwater consultants and their Washington, D.C.
based representatives, the Governor's Office, Monroe County's State Legislative
Delegation and others;
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Wastewater Master Plan estimates the cost of
retrofitting the Florida Keys wastewater systems at $430,360,000;
WHEREAS, Monroe County is currently preparing a Stormwater Master Plan and
anticipates those costs to exceed sanitary wastewater estimates;
WHEREAS, Monroe County as an average unit cost to retrofit wastewater that
exceeds four times the national average cost;
WHEREAS, that excessive cost is due, in part, to Monroe County providing the
highest possible level of wastewater treatment available, a level that far exceeds
standards required to provide for human health and safety, in order to protect the low-
nutrient tolerant Florida Keys coral reef tract;
WHEREAS, Monroe County is financially unable to put in place the wastewater and
stormwater infrastructure necessary to protect this naturally-significant coral reef
ecosystem without Federal assistance;
WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives has passed, by a margin of
411-7, H,R. 673, The Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Act of 2000, introduced
by Representative Peter Deutsch, for which we are deeply appreciative; and
WHEREAS, the near-unanimous support for this bill reflects the support and
commitment of the nation to protecting America's largest coral barrier reef ecosystem;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA:
1. Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack are requested to take a leadership
role in the United States Senate in enacting legislation that will:
a. Authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make
grants to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and other appropriate agencies for the
purpose of improving water quality throughout the marine ecosystem of the Florida Keys;
b, Authorize that the non-federal share of the cost of a project carried out is
not to be less than 25 percent; and
c. Authorize an appropriation to the Administrator to carry out the purposes of
the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Act of 2000, in the following amounts:
(1) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
(2) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
(3) $50,000,000 for fiscal years 2003 through 2005.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 17th day of May, 2000.
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By