Resolution 495-1997
Board of County Commissioners
RESOLUTION NO. 495
-1997
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY. FLORIDA REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH
FLORIDA KEYS WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AS AN AUTHORIZED
CLEAN WATER ACT PROJECT, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO DEVELOP THE
MARATHON WASTEWATER FACILITIES.
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; and
WHEREAS, these marine environments support rich biological communities possessing
extensive conservation, recreational, commercial, ecological, historical, research,
educational, and esthetic values which give this area special national significance; and
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; and
WHEREAS, these marine environments are subject to damage and loss of their
ecological integrity from a variety of sources of disturbance, including inadequately treated
wastewater in the Keys; and
WHEREAS, the federal government and the State of Florida are required, by Public
Law 101-605, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act, to reduce pollution
in the waters offshore the Florida Keys to protect and restore the water quality, coral reefs
and other living marine resources of the Florida Keys environment; and
WHEREAS, the Water Quality Protection Program Phase II document estimates the cost
of retrofitting the Florida Keys wastewater systems at $690 million. With a year-round
residential population of 80,000 persons, the cost the infrastructure required to improve water
water quality in this nationally significant marine ecosystem cannot be expected to be
borne solely by the residents,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County hereby
requests the United States Congress, via a bill to be enacted by the 105th Congress:
1. To establish the Florida Keys as an authorized project eligible for maximum
support under the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act, and
2. To obtain a direct appropriation of $50,000,000 to develop the Marathon
Wastewater Conveyance and Treatment Facilities.
And it is hereby further RESOLVED that the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners adopts as a long-term goal of the Florida Keys' authorized project, to
access direct appropriations needed to fund wastewater infrastructure improvements
including sanitary sewers and treatment facilities.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 10th day of December, 1997.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By ~~oQ.C. ~~~~
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Deputy Clerk
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Mayor/Chairman
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