The Miami Herald - Sewage solution requires public access
March 10, 2013
“OUR OPINION: Environmental groups should have a say in negotiations [between Miami-Dade County and the EPA over Clean Water Act violations due to the Counties mismanagement of its sewage system.] – …One environmental group, Biscayne Bay Waterkeepers, has sought intervention in the negotiations in federal court, citing numerous concerns that, without proper oversight by outside experts and affected groups, the negotiations will produce a flawed solution to the problem of repeated dumping of raw sewage into Biscayne Bay and its tributaries, as well as inundations on streets and in homes.”
The Miami Herald - Deep trouble: How sea-rise could cause havoc in South Florida
March 10, 2013
“The sobering scenarios were filed last month in federal court by Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper, a clean-water advocacy group challenging Miami-Dade’s $1.5 billion plan to repair the county’s aging, spill-plagued sewage system. The Water and Sewer Department has drawn up the proposal, called a “consent decree,’’ under the pressure of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lawsuit and threat of millions of dollars in potential fines.
Critics contend it has a gaping hole: It ignores looming sea-rise that both county and EPA planning policies acknowledge poses trouble, potentially deep trouble, for a region in line to feel the earliest effects of climate change. Miami-Dade endorsed a pioneering four-county compact that calls for adapting roads and buildings for climate change. Last year, the EPA released two reports promoting “climate ready” utilities.
Yet after 10 months of negotiations between agencies, the sewer plan doesn’t contain a word about dealing with flooding tides or the sort of storm surge that devastated the Northeast during Hurricane Sandy. No calls for sea walls, elevated separating tanks, stronger casks for pressurized liquid chlorine or other “armoring” measures.”
The Miami Herald – Activists threaten lawsuit against Miami-Dade over Clean Water Act violations
October 9, 2012
“Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper has filed a notice with the county, and state and federal environmental protection agencies, saying it intends to file a lawsuit in 60 days because the county has violated several provisions of the federal Clean Water Act.”
SunPost Weekly – News: Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper Threatens to Sue the County
October 11, 2012
“Earlier this week Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper sent a Letter of Intent to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, and John Renfrow, Director, Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer District.”
