CS/HB 359 — Miami-Dade Lake Belt Area
by Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee and Rep. M. Diaz and others (CS/SB 510 by Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and Senator Garcia)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee (EP)
The bill specifies that amendments to local zoning and subdivision regulations must be compatible with limestone mining activities. It prohibits amending zoning and subdivision regulations that increase residential density in the vicinity of mining activities. The bill allows the proceeds from mitigation funds to be used for monitoring, incrementally reduces the mitigation fee, and directs proceeds from the mitigation fee to be used for additional mitigation projects instead of solely for seepage mitigation projects. The bill decreases the water treatment plant upgrade fee to six cents per ton and specifies the water treatment plant upgrade fee expires on July 1, 2018.
The bill transfers two cents per ton of the water treatment plant upgrade fee to the State Fire Marshal to be used for the ground vibration study under s. 552.30, F.S., until December 1, 2016. The transferred funds may not exceed $300,000. Any funds that remain are directed to Miami-Dade County for mitigation and water quality monitoring.
The bill provides legislative findings regarding the water sampling around the Lake Belt and requires Miami-Dade County to submit reports to the Legislature that include an accounting of the water treatment plant upgrade fee and an analysis of the Northwest Wellfield water quality data.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2015.
Vote: Senate 37-1; House 82-30