CS for SB 1160                             First Engrossed (ntc)
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       20141160e1
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to onsite sewage treatment and
    3         disposal systems; amending s. 381.0065, F.S.; delaying
    4         the effective date of the prohibition against the land
    5         application of septage from onsite sewage treatment
    6         and disposal systems; requiring the Department of
    7         Environmental Protection to examine and report on
    8         potential options for safely and appropriately
    9         disposing or reusing septage; requiring the department
   10         to submit a report of its findings and
   11         recommendations; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 381.0065, Florida
   16  Statutes, is amended to read:
   17         381.0065 Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems;
   18  regulation.—
   19         (6) LAND APPLICATION OF SEPTAGE PROHIBITED.—
   20         (a) Effective January 1, 2017 2016, the land application of
   21  septage from onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems is
   22  prohibited.
   23         (b) The Department of Environmental Protection, in
   24  consultation with the Department of Health, the Department of
   25  Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Economic
   26  Opportunity, the University of Florida Institute of Food and
   27  Agricultural Sciences, local governments, and other
   28  stakeholders, shall examine and report on the potential options
   29  for safely and appropriately disposing of or reusing septage and
   30  the contents of portable toilets, grease interceptors, and
   31  holding tanks, including, but not limited to:
   32         1. An inventory of domestic wastewater utilities and solid
   33  waste management facilities that are known to receive and treat
   34  septage or the contents of portable toilets, grease
   35  interceptors, and holding tanks.
   36         2. An inventory of permitted septage land application
   37  sites.
   38         3. An analysis of the nutrient concentrations of septage.
   39         4. An analysis of the technical limitations for domestic
   40  wastewater utilities and solid waste management facilities to
   41  receive and treat septage or the contents of portable toilets,
   42  grease interceptors, and holding tanks.
   43         5. An analysis of the sufficiency of chapter 64E-6, Florida
   44  Administrative Code, in managing nutrient loading from land
   45  application sites, with emphasis on high recharge areas of the
   46  aquifer and other sensitive surface waters or groundwaters.
   47         6. An analysis of compliance rates with chapter 64E-6,
   48  Florida Administrative Code, and the sufficiency of operator
   49  oversight to ensure compliance.
   50         7. An analysis of the sufficiency of penalties for
   51  noncompliance.
   52         8. The transfer of regulatory authority over the land
   53  application of septage or the contents of portable toilets,
   54  grease interceptors, and holding tanks from the Department of
   55  Health to the Department of Environmental Protection, including
   56  the environmental benefits of applying the nutrient management
   57  plan requirements, setbacks, site-monitoring requirements, and
   58  provisions of chapter 62-640, Florida Administrative Code, to
   59  the land application of septage.
   60         (c) The Department of Environmental Protection shall submit
   61  a report of its findings and recommendations, pursuant to
   62  paragraph (b), to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
   63  the Speaker of the House of Representatives by July 1, 2015.
   64         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.