Understanding 2020 Environmental Resources Legislation and Potential Impacts on Transportation
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BY JEFF LITTLEJOHN, P.E., PRESIDENT AND MARK THOMASSON, P.E., ASSOCIATE LITTLEJOHN, MANN & ASSOCIATES
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s a self-described “Teddy Roosevelt Republican,” Governor Ron DeSantis campaigned and was elected on a platform that included several environmental policy “planks,” focused largely on reducing harmful algae blooms around the state. Around this time last year, we wrote about Gov. DeSantis’ major environmental and water policy reform initiative, entitled “Achieving More Now for Florida’s Environment.” The vehicle for his initiative was Executive Order 19-12, which directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to, among other things, secure a record-setting environmental funding request in 2019 (done), establish a Blue-Green Algae 44
Task Force (done), immediately begin the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project (done), hire a chief science officer (done), and create an Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (done). It is now clear to us that, with the bold vision and firm commitment of the governor and the herculean efforts of the FDEP to implement his initiatives, Florida’s environmental leaders are taking quick action to respond to the threat of algae blooms. Fast forward 12 short months, and we are now summarizing a very significant piece of environmental legislation, the “Clean Waterways Act” (SB 712). This legislation was filed in the Senate by Debbie Mayfield (R-17) and in the House by Bobby Payne (R-19) and
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Blaise Ingoglia (R-35), but had several other contributors and supporters, including the governor. Sometimes described as the “governor’s environmental bill,” SB 712 implements the governor’s Blue Green Algae Task Force recommendations and contains many other significant provisions. When fully implemented, the Clean Waterways Act will affect the transportation and construction industries, local governments, public and private utilities, landowners, farmers and ranchers, and others. With a law of this scope and magnitude, it is important to understand its various provisions in order to conduct your business and assist your clients and customers. The contemplated revisions to the state’s stormwa-
