Gov signs bill to remove water board authority on permits

[lindab]

Yesterday, Governor Crist signed controversial legislation to remove the authority of the appointed water management boards over water use and wetland permits and give it to the executive directors and staff of the water management districts.

The legislation was originally an innocuous bill on Florida friendly landscaping, widely supported by many organizations and businesses. In a last minute amendment, Sen. Alexander dropped on an amendment giving more control to the executive directors of the districts over permitting.

[mtraininjax]

So now who is in charge of the decision by St. Johns River Water Management to allow Central Florida with our water?

[lindab]

Any new permits would be signed by the Exec. Director (or his staff) without the need for a public hearing process and consideration by the district board members.

[mtraininjax]

Any new permits would be signed by the Exec. Director (or his staff) without the need for a public hearing process and consideration by the district board members.

The power of many in so few......this will not be good for Floridians.

[JeffreyS]

Most likely this will be bad but if any district is lucky enough to have a great director positive changes could come quickly.

[Dog Walker]

Most of the Directors go on to become highly paid lobbyists for development interests after they retire in their mid-fifties.  They lobby the very agencies they once ran (how cozy!) and the legislature because "they are the experts."

With sole power to decide on permits, the opportunities for corruption both direct and indirect are mind-boggling!   

[JeffreyS]

In the end they say yes to every corprate request anyway.