FloridaToday.com

Finally, success

May 4, 2008

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080504/OPINION/805040308/1004/opinion&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

Passing Clean Ocean Act will stop gambling ships from dumping sewage

It took more than three years but it has finally happened:

State lawmakers have passed the Clean Ocean Act that bans gambling ships sailing from Port Canaveral and other Florida ports from dumping their partially treated waste off shore.

Now Gov. Charlie Crist should sign the measure and make it law.

The fight to help protect Space Coast waters from pollution was begun by former Rep. Bob Allen, the Merritt Island Republican who introduced the measure but repeatedly met stiff opposition from the powerful gambling industry.

This year Rep. Tony Sasso, D-Cocoa Beach, and Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indialantic, took the helm and worked to gain passage.

Currently, the dumping is legal and casino boats departing from Port Canaveral and other ports on Florida's Atlantic coast can release sewage four miles or farther out in international waters. Those departing from Tampa can dump sewage nine nautical miles into the Gulf of Mexico.

The bill requires the vessels to bring the waste back to shore to be fully treated.

The dumping should have been stopped years ago, but late is better than never.