Former Sen. Bob Graham details opposition to latest Patronis permitting bill

By Bruce Ritchie

The Florida Conservation Coalition is opposing HB 703 and former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham has provided a section-by-section breakdown in a letter to Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City and bill sponsor.

HB 703 provides for water-use permits of up to 30 years for larger developments and up to 50 years for landowners who participate in water storage programs.

The bill also would extend "right to farm" provisions in state law to prohibit enforcement of local springs and wetlands regulations that also have been modified or readopted since 2003. And the bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to consider the cost of implementing any greenhouse gas reductions when developing a plan to meet federal regulations.