EDGE OFF. KRISTI? >> SOUNDS GOOD.
THANK YOU.
POLLUTERS BE WARNED,
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS NOT
PLAYING.
>> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JUST
APPROVED STIFF, NEW HIGHER
PENALTIES FOR ANYONE CAUGHT
ILLEGALLY DUMPING INTO THE BAY
OR ANY BODY OF WATER ANYWHERE
IN THE COUNTY.
IT’S TONIGHT’S DON’T TRASH OUR
TREASURE.
IT’S A SITE MANY CONCERNED
MIAMI-DADE RESIDENTS HAVE
GROWN SICK AND TIRED OF.
>> IT MAKE ME SO UPSET.
>> PLUMES OF SILT FROM
CONSTRUCTION SITES STRETCHING
FOR MILES ACROSS THE WATER,
MORE DAGGERS IN THE HEART OF A
DYING BISCAYNE BAY.
>> WE KEEP ALLOWING THIS TO
HAPPEN, WE WON’T HAVE A BAY
ANYMORE.
WE’LL HAVE A DEAD BODY OF
WATER.
>> BUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS
FIGHTING BACK, COMING DOWN
HARD ON POLLUTERS THAT DUMP
INTO THE BAY.
>> WE’RE JUST TRYING TO GET
PEOPLE TO COMPLY WITH
REGULATIONS THAT ACTUALLY HELP
KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT SAFE.
>> MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVING SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES AND FINES FOR ALL
ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS THAT
POLLUTE MIAMI-DADE’S GROUND
AND SURFACE WATERS, ESPECIALLY
BISCAYNE BAY.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS, IF
EXAMPLE, THAT SEPTIC COMPANIES
HAVE BEEN DUMPING INTO LAKES.
>> COMMISSIONER REBECCA SOSA
SPONSORED THE ORDNANCE.
>> WE HAVE TO INCREASE THESE
CIVIL PENALTIES.
THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE
BISCAYNE BAY TASK FORCE TO
MOVE AHEAD AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE BISCAYNE AQUIFER IS
PROTECTED.
>> THE NEW STIFFER FINES NOW
GIVE MIAMI-DADE’S DIVISION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT MORE MUSCLE TO GO
AFTER BIG DEVELOPERS AND
CONTRACTORS THAT FAILED TO
SECURE CONSTRUCTION
SETTLEMENTS AND OTHER
POLLUTANTS ON THEIR SITES.
FINES THAT FOR DECADES WERE SO
LOW, IT WAS CHEAPER TO PAY
THEM THAN COMPLY.
>> THEY WOULD TAKE THAT TICKET
AND SURE, THEY WOULD CORRECT
IT RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
BUT THERE WAS NO INCENTIVE TO
THEM TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.
>> IT WAS, FOR MANY, JUST THE
COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN
MIAMI-DADE.
BUT THAT FREE RIDE IS OVER.
>> THAT SAME VIOLATION TODAY
WOULD BE A $2500 FINE.
>> THAT’S JUST THE COUNTY’S
FINE.
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES CAN ALSO
IMPOSE THEIR OWN.
IN 2020, FOLLOWING THE
BISCAYNE BAY FISH KILL, THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEEFED UP ITS
PENALTIES SPEARHEADED BY
COMMISSIONER KEN RUSSELL.
>> TO ME, THE THING THAT WILL
ABSOLUTELY CHANGE BEHAVIOR IS
IF WE SHUT DOWN CONSTRUCTION
SITES WHEN THEY DUMP ILLEGALLY
INTO THE BAY.
>> AND THAT’S FINALLY
HAPPENING.
>> WHEN WE COME OUT HERE AND
FIND A VIOLATION, WE REFER IT
TO THEM AND THEY ACTUALLY
HAVE, AS PART OF THEIR
ORDNANCE, HAVE THE ABILITY TO
STOP CONSTRUCTION IF THEY FIND
A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUE.
>> IT IS THE CITIZENS OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THAT HAVE
CHANGED THE GAME WITH
RESIDENTS USING CELL PHONE
VIDEO, BLASTING IT ON SOCIAL
MEDIA, CALLING OUT OFFENDING
CONSTRUCTION SITES THAT HAVE
HELPED CITY OFFICIALS HOLD
POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE.
>> FOR ME TO TELL YOU THE
PROBLEM JUST BEGAN NOW IS
PROBABLY NOT TRUE.
IT’S PROBABLY BEEN HAPPENING
ALL THIS TIME.
THE DIFFERENCE WAS THAT WE
NEVER SAW IT.
>> BUT ITS IMPACT HAS
DEVASTATED THE WATER SHED.
KILLING THE SEA GRASS BEDS.
PARTS OF BISCAYNE BAY HAVE
LOST MORE THAN 80% OF ALL SEA
GRASS BEDS.
>> YOU’RE SEEING THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF MANATEES
BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING TO EAT
AND THEY’RE STARVING OUT
THERE.
>> NOW WITH THE BAY AT A
CRITICAL TIPPING POINT, THE
COUNTY SAYS THESE TOUGH NEW
FINES ARE PUTTING POLLUTERS ON
NOTICE.
>> WE’RE SENDING THE MESSAGE,
DON’T DO IT.
DON’T DO IT.
>> IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY
SOMETHING.
WE HAVE THE LINKS THAT WILL
HELP YOU REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL
VIOLATIONS.
IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT THEM
WHEN YOU SEE THEM.