Where are Hillsborough’s environmental regulators when you need them?

I read this recent article about acid mist from a Tampa Chemical plant pissing off the neighbors and how the Environmental Protection Commission EPC is deciding what to do about it. Hmmmm, I bet those citizens would be even more pissed off to know that the EPC board, which is one in the same as our BOCC, has canceled 40% of their meetings already this year! Yes, I said 40%! I guess the more environment they pave over as the BOCC the less environment they have to worry about protecting as the EPC. With the exception of Commissioners Sharpe and Ferlita, having the rest of this BOCC also sit as the Environmental Protection Commission is kinda like asking Rosie O'Donnell to guard the twinkies.

I stumbled on to this overachieving stat because I was planning on attending a board meeting myself regarding another issue. I recently questioned this 40% cancellation rate and I got an answer from Commissioner er…… I mean Mr. Johnson, who is the aide to Commissioner Higginbotham the Chair of the EPC. He explained to me that it is really the Executive Director of the EPC that recommends that a meeting be canceled and that Commissioner Higginbotham accepts those recommendations. That director is Dr. Garrity, yes that same Dr. Garrity that caved to Commissioner Blair's bullying and came up with the Hybrid Plan regarding our wetlands and then later gave away more small wetlands against the environmentalist's wishes. This guy has about as much spine as Mr. Rogers so unless we get a better board things are not looking too good for our environment with him at the helm. Then again here is what happened to the last EPC employee that actually stood up for the environment.

The EPC board only meets once a month and with a 40% cancellation rate this year that doesn't give those citizens that might want to bring up their acid rain concerns or any other concern much of a chance to get it on the record does it? I wonder if if their lack of meetings this year has anything to do with the upcoming election? You can contact the BOCC/EPC here.

Many citizens fought hard on behalf of the EPC, I don't think canceling 40% of their meetings says much about the division's efforts for the environment or it's commitment to citizens. It certainly doesn't speak well of the Executive Director or the Chair of this board and is a good argument for adding some new faces to it and diversifying the now BOCC only EPC. Maybe the staff and board members are really hard at work behind the scenes but how would we ever know? I guess if you are a glass is half full kinda person then you might add that at least they can't vote to destroy any more of the environment if they don't actually meet! Do you care about the future of our environment? Our air quality? Noise pollution? Then do your homework before voting this November because sadly, the County Commission is also the EPC.

This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2008.