Sea is no cesspool
Move to stop gambling ships from dumping sewage in ocean deserves strong support
In a state that owes so much of its economic health to its beaches, it would seem obvious that everything possible should be done to protect them for tourists and locals.
Thats why we strongly support the proposal of Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, to stop gambling ships at Port Canaveral and statewide from turning the seawater offshore into a dumping site for raw sewage.
The legislation is still being written, but so far, it would do what any citizen would call simple common sense:
Require the ships to keep their sewage in a holding tank, and when they get to shore, get it to a treatment facility.
Port Canaverals gambling-ship operators, Sterling Casino Lines and SunCruz Casinos, announced an agreement last week to dump their untreated sewage 8 miles out to sea instead of the current 4 miles.
It was their effort to be "good corporate citizens," said the lines attorney, Ralph Haben.
But when youre talking about dumping 1.38 million gallons a year of human feces into the ocean we all swim in, that 4-mile difference isnt enough.
The two ships carried more than 977,000 passengers last year.
Thats the size of a major city, and nearly twice the population of all Brevard County and its 15 cities, which spend millions on sewage treatment.
The offshore dumping is still, sadly, legal. But why shouldnt Florida require a higher standard of ships that use its public ports to make a big profit?
And its not just at Port Canaveral. Other gambling ships make daily trips out of Port Everglades, and ports in Miami, Tampa and Palm Beach.
Thats millions more gallons of raw sewage every year, spewed into the ocean that should be Floridas pride.
Should bacteria levels ever require local beach closings, our economy would pay a terrible price. And if Brevard beaches were to be fouled by sewage, the reputation would hang on for years.
As Allen says, "The gambling ship industry continues to profit and grow in Florida and weve got to find a final solution to the sewage problem."
Allens bill is likely to require an additional assessment per passenger, for which the lines would be responsible. If it were, say, $1 a head, that would generate nearly $1 million a year.
Thats more than enough to get the sewage to local treatment plants. As Allen notes, "citizens would not have to foot the bill."
Nor need party, charter or fishing boats be worried the law would apply to them.
"This is aimed at day-cruise ships," Allen says.
The Sterling Casino and SunCruz vessels create 900 jobs and last year generated $5 million to $6 million for Port Canaveral. They play a valuable part in the countys entertainment offerings and employment picture.
But they have no right to turn Floridas vital offshore seas into a virtual toilet, and Allens legislation deserves the strongest backing from every Floridian.
It has ours.
2005-07-12
