After years of deadly South Florida algae blooms and fish kills in Biscayne Bay, Miami-Dade lawmakers are considering overdue hikes to local water pollution fines, in some cases raising penalties more than tenfold.
Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a new ordinance by Rebeca Sosa providing across-the-board increases to penalties for violations affecting water quality. It would also add escalating fines for repeat offenses.
At their current, decades-old rates, violators view the fines merely as “the cost of doing business,” according to Miami-Dade Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales.
A public hearing and final vote on the matter is scheduled for July 19.
– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics