Wetlands Division's Fate At Issue Today

By MIKE SALINERO The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 16, 2007

TAMPA - Hundreds of Hillsborough County residents are expected to jam County Center in downtown today for a meeting that will decide the future of local wetlands protections.

The County Commission, sitting as the Environmental Protection Commission, will listen to public comments starting at 9 a.m. before taking a final vote on keeping or eliminating the EPC wetlands division.

The meeting is on the second floor of the center, 601 Kennedy Blvd. People who want to speak can sign up in the lobby. EPC Chairman Brian Blair has said the amount of time given to each speaker will depend on how many sign up. Those who can't squeeze into the commission chambers will be allowed to comment via television from the 26th floor.

Commissioners voted 4-3 in June to disband the division to save money and cut down on what some commissioners think is a duplication in services. Supporters of the division say the EPC's wetlands regulators are more protective of wetlands than the state is.

The commission also will consider a proposal by EPC Executive Director Rick Garrity that would keep the stricter wetlands rule, but streamline permitting to save developers time and money.

For updates from the meeting this morning, visit TBO.com.