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Dueling Regulations

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: June 11, 2008

How many state regulatory agencies does it take to ensure signs off the coast of the city of Port Richey properly warn boaters not to damage sea-grass beds? At least one too many it seems.

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and sneer as people try to carry out the difficult and often confusing task of enforcing government regulations. That said the dispute over the sea grass signs is a symptom of why the good folks in Port Richey have spent endless - and to date fruitless - months trying to win permission to dredge 20 or so canals in the waterfront municipality. The City Council in large part wanted to clear the canals of silt and other hazards to navigation so the city could benefit from the coastal land boom along the Suncoast - a boom that in the interim has gone bust.

As part of its efforts to win permits for the dredging the city has agreed to replace about an acre of sea grass that would be destroyed by the dredging with a 58-acre sea grass protection area near Harbor Pointe. The area has to have state approved signs warning against damage the grass in the protection zone.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says signs merely stating "sea grass area" will comply with its regulations. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, however, says its rules decree the signs must also warn that boaters who entered the sea grass zone will be prosecuted.

Dueling sea grass sign standards suggest there is one agency too many with responsibility for such matters. Sen. Fasano, Rep. Legg, please take note.

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