Pasco Reporter

Citrus County, Florida:  Congressman Gus Bilirakis has been actively working with city officials, local environmental protection groups and county leaders to facilitate productive dialogue with federal regulators with the goal of restoring local rivers, protecting property rights, and ensuring common sense prevails in striking a delicate balance of use that keeps local waterways beautiful for all residents and visitors to enjoy.  Since being elected to represent Citrus County in the United States Congress earlier this year, Congressman Bilirakis has met with several residents, environmental groups, and locally-elected officials who have all expressed concerns about bureaucratic roadblocks they have encountered with federal permitting for projects to help restore Homosassa and Crystal Rivers.  Additionally, Bilirakis and his staff have met with city leaders, dock manufacturers and residents who are encountering difficulty getting federal permits needed to build or repair docks at their homes along these rivers.  In response to all these concerns, Bilirakis facilitated a meeting between Colonel James Booth, the Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Division in Jacksonville, local government leaders, and local environmental leaders.  During this productive conversation, local leaders were able to present relevant scientific information about the unique environmental conditions that exist that warrant special consideration for these projects.   The Congressman and his team have had follow-up conversations with Corps leadership to address all of the concerns of the local community.  Additionally,  the Congressman has a meeting scheduled for later this month with the regulatory arm of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) whose input is required under federal law in order for the Corps to issue permits for most projects. 

 The Congressman is proud that subsequent to his engagement with the leadership of the Corps, a Public Notice for the Homosassa River Restoration project was just completed and published in the federal registry on April 18, 2023.  The Crystal River Restoration project is still awaiting state input to the Corps, but the leadership of the Corps appears poised to complete its work on that project once the state level feedback is received. Similarly, the issue of dock permitting along the rivers requires state input and USFWS feedback.  Congressman Bilirakis remains committed to staying engaged on these important projects until all remaining roadblocks are removed.  

 Congressman Bilirakis understands the importance of these waterways to the community.  He and his team have identified potential federal funding sources for which local leaders can apply to help with these restoration projects.  He has also, at the behest of Citrus County Commissioners, filed a Community Budget Request, that if approved would provide $3.95 million to support Phase V of the Homosassa Septic to Sewer Transition.  This project consists of constructing a municipal sanitary sewer system located within the Old Homosassa community in Citrus County, Florida. Construction will allow for the connection of up to approximately 183 properties near the Homosassa River to the County’s wastewater collection system where flows will be routed to the Southwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility for advanced wastewater treatment.  In addition to this community budget request, the Congressman has provided county leaders with information about existing federal and states grants for which they may apply to help other areas of the county implement the septic to sewer transition. 

 “Part of what makes the Nature Coast so unique is its plethora of pristine natural resources,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis.  “We can’t allow bureaucratic roadblocks to impede local efforts to restore these waterways and we must support efforts to help prevent further pollution through the septic to sewer conversions.  Additionally, we must protect property rights of local homeowners and ensure they aren’t subjected to burdensome, costly and unreasonable standards that restrict access to the waterways without offering any additional environmental benefit.  I remain committed to helping our local governments and homeowners navigate the federal bureaucratic landscape and will continue supporting their efforts to protect and preserve these waterways.”

Original source can be found here.