[Coral-List] Divers Defeat Ocean Dumpers
Etichscuba at aol.com
Etichscuba at aol.com
Tue Dec 19 09:12:37 EST 2006
Divers Defeat Ocean Dumpers
Sewer Plant Responds to Public Pressure
Delray Beach, Florida – December 16, 2006: More than four decades after a
pipe began to spew sewage into the ocean and nearly five years after divers saw
pollution-fed toxic algae beginning to smother the coral reef downstream of
that pipe, the stuff that goes down the toilets and drains of more than 200,000
people will now be going underground.
In a modern day replay of the classic David and Goliath tale, the decision
to end the ocean dumping was the culmination of a four-year struggle by a group
of scuba divers who drew attention to the effects of the outfall on the
nearby coral reef system. It is a quest that has been dogged by reports from the
divers nonprofit group, Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, linking the sewage to an
algae bloom killing the reef system that brings over $200 million in spending
and jobs to Palm Beach County, Florida each year.
The reports have led environmental groups to threaten a lawsuit if the sewer
plants ocean dumping permit was renewed and to sell T-shirts inviting tourists
to "Surf the Sewer" and to visit "Sewage by the Sea," in a parody of Delray
Beach's Village by the Sea logo. Hundreds of tourists, residents, scientists
and officials have inundated the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
with letters and e-mails arguing against a new ocean discharge permit.
See full news articles:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbcsouth/content/local_news/epaper/2006/12/14/s1c_sewage_1214.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pwastewater14dec14,0,110737.story?coll=sfla-news-palm
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbcsouth/content/local_news/epaper/2006/12/15/s1c_WASTE_1215.html
See sewage video:
http://www.reef-rescue.org/video/RRDelraySewage.wmv
Ed Tichenor
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue
PO Box 207
Boynton Beach, FL 33425
www.reef-rescue.org
fax: (561) 364-5951
phone: (561) 699-8559
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