Libertarians support repeal of septic tank inspection law

The Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) announced yesterday it’s support of FloridaHB13. In 2010 the Florida legislature decided that the taxpayers, who are struggling as it is with fewer jobs, decreased tourism, and an inflating dollar, need to shell out some more money they don’t have to have their septic tanks pumped out and inspected every five years regardless of any evidence of problems.

The current cost of pumping out a typical septic tank is around $200, without HB13 passing Floridians can expect to see that cost rise due to two main reasons:

1. Floridians no longer have a choice to have the services rendered which is anti competitive in its nature

2. Septic Pumping service providers will no longer be able to dispose of pumped septage via land application (fertilizer) and will have to drive to an accepted disposal site which has a disposal fee

Both of these costs will be passed to the homeowner.

HB13 repeals the requirement of the homeowner to have the inspection which the LPF fully supports, but leaves the ban on land application of septage which the LPF finds to be flawed.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s own documentation (Domestic Septage Regulatory Guidance EPA 832-92-005) in regards to land application of septage:

“Limits on application rates and restrictions on crop harvesting, animal grazing, and site access and limited application rates minimize the addition of pollutants and the potential for over application of the fertilizer element nitrogen, hence protecting ground water and surface water from contamination with excess nitrogen, restriction on crop harvesting, animal grazing and site access protect form contact with pathogens while still potentially viable.” (Land Application Info & FOWA Committee Comments, http://www.fowaonsite.com/land_application_of_septage)

For these reasons the LPF supports HB13 which relieves Floridians from undue financial burdun; the LPF furthermore encourages repeal of the ban on land application of septage due to existing regulatory guidelines for safe application.