Florida Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation to study causes of sinkhole formation.
U.S. Representatives Darren Soto, a Democrat, and Gus Bilirakis, a Republican, introduced H.R. 900 – the Sinkhole Mapping Act, bipartisan legislation that directs the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct studies on the short- and long-term mechanisms that potentially contribute to the triggering of sinkholes.
This includes extreme storm events, prolonged droughts leading to shifts in water management practices, as well as ongoing aquifer depletion, and other major changes in water use.
“Sinkholes pose a serious risk to Florida’s communities, infrastructure, and economy, yet we still lack a comprehensive mapping system to track and predict these hazards,” said Central Florida Democratic Rep. Darren Soto. “Directing the USGS to study the causes and risks of sinkhole formation will help provide critical data to help protect homeowners, businesses, and first responders. This is an important step toward ensuring public safety and strengthening our resilience against these natural threats.”
“In recent years, we have seen throughout Tampa Bay how dangerous sinkholes can be for neighborhoods. To improve public safety and consumer protection, we need to study the causes and remedies of sinkholes while developing geological maps to delineate the highest risk areas for sinkholes to occur. I look forward to working on this important bipartisan initiative with my colleagues,” said Republican Rep. Bilirakis.
Currently, there is no database displaying all sinkholes in Florida. This presents challenges not just for land developers and residents but also for community planners and first responders. The Sinkhole Mapping Act will also direct the director of the USGS to open a public website that displays maps depicting zones at greater risk of sinkhole formation, giving community planners and first responders access to critical information.
In addition to Reps. Soto and Bilirakis, the Sinkhole Mapping Act is cosponsored by Florida Reps. Kathy Castor, Maxwell Frost, and Frederica Wilson.
Upon introduction, H.R. 900 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, of which Rep. Soto is a member.
For the full text of the bipartisan Sinkhole Mapping Act, click here.
