Sustainability Challenges in the Tampa Bay Area

Matthew Pendleton

University of South Florida

IDS 6233-201

9/18/2017
Abstract

Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the future while meeting the needs of the

present (WCED 1987), and Tampa Bay Area is comprised of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and

Hernando counties. A challenge is an issue in which needs of future generations are compromised.

Needs are defined within the environmental, economic and social realms of sustainability. This paper

will present sustainability challenges of the Tampa Bay Area in various contexts, creating a

perspective which examines the severity and future outlook of these challenges.

Resource Mismanagement

Industry

A recent agricultural shift to laboratory-born pesticide and fertilizer produces higher yield and

efficiency, yet results in irreversible ecosystem degradation. Previous low-tech citrus and cattle

grazing has been replaced by monocropping, a lopsided economic structure inherited from colonial

times, which creates food insecurity from rural financial dependence on this new technology (Gran

2011, Redclift 1997). Productivity per acre is growing, acreage is decreasing, farm size is increasing,

market value of goods is decreasing, and average subsidy is increasing (Pittman 2013, Census of

Agriculture 2012). As of 2012, farm output in Hillsborough is comprised of 43.5% strawberries,

18.6% ornamental plants and 17% vegetables (Census of Agriculture 2012). About 80% of Tampa

area groundwater is used for agriculture, and this increasing core water intensity from overpumping

by local farmers, golf courses and companies such as Zephyrhills who have privatized Tampa Bays

water create water insecurity (Pittman 2013). Micro-irrigation and eco-friendly green buildings

which catch rainwater have reduced the areas water footprint, but per capita water consumption in

the US is twice than the rest of the world (Theis 2013). Ancient agricultural principles can no longer

replenish nutrients fast enough, so fertilizers are produced from local phosphate rock mining--

creating a decline in the microbial health of soil (Grace 2013). Soil salinization and eutrophication

are caused by these new methods, and continued use of EPA-labeled carcinogens in pesticides such

as glyphosate and paladin (used in 10% of local strawberry farms since 2013) seep into groundwater

and cause superbugs to evolve (Hopkins et al 2007, Contorno 2017, Plume 2017, Hammett 2015,

StPete.org 2017). Eutrophication has far-reaching consequences, as nutrient-heavy runoff reduces

oxygen; the resulting hypoxia causes algae blooms, killing fish and 10,000 animals per square

meter of sediment (Pattison 2013, Forte 2017, TbnWeekly.com 2017). A recent study shows that
nitrogen usually only lingers in Tampa Bay for 2-3 months, but that nitrogen saturation is increasing

annually (Greening 2006). Liming introduces calcium and magnesium into the soil, but removal,

refining and transport of the raw material calcium carbonate causes environmental degradation

(Joyce 2010). Overfishing has wiped out many local species of fish to the brink of extinction,

exacerbated by over 44% of coastal wetland loss in mangroves, and the majority of transportation

methods in Tampa Bay (air, bus, car and train) continue to use fossil fuels for their primary source of

fuel (FloridaDEP 2015).

Energy Generation

In 2015 Tampa Bay experienced the highest number of days showing excessive levels of smog (56

days) and soot (86 days) because it contains 3 out of 5 of Floridas worst polluting plants (Bradshaw

2017). Duke Energys Crystal River plant is the worst polluter, TECOs Big Bend plant is #2 and

Seminole Electric Cooperative is #5 (Ramos 2013). General Electric recently moved its

headquarters to the Clearwater area. They are developing design engineering feedback loops to

enhance product quality and performance, plant efficiency and timely delivery to customers (GE

2017), and although the company creates energy-efficient LEED products, research indicates lack of

CSR (corporate social responsibility) since their new Clearwater facility is not LEED certified.

Florida's weaker union presence, lower taxes and still cheaper cost of living were likely factors in

the move, which does help the local economy (Trigaux 2014).

Waste

Nearly 700k gallons of untreated sewage was recently deposited into Tampa Bay due to heavy rain

in Hillsborough and Pinellas (Danielson 2017). Stormwater runoff includes fecal coliform bacteria

from dilapidated septic infrastructure, fertilizer and pesticide residue causing eutrophication and poor

water quality, increased likelihood of superbugs, and decreased ecosystem health and decreased

livelihood (Pbs.org 2016). Cruise ships emit as many air pollutants as five million cars going the

same distance because they burn fuel with 3500x more sulphur than diesel with no exhaust

abatement technology (Vidal 2016). Ripple effects from acidification cause oysters and clams to

have trouble building exoskeletons; sharks, cobia and dolphin have difficulty hearing; and there is

bleaching and productivity loss of coral reef builders (McCan 2015). Tampa also contributes to the

Sargasso Sea garbage patch in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The average St. Petersburg

resident throws away 7lbs of waste per day, although 90% of waste that used to be landfilled is now

recycled or turned into energy through incineration (Stpete.org 2017, Tampagov.net 2017).
Economic Sector Domination

The lack of equitable trade-offs between environmental, economic and social realms creates many

problems. For instance, an indefinite EPA fine per unit of depleted ozone layer would result in

destruction of the planet. In theory, weak vs strong sustainability compares one system that is

unrestricted with few limits on tradeoffs (Theis 2013) with another system that has no trade-offs,

respectively. A recent study that compared changes in household values to water clarity found that

a decline of water clarity from 3.78 meters to 2.41 meters results in a loss of value of at least

$25,000 per household (NAP.edu 2004). A $33 trillion value of ecosystem services (with a range of

$16-54 trillion) for all of earths ecosystem services shows lack of clarity and standardized arithmetic

for sustainability science (Stevens 1997). Ambiguity causes challenges as business stakeholders

use lobbyists to sway civil servants toward a desired policy and choice of technology, as is the case

with Zephyrhills, which has successfully lobbied to create favorable policy and use of preferred

equipment (Theis 2013). This policy manipulation by large overseas conglomerates is likely to

continue, since status-quo thinking is pervasive in business environments. Even a company that

embodies corporate stewardship can cause ecosystem damage, proven by the development of the

biofuels industry in the US. The USGBC, a group who started the LEED building certification

program based on sustainable construction practices, stated that LEED buildings have a poor track

record for performing as predicted during design, a result from using modeling instead of data from

the building after construction (USGBC 2007). Regardless, the introduction of improved industry

standards is a step in the right direction. New buildings such as Tampa City Center received the top

LEED Gold certification, and while projects completed in 2010 and 2011 at Tampa General Hospital

did not receive certification, some criteria were met (USGBC nd, TCC 2017). Fortunately, LCAs are

creating proper boundaries inclusive in scope to all environmental and social factors, providing long-

term viability for investment. In the past, only heavy EPA fines would create a proper LCIA. For

example, the EPA fined TECO $3.5mil for making major modifications to the plants without installing

equipment required to control smog, acid rain and soot (EPA.gov 2017), and declared that they had

reached a $1 billion deal to install extra equipment to catch pollutants. Even though TECOs actions

were deliberate, the EPA and FDA must walk a narrow path between negative effects of regulation

and positive effects of ecosystem protection and social well-being. This still remains a severe

challenge, as status-quo practitioners who are entrenched in profits at ecosystem expense are

emboldened by pro-business/anti-environment policy and will continue to portray the notion that
ecosystems will be saved by future technological development (Hopwood et al 2005). Status quo

thinking will hopefully be a thing of the past as recognition spreads of how modern growth models

have failed to eradicate poverty and have failed the environment (Hopwood et al 2005). Moderate

solutions come from reformists in the middle, but a societal and cultural transformation away from the

economic sector dominating the sustainability sphere is required to be able to achieve sustainable

development in Tampa Bay and the global economy.

Social Inequality

Lack of community engagement, pursuing the wrong agenda, lack of appropriate technology,

unintended consequences from local governance due to lack of a social dimension in LCAs, lack of

CSR, a cultural attitude of indifference, poor leadership from civil servants, hypocrisy created by little

business policy enforcement coinciding with strict residential enforcement, civil right infringement,

racial inequality, wasteful lifestyles, lack of appropriate technology, lack of self-sufficiency,

homelessness, loss of male fertility, gender inequality, traffic, noise pollution, breakdown in

governance and poor air quality are all factors which contribute to social degradation in Tampa Bay

(Fukushi 2011, Theis 2013, Hopwood et al 2005). Even new indices such as the Gallup Sharecare

Well-Being Index, which show a quantification of social indicators are not sufficient to induce change.

Action in policy, public awareness, and a unification of the social and environmental realms are key

components to overcoming social degradation.

Research

Lukman et al conducted a study which examined the research, educational, and

environmental dimensions of research institutions, hoping to establish benchmarks to

facilitate analysis of growth and trends. This study concluded that current issues needing

resolution are the number of indicators considered (because of lack of data), a need for

standardized environmental indicators, non opinion-based indicator weights, and a lack of

arts/humanity indicators of teaching staff (Lukman et al 2010). Because of the lack of a

universal system of measurement in the science of sustainability, increasing coherence

between internal/external measurement and screening methods is required, along with

standardized methods of measurement (Khahili 2011). Kajikawa et al agree, saying

research on research is needed and that goal setting, indicator setting, indicator

measurement, causal chain analysis, forecasting, backcasting, and problem-solution

chain analysis is also needed, along with a broad span of time (Kajikawa 2008). Waas
et al. created an index with 22 indicators which gives an accurate representation to the

nature and growth of sustainability at any particular university (Waas et al 2010). They

conclude that although this index helps in understanding of sustainability, more in-depth

research is needed on specific subjects and that there is a degree of subjectivity to the

indicators. Collaboration among the many fields of academia, politics, business and

society must lead to research that is evaluated by society and not just researchers, but

some sustainability challenges will remain because of much deeper problems within a

particular country society (Fukushi 2011). Accelerating the amount of investment from

developing countries must be considered yet due to recent EPA rulings and the stance of

the current administration (the US is planning to decrease investment in environmental

safeguards), there is a severe challenge that is likely to remain for another 3-8

years.Climate Change

On the local level, monocropping shows poor resilience to climate variations. Strawberry farmers,

because of precise harvest timing and dependence on other regional markets in California and

Mexico, are subject to market forces and whims which determine the profit or loss for the season

(Gran 2011, TBT 2017). Natural disturbances only exacerbate bad behavior, they are not the sole

cause, Theis states, observing that suitable political systems and attractive business opportunities

must be made for a long period of time (Theis 2013).

Pollution

Air pollution still kills thousands of people worldwide despite EPA regulations (Stein 2017). Energy,

water, waste generation intensity (pollution intensity) are core indicators for NRTEE, a national-level

index. A boundary for data collection, total material entering the production boundary and materials

that are recycled/end up in product are the three criteria which help to determine a regional index

such as AQI. This data mainly includes ozone and particulate matter and is easily accessible from

the EPA (Airnow.gov). An increase in acceptable levels of benzene in the water supply shows not

only a severe sustainability challenge but a real danger to public health, since pro-economic policies

dominate the food-energy-water nexus (Klas 2016).

Severity/Future Outlook

A shift toward permaculture, with vertical integration to maximize surface area in dilipidated buildings,

is needed as urbanization and monocropping increase. Efforts to reduce eutrophication and

salinization are working, since seagrass quality has improved (Pinellascounty.org 2017, McHan 2017,

Dasgupta 2016). Eutrophication is a severe challenge, not only because of current health problems

and biodiversity/livelihood loss, but because civil servants who advocate that there is no risk to

public safety fail to acknowledge a proper LCIA of fertilizer runoff (Danielson 2017). NGOs such as

Clean Water Fund, Tampa audubon society, Tampa Bay Conservancy, Tampa Baywatch, and Keep

Tampa Bay Beautiful are more flexible, more grassroots oriented, more tied to the rural poor

compared to local governance systems (Theis 2013). However, increasingly lax regulations by

Governor Scott amplify the challenge (Beachapedia 2017). Companies are beginning to recognize

the utility of industrial ecology and food-energy-water nexus thinking by recovering previously lost

energy from waste streams. This improved nexus thinking often solves multiple challenges

simultaneously. For example, advanced studies of soil microbial health have led to new technology

which can utilize phosphorus and other nutrients from manure instead of purchasing from Mosaic,

one of the worlds largest phosphate rock mining companies. Doing so has many benefits:

decreased GHG emissions from refining phosphate rock and transport, less radioactive elements

being released into the soil, increased soil/water biodiversity, and increased health/livelihood from

water quality (McDonough and Braungart 2002). Although a negative consequence is a decline in

the phosphate industry which reduces tax revenue, emerging markets from new technology would

make up for this in the long run. There is immense potential for applying this nexus thinking to the

current 4:1 waste-to-product ratio of biomass in agriculture (Theis 2013). Research indicates that

cornstalks from one acre will produce the gas for one person for a year (House 1978). One

challenge is technological determinism, which decreases innovation by emphasizing low-input

technology, hoping to gain a social benefit (Agrotech 2011). Although recent efforts have reduced

the amount of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter being released by TECO power plants, the EPA

has allowed TECO ten years to fix the high amount of emissions (EPA.gov). Furthermore, the Trump

administration has set a 31% reduction in the EPA budget (Bradshaw 2017). Fortunately,

Congressman Charlie Crist backs HR 1812, which declares the anti-environment executive order

null and void and prohibits federal funds from implementing, administering, or enforcing the order

(Crist 2017). This contradiction between civil servants indicates that bipartisan politics will continue

to define Tampa Bay society. Fortunately, the use of nuclear power is declining; the abandoned Levy

plant is evidence of the energy industry backing away from further use (Trigaux 2017, Plumer 2017).

Duke Energy, the owner of the Levy plant, has indicated that they plan to invest $6 billion in solar
panels, grid-tied batteries, grid modernization projects, and electric vehicle charging areas but there

is likely little corporate social responsibility since The Florida Legislature passed a bill in 2005 which

requires electric utilities to purchase energy from renewable sources (Guess 2017, Tampagov.net

2017). Pinellas County recently announced a $304 million project to install six injection wells--

introducing partially-treated sewage thousands of feet below the earths surface--which is another

example of the lack of implementation of a proper LCA (Lanee 2017). Pinellas County reported in

1998 that some of the 20 million gallons of wastewater deposited there annually had been seeping

back to the surface and that the DEP does not inspect wells or take samples once they're

operating (Pittman 2017). This is a severe challenge because there appears to be no effort to stop

this practice. In 1993, 330,000 gallons of oil were spewed into Tampa Bay after a tanker collision,

but few studies reflect the amount of oil that made it into the bay from smaller sources (Adams

2016). Development is on pace to cover more than a third of the state by 2050 (Knothe 2016).

Urbanization causes irreversible damage, and current indicators show that Tampa Bay farmland is

decreasing at an accelerated rate. Challenges such as eutrophication, the failure of traditional

economics to bring incommensurable non-economic factors into the policy making process, and lack

of a proper LCA are major challenges since they are common in various sectors (Mebratua 1998). A

transformational cultural shift is needed to break the vicious cycle of the current paradigm.

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