"Miami-Dade commissioners swallowed hard medicine Tuesday, approving an agreement with the federal and state governments to settle violations of environmental laws and committing $1.6 billion over the next 15 years to fix the county's antiquated water and sewer pipes," the Miami Herald reports ("Miami-Dade commissioners approve spending $1.6 billion to fix water, sewer pipes," by Patricia Mazzei).
Huffington Post is carrying the story ("Miami-Dade Approves $1.6 Billion Sewer Lawsuit Settlement With Environmental Officials," by Zachary Fagenson/Reuters). "Lawyers told the commissioners that the agreement limited possible tougher penalties for the county, whose sewage system ruptured 65 times between 2010 and 2012," the report says. "A sewer pipe burst in 2010 spilt 20 million gallons of raw sewage into Biscayne Bay adjacent to Miami's high-rise towers and other waterways."
Supporters of the infrastructure plan say it will removes obstacles to the city's growth and commercial prosperity. The current wastewater system is over capacity, said Commissioner Esteban Bovo, causing buildings to sit empty because they can't be approved for occupancy.