Streams or ditches? DEP considers waterways reclassification

Few people who drive along Franklin Boulevard east of the state Capitol notice a ditch between the lanes of traffic or realize it may have historical significance.The ditch was once a stream called St. Augustine Branch that flowed towards a waterfall that became a landmark in the siting of Florida's capital city in 1823. But the waterfall eventually was wiped out when railroad tracks were built

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Climate panel rejects scrapping energy test

A state climate panel today rejected a commissioner's recommendation for Florida to replace its test for analyzing energy programs -- a test that environmentalists have argued is a barrier to conservation.The Florida Energy and Climate Commission instead voted to recommend that the Public Service Commission use a revised version of the "rate impact measure" test, or RIM test, that the PSC already

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Ag Commissioner Bronson pushes conservation easements

During Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson and Smokey Bear presented a national wildfire prevention award to Melissa Yunas, wildfire mitigation specialist in the Florida Division of Forestry's Okeechobee District office. Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new conservation lands purchase list but only after Agriculture Commissioner Charles H

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EPA, groups settle water dispute; Industry groups threaten challenge

Environmental groups say this algae bloom July 31 on a tributary of the St. Johns River was fueled by excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous.Environmental groups say a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over Florida's water quality standards will help begin the restoration of springs, lakes and rivers across the state.Under a settlement with groups including the Florida Wildlife

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Fla. could run out of land-buying money by Oct. 1

Florida could be out of money for buying conservation lands by Oct. 1 unless new bonds are issued to allow purchases. The Florida Forever land-buying program is the largest in the nation. But the state has delayed borrowing money -- despite Legislative approval to do so -- because of the weak bond market, according to Deborah Poppell, director of DEP's Division of State Lands. So the Florida

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Crist considers meeting with Ala., Ga. in water dispute

By MICHAEL PELTIERTHE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDAGov. Charlie Crist is mulling over dates to meet with his counterparts from Alabama and Georgia as leaders of the three neighboring states try to resolve a longstanding feud over how to divvy up water coming from Lake Lanier.With a federal judge saying Atlantans aren’t entitled to water from the reservoir, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Alabama Gov.

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Audubon's Draper drops out of ag commissioner race

Democrat Eric Draper says he's leaving the race for agriculture commissioner to devote more time to environmental issues. Draper, who is deputy director of Audubon of Florida, was one of four Democratic candidates in 2010 seeking to replace Republican Charles H. Bronson, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. "I knew when I got in my biggest challenge was going to be balancing

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Ranking system urged to save nation's largest land-buying program

They came in busloads from around the state, crammed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection parking lot in Tallahassee full of cars and packed into standing-room-only hearings. During the 1990s, public hearings for the annual ranking of proposed state land-buying projects brought out the people. Getting ranked higher on the priority list meant those natural areas were more likely to

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Cabinet approves Levy Co. nuke plant

The Cabinet today gave its first approval in more than 30 years for a nuclear power plant, Progress Energy's proposed Levy County facility near the Cross Florida Barge Canal. Nine protesters gathered outside the Capitol this morning after trying to meet earlier with Gov. Charlie Crist at the Governor's Mansion. Although Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, and other speakers later

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Some enviros say they'll miss industry lobbyist Hopping

Even though they are often at odds with industry lobbyists, some environmental group representatives say they'll miss Wade Hopping, who died today from complications from a stroke and esophageal cancer. He was 77.Hopping's law firm represents many of the state's largest companies and industry groups, often putting him at odds with environmentalists on wildlife, climate, land-use and other

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Enviros, utility reps clash over RIM test

Representatives of utilities and environmental groups disagreed today on whether the Florida Public Service Commission now is required to use a new test to analyze utility conservation programs.The PSC today opened a five-day legal hearing to establish new conservation and energy efficiency goals for seven of the state's largest utilities. Utilities and environmental groups disagree on whether

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Neither Sink nor McCollum endorse Crist climate goals

With CFO Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum ahead early as the leading candidates for governor, neither is being specific on whether they would keep the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals put in place by Gov. Charlie Crist.Crist in 2007 signed executive orders establishing goals for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2017 and further reductions through

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