A supporter of the "Florida Hometown Democracy" amendment is expressing surprise at state CFO Alex Sink's opposition to the measure.Amendment 4, which is on the ballot in November, would require voter approval of changes to local comprehensive growth plans. Supporters say the measure will help rein in growth and reduce developers' influence over local land-use decisions.But Sink, in remarks to
Friday, 29 January 2010
Crist: Land-buying is an investment in economy
Posted on 09:00 by Unknown
Gov. Charlie Crist today paired environmental spending with education as both being necessary investments for moving Florida forward in tough economic times.Crist's $69.2-billion budget recommendation for 2010-11 includes $50 million for Everglades restoration and $50 million for the Florida Forever land-buying program, which received no money last year for the first time since 1990.This year,
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Judge recommends issuing International Paper permit
Posted on 14:44 by Unknown
A state hearing officer late Wednesday issued a recommended order favoring International Paper and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in a challenge to DEP's proposed permit for the company's paper mill near Contanment in Escambia County.DEP had proposed a permit requiring the company to remove its discharge pipe from upper Eleven Mile Creek and build a 10-mile pipeline to lower
Cannon says oil lobby group's funding unimportant
Posted on 14:43 by Unknown
Rep. Dean Cannon, chairman of a House council that is holding hearings on whether to allow oil drilling within 10 miles of Florida's Gulf coast, said today that he isn't interested in who's behind the firm that's been pushing for drilling legislation. Drilling supporter say Florida waters should be opened to energy production to boost the economy and reduce dependance on foreign sources of oil.
Water coalition to EPA: Provide data, or extend deadline
Posted on 14:42 by Unknown
A coalition of industry groups, utilities and other regulated interests is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide the detailed science behind its proposed phosphorus and nitrogen limits for Florida lakes, springs and rivers. After announcing its proposal earlier this month, the EPA this week formally published the specific limits that it says are needed to protect Florida
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Gov. candidates cold toward drilling -- but not Crist, Rubio
Posted on 15:01 by Unknown
Gov. Charlie Crist speaks to journalists at the CapitolThe three major candidates for governor today largely rejected the idea of allowing drilling off Florida's Gulf coast during remarks at the 2010 Associated Press Legislative Planning Session at the Capitol.Attorney General Bill McCollum, running as a Republican, said an oil spill like the one that occurred last year off Australia would "
Gov. candidates warm on land-buying, but not House speaker
Posted on 15:00 by Unknown
The three candidates for governor said today they support the Florida Forever program during remarks at the Capitol, but House Speaker Larry Cretul expressed reluctance toward resuming spending for land-buying.The state since 1990 has purchased 2.4 million acres for conservation. But the $300 million in bonding authority that had gone toward the program each year was cut to zero last year by the
"Hometown Democracy" amendment will cost jobs, report says
Posted on 12:32 by Unknown
Critics of Amendment 4 - which will be on the 2010 ballot - on Tuesday released a report concluding that the measure could cost the state hundreds of thousands of jobs and cause a steady decline in residents' quality of living. The amendment, placed on the ballot by Florida Hometown Democracy Inc., would require voter approval of changes to city and county comprehensive growth plans. The ballot
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
More than 100 manatees dead amid cold weather
Posted on 13:44 by Unknown
Manatees float around a swimming platform at Wakulla Springs State Park on Jan. 2More than 100 manatees have been found dead since Jan. 1 and state wildlife officials say the extreme cold weather earlier this month was to blame for most of the deaths.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking anyone who sees a dead or distressed manatee to call the agency's alert hotline at
Florida springs rally slated for Capitol for Feb. 16
Posted on 10:21 by Unknown
A rally for Florida springs protection to be held at the Capitol on Feb. 16, the Florida Wildlife Federation announced Monday.Springs across the state are become choked with weeds and algae as nitrogen has increased in groundwater flowing from the springs. Sources of nitrogen include septic tanks, stormwater runoff, sewage treatment plants, livestock farms and residential and agricultural
Monday, 25 January 2010
EPA to step up NO2 monitoring in Florida
Posted on 13:54 by Unknown
To download a larger map, click here.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday established a new hourly nitrogen dioxide standard and proposed additional monitoring requirements for the pollutant.Only Cook County, Illinois is now projected to be in violation of the new hourly standard of 100 parts per billion. But the EPA will step up monitoring near cities and along major urban roadways
Friday, 22 January 2010
Crist budget includes land-buying, Everglades restoration
Posted on 13:57 by Unknown
Gov. Charlie Crist today included $50 million for the Florida Forever land-buying program and $50 million for Everglades restoration in a $2.1-billion fiscal year 2010-11 environmental budget request. Announced by Crist during a press conference in Naples, the budget request was welcomed by environmental groups who were disappointed last year when Florida Forever received no money for the first
Thursday, 21 January 2010
11th Circuit allows Georgia water appeal to proceed
Posted on 18:07 by Unknown
By the News Service of FloridaAs Gov. Charlie Crist continues to try to navigate a long-standing water dispute with Georgia and Alabama, a federal appeals court has ruled that Georgia can move forward with an appeal. The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a move by Florida and Alabama to halt Georgia’s effort to appeal a July lower court decision requiring the states work out a deal to
DEP warns that Florida springs are being degraded
Posted on 07:22 by Unknown
A Florida Department of Environmental Protection official on Wednesday warned a Senate panel that waiting to protect Florida's springs could cost more in the long run.The Select Committee on Florida's Inland Waters is working on consensus legislation to protect springs, said Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs and committee chairman. Springs across the state have become choked in recent
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Feds propose to ban Burmese pythons, eight other species
Posted on 14:12 by Unknown
The U.S. Department of Interior is proposing to ban the import of Burmese pythons and eight other snakes that it says pose a threat to the Everglades ecosystem.Exotic snakes became a news sensation last July after a pet Burmese python smothered and killed a two-year-old girl in the Sumter County home where the snake got out of its cage.The Department of Interior proposes to list the nine snakes
House panel considers Florida Forever funding
Posted on 11:54 by Unknown
A House committee's budget exercise includes proposed new money for Florida Forever but the land-buying program may still face an uphill battle to get funded for the 2010-11 fiscal year. Florida Forever - which had received $300 million a year in cash or bonding authority since 1990 - had its funding suspended in the current fiscal year. The program has led to the acquisition of 2.4 million
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Bill would require permit votes again
Posted on 08:57 by Unknown
SB 142 by Sen. Carey Baker, R-Mount Dora, would reverse the Legislature's elimination last year of a requirement that water-management district boards vote to approve water-use permits.Last year, SB 2080, co-sponsored by Baker, prohibited homeowners associations from banning "Florida-friendly" landscaping in yards.The bill was supported by environmental groups until it was amended on the next to
Friday, 15 January 2010
EPA issues nutrient standards for Florida waters
Posted on 09:17 by Unknown
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this morning issued its proposed limits for phosphorus and nitrogen in Florida lakes and rivers -- a move anticipated by industry and environmental groups alike.Springs, lakes and rivers have become choked with algae, fed by the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen, scientists say. Potential sources of nutrients include stormwater runoff from cities, sewage
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Key GOP leader likes oil rigs out of sight
Posted on 19:14 by Unknown
Republican House members today expressed support for the idea of requiring oil rigs to be located out of sight even while they are pumping oil from beneath state waters near the coast.A representative of the National Ocean Industries Association told a House panel that oil and gas production platforms could be connected by pipelines to wells as far as 50 miles away.The House Select Policy Council
House panel working on new state energy policy
Posted on 04:48 by Unknown
The House Energy & Utilities Policy Committee Wednesday heard from speakers on what a new state energy policy should include. The Legislature last year wrangled over energy issues as the House adopted a bill to allow offshore oil drilling in state coastal waters and the Senate adopted a bill to require utilities to use more renewable energy. But neither bill passed as the chambers refused to take
Whooping cranes arrive in St. Marks
Posted on 04:41 by Unknown
Ten endangered whooping cranes being led by ultralight aircraft on Wednesday arrived at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge south of Tallahassee while another 10 continued towards Central Florida.The birds were being led by Operation Migration pilots under an effort to re-establish a migrating population of the whooping cranes east of the Mississippi River.Whooping cranes, standing nearly five
Monday, 11 January 2010
Riverkeeper not consulted as judge grants confidentiality
Posted on 19:01 by Unknown
The talks among Alabama, Florida and Georgia over water-sharing are confidential now under an order entered last week by a federal judge -- despite an objection from an environmental group involved in the litigation.The three states have been battling in federal court since 1990 over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. Alabama and Georgia want water for industries, farms
Friday, 8 January 2010
State planners enforcing climate, energy requirements
Posted on 14:17 by Unknown
State planners increasingly are requiring cities and counties to show that proposed new developments include features to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, a Department of Community Affairs official said today.HB 697, adopted by the Legislature, in 2008 required cities and counties to have energy-efficient land use patterns and greenhouse gas reduction strategies in their growth
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Florida joins with Ala., Ga. in seeking closed water talks
Posted on 12:55 by Unknown
Alabama, Florida and Georgia have agreed to at least one issue in their dispute over water -- that their talks on a water agreement should remain confidential.The three states have been in federal court since 1990 fighting over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. Alabama and Georgia want water for cities, agriculture and industry while Florida wants water to maintain the
Monday, 4 January 2010
DEP says incineration, innovation can help reach 75-percent recycling goal
Posted on 13:28 by Unknown
Florida can increase its recycling rate to 75 percent within 10 years by requiring more recycling at construction-waste landfills, implementing innovative new programs to reduce waste disposal and by counting waste-burning as recycling, according to a state report issued today.The Legislature in 2008 established a statewide recycling goal of 75 percent by 2020. The goal, included in a
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