Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 4-23-10

FEATURED STORIES

The critically endangered Florida panther: dead cat walking.

Dead cat walking: As Florida panther habitat shrinks, extinction fears rise

By Craig Pittman

St. Petersburg Times

Related: Saga of Florida panther is 'sordid story'

Related multimedia: Florida panther: dead cat walking

On a quiet spring morning two years ago, a sheriff's deputy cruised along a dark suburban street near Fort Myers. The deputy heard a thump, slammed on the brakes.

Enviro Groups' Petition Seeks Protection for 404 Aquatic Plants, Animals in Southeast

By Patrick Reis

New York Times

Environmental groups have petitioned the Obama administration to add 404 species from rivers in the southeastern United States to the Endangered Species List.

Finishing line: Environmental groups don't have much to cheer about this year

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Tribune

Related: Outlook for environmental and energy issues

Audubon of Florida Executive Director Eric Draper already is thinking about the Legislature next year and he's not excited about it.

House agrees to provide funding for land-buying program

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Related: House budget proposal includes Everglades, not Florida Forever

The House agreed Tuesday to provide money for Florida Forever, ending a year-long funding drought for the state land-buying program.

Commission proposes limited commercial whale hunts

By Mari Yamaguchi

The Associated Press

Japan cautiously welcomed an International Whaling Commission proposal Friday that would effectively allow the resumption of commercial whaling for the first time in 25 years — though under strict quotas that the commission argues will reduce the global catch of the mammals.

THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP

he Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 4-24-10:

Offshore oil-rig disaster concerns Fla. lawmakers

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Related AP story: Oil rig blast prompts environmental concerns

The flaming collapse of an offshore oil rig near Louisiana is having an impact on the perennial coastal oil-drilling issue in the Florida Legislature.

We don't want an oil rig disaster here

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

The events this week on Deepwater Horizon oil rig, about 50 miles off Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, should scuttle for good talk of lifting drilling bans in state and federal waters off Florida's coast.

See? Keep the rigs far away: Explosion in the gulf should be warning to Florida

Editorial

Palm Beach Post

Last week's explosion of an oil rig off the Louisiana coast undercuts every argument in favor of allowing oil and natural gas drilling much closer to the Florida coast.

Oil drilling comes up empty this year

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Tribune

Legislation to allow drilling in state waters won't be voted on by the House this year, Rep. Dean Cannon on Friday told the House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning.

Gulf of Mexico - Damage to Oil and Gas Infrastructure From Hurricane Katrina

Staff Report

SkyTruth

Hurricane Katrina Oil Slicks - September 2, 2005

Senators oppose giving offshore-drilling money to states

By William Gibson

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Three key senators have warned their colleagues not to consider sharing revenue from offshore oil drilling with states like Florida or Louisiana.

State Sen. Paula Dockery says state constitution bans oil drilling off Fla. Coast

By Carol Rosenberg

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact

Excerpt: Rather, the experts told us that the fate of near-offshore drilling is in the hands of the Florida Legislature, which in the 1980s adopted a ban in state waters. It was passed "in the wake of the Exxon-Valdez spill by the Florida Legislature" and designed to protect their coastal waters, said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida, a drilling opponent.

Destin ‘disappointed' in Obama drilling proposal

By Tosha Sketo

Destin Log

President Barack Obama’s recent oil and gas drilling proposal has been met with mixed reactions nationally, but in Destin the opposition to the proposal was clear.

Atlantic oil search hearing draws skeptics, boosters

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

Some of the first public discussions in decades about oil and gas exploration off Florida's Atlantic coast opened Wednesday in Jacksonville with a small crowd that saw a lot at stake.

A fiery end to Florida's drilling bill

Editorial

Northwest Florida Daily News

The biggest surprise of Florida’s current legislative session is that a wild ’n’ woolly fight over near-shore drilling, a fight that just about everyone expected, never happened.

Map of areas to be opened for offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling under newly unveiled Obama administration proposal.

April 23, 2010 oil slick in Gulf of Mexico following fatal rig explosion.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.

ACTIONS OPPOSING OBAMA’S DRILLING PLAN
President Obama, Drilling Is Not the Answer, via Friends of the Earth.
Tell President Obama You Oppose Offshore Oil Drilling, via Endangered Species Coalition.
Don’t Sacrifice the Oceans in the Name of Climate Change, via Oceana.Demand that President Obama protect our oceans from oil drilling, via Center for Biological Diversity.

MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Oppose Oil and Gas Drilling in Florida's Waters, via Audubon of Florida.
Protect our oceans from offshore oil drilling, via Oceana.
Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.
Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.
Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.
Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.
Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.
Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.
Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Floridians Against Big Oil social network.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition website.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.
Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

House adopts fisheries, climate and nitrogen resolutions

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

The Florida House adopted resolutions Wednesday calling on Congress to roll back federal environmental regulations or not adopt new ones.

Septic tanks study gets $2 million as delay language looms

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

House and Senate budget conferees have agreed to provide $2 million to the Florida Department of Health for an ongoing study of septic tank technologies.

Growth has consequences

By Dori Sutter

Orlando Sentinel

Like a game show, produced and directed by developers and local officials and sponsored by the economy, development provides an entertaining scenario until the show ends with too much growth, too fast and without need.

Groups raise concerns with nuke plants' design

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Twelve national and southern environmental groups called on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to delay action on proposed new nuclear plants, including two in Florida, because of design flaws that raise safety issues.

Fla. Superfund lawsuit seeks more than $500M

By Brian Skoloff

The Associated Press

Residents of a neighborhood on the edge of a polluted Florida Superfund site sued the property owners Tuesday, seeking at least $500 million to decontaminate their homes and monitor their health.

Atlantic right whale calving season ends with 19 born, possible changes ahead

By Caren Burmeister

Florida Times-Union

The Atlantic right whale calving season is over, and while it didn't set records, biologists are pleased that 19 calves were born, many of them off St. Johns County's coast.

Everglades hunt for Burmese pythons fails to catch any snakes

By David Fleshler

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

With Burmese pythons infesting the Everglades, the state wildlife commission turned to a formidable force to kill them: Florida's licensed hunters.

Health care success bodes well for climate change legislation

By Steven Pearlstein

Washington Post via St. Petersburg Times

Six weeks ago, it looked as if there was no chance that Congress would approve climate change legislation this year.

PSC overhaul moderated in compromise House bill

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

After meeting resistance from the governor and Senate, the House on Thursday backed off a sweeping plan to overhaul the Public Service Commission and instead proposed a plan to study the structure of the utility regulation board.

Water bill amended to address DEP concerns, senator says

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A far-reaching Senate water bill will be amended to address concerns raised by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the bill's sponsor said Thursday.

State focuses on Flagler manatee protection

By Dinah Voyles Pulver

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Under orders from state wildlife officials, Flagler County must put together a citizens advisory committee to help determine whether new boat speed limits should be imposed in sections of the Intracoastal Waterway.

State college smashes world recycling record

By Billy Cox

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

State College of Florida probably crushed the record for collecting the most number of plastic bottles with the first load of the morning. But a Guinness World Records authority made it official at 3 p.m. Thursday -- just halfway through a scheduled eight-hour window.

Another dirty trick

Editorial

Miami Herald

Here's a lesson for middle-school students who will be required to take civics classes under a proposed law headed to the governor: Look out for closed-door shenanigans when a law gets passed -- or not -- in Tallahassee.

Playing games with DCA

Editorial

Tampa Tribune

The Florida House of Representatives leadership is holding the state's lead planning agency hostage in the waning days of the session.

The bull's eye on a state environmental agency, and meek support for a solar energy program, make this legislative session disappointing

Editorial

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Legislators have two weeks left in their 2010 session to show Floridians they care about the environment.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending April 16, 2010

FEATURED STORIES

In the Florida Keys.

U.S. judge says EPA fails to protect Everglades from pollution

By Christine Stapleton

Palm Beach Post

A frustrated federal judge ordered the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to appear in a Miami courtroom in October to explain how the agency will enforce the Clean Water Act in the Everglades after "failure to comply with the law for more than two decades."

EPA Proposing Taking Over Monitoring State Waterways

By Steve Newborn

WUSF Public Radio Tampa

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to take over monitoring the quality of the state's waters from Tallahassee. The public got a chance to weigh in today during a hearing held in Tampa.

Florida Forever Endangered

By Steve Newborn

WUSF Public Radio Tampa

We're at the midway point in the legislative session in Tallahassee, and one of the programs whose future is in doubt is the state's pioneering land-buying program, Florida Forever.

DEP holds hearings on ranking land projects

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

With more than 100 land-buying projects facing a review and ranking by the state, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging project supporters to participate in a pair of public hearings over the next four weeks.

Twenty-year-old deadline extended by bill amendment

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A petroleum tanks cleanup bill in the House has been amended to extend the deadline for tank site owners to replace older tanks that could leak.

"Hometown Democracy" opponents raise nearly $1 million

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

The new group opposing Amendment 4, the "Florida Hometown Democracy" amendment to the Florida Constitution, raised nearly $1 million in its first quarter of existence with most of its contributions coming from business and development interests.

Heard endorses Amendment 4 on land use changes at Martin County rally

By George Andreassi

TC Palm

Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard endorsed Amendment 4 Tuesday during a rally for the ballot initiative that would require voters to approve all land use changes.

Legislators must pass energy bill

Editorial

Ft. Myers News-Press

Floridians who care about jobs, economic diversity, clean alternative energy development and government that works should be raising hell with lawmakers.

Don't widen loophole for developers to exploit

Editorial

Orlando Sentinel

Even as they struggle to balance Florida's budget, state lawmakers seem poised to expand a property-tax break that'll make it harder for local governments to pay for basic services such as schools, roads and police

THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP

The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 4-16-10:

Sponsor drops Fla. offshore drilling plan for now

By Bill Kaczor

The Associated Press

The House sponsor of legislation that would lift a ban on offshore drilling in Florida's state waters said Friday he was dropping the effort for this year but would try again in 2011

Proposal to drill for oil off Florida’s coast tabled for 2010 legislative session

By Eric Staats

Naples News

A Florida House panel has tabled a measure that would open the state's coastal waters to oil drilling, effectively killing the proposal for this year but teeing up another run at the issue in 2011.

Draft oil drilling legislation would direct Cabinet to sell leases

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A draft proposed House council bill would open Florida's waters to oil drilling but would ban permanent rigs and platforms above the water's surface within six miles of the coast.

Florida House Republicans to unveil plan for drilling in Gulf

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

With two weeks remaining in the annual Florida Legislature session, House Republicans are expected to unveil a plan today that would give the governor and the Cabinet authority to allow oil drilling rigs six miles from Florida's coastline.

Oil leak in Gulf clouds Florida drilling proposals

By William Gibson

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Excerpt: "As this latest Gulf oil spill tragically illustrates, it's not a matter of if but when such a spill will happen along Florida's coast if Dean Cannon gets his way,” said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida and a long-time opponent of offshore drilling.

Bad timing, Dean

By Ron Cunningham

Gainesville Sun

Excerpt: “Introducing a bill to allow oil drilling in our near shore waters in the midst of Louisiana’s ongoing oil spill clean-up is a twisted bit of irony that should be lost on no one…,” says Mark Ferrulo, director of the anti-drilling group Progress Florida.

Louisiana oil spill cited by drilling opponents in Florida

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Environmentalists are pointing to an oil spill this week in Louisiana as evidence the state and federal governments should not allow more offshore oil drilling.

Why Off-Shore Oil Drilling is so bad for Florida

By Gimleteye

Eye On Miami

Recently I flew to Dallas on a blue bird day. After crossing the Florida peninsula-- over the lands owned by Big Sugar that deform Florida politics-- I had a crystal view over the Gulf of Mexico why off-shore oil drilling is such a bad idea for the state.

Nelson wants Robert Gates to weigh in on oil drilling, military concerns

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times Buzz Blog

Sen. Bill Nelson has asked Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to offer his view on the administration's plan to expand oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Offshore drilling endangers Florida's future

By Jason Lawrence

The Famuan

President Obama announced a new energy plan March 31 that would extend offshore drilling in 167 million acres of water from the Mid-Atlantic to waters just southeast of Jacksonville.

County affirms stance against oil drilling

By Carl Mario Nudi

Bradenton Herald

The Manatee County Commission reiterated Tuesday its opposition to oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, adding federal waters to their concerns.

Full Text of Manatee County's "No Offshore Drilling" Resolution and Letter to Our Federal Reps

By Robin Miller

Bradenton Times

Manatee County Information Outreach Coordinator Nicholas Azzara says, "In the fall, Manatee County and each municipality sent a joint letter of opposition, specifically to drilling in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Four good reasons not to drill

By Jerry W. Gerde

Panama City News Herald

Following up The News Herald’s thoughtful editorial about offshore oil drilling (“Move offshore slowly,” April 4), there are four more seldom-discussed reasons not to drill in the federal waters anywhere in the eastern Gulf south of our Florida Panhandle.

Wrong on drilling

Editorial

Gainesville Sun

President Barack Obama's proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling shows a disappointing lack of foresight and creativity toward meeting our nation's future energy needs.

Map of areas to be opened for offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling under newly unveiled Obama administration proposal.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.

ACTIONS OPPOSING OBAMA’S DRILLING PLAN
President Obama, Drilling Is Not the Answer, via Friends of the Earth.
Tell President Obama You Oppose Offshore Oil Drilling, via Endangered Species Coalition.
Don’t Sacrifice the Oceans in the Name of Climate Change, via Oceana.Demand that President Obama protect our oceans from oil drilling, via Center for Biological Diversity.

MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Oppose Oil and Gas Drilling in Florida's Waters, via Audubon of Florida.
Protect our oceans from offshore oil drilling, via Oceana.
Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.
Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.
Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.
Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.
Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.
Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.
Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Floridians Against Big Oil social network.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition website.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.
Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

House energy bill gets initial committee approval

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Environments.com

Related: Follow the Sun? House wants to encourage use of renewable energy

A proposed House committee bill that attempts to expand the use of renewable energy in the state received initial approval Friday from the House Energy & Utilities Policy Committee.

Weird winter weather creates struggle for some Everglades wildlife, other species thrive

By Eric Staats

Naples News

The water tables have turned at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary this winter.

Water crunch could come early to parts of First Coast

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

The little spring-fed creek behind Robert Palmatier's home ties his neighborhood together. Kids play there, adults sit on benches by the water and last year some families got together to scoop out sand and keep the channel clear.

Moving tortoises to cost Titusville $102K

By Dave Berman

Florida Today

The city council on Tuesday unanimously approved paying $102,100 to relocate 60 gopher tortoises found at the site of a water transmission main construction project -- or more than $1,700 per tortoise.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 3-26-10

FEATURED STORIES

Senate bill would cut back on environmental permitting process

By John Frank and Craig Pittman

St. Petersburg Times

A little-noticed jobs bill being considered by the Legislature calls for streamlining environmental regulations to the point where some development projects of up to 40 acres wouldn't need state or local permits at all.

Renewed Support for an Everglades Land Deal, but Cost Is Still in Question

By Damien Cave

New York Times

Gov. Charlie Crist reaffirmed his commitment this week to the $536 million purchase of 73,000 acres of land from United States Sugar, declaring that it would heal both the Everglades and the coastal estuaries that are vital to Florida’s tourist economy.

Florida water managers weigh cuts, selloffs to finance U.S. Sugar deal

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

With the odds of borrowing a half-billion bucks growing dicey, water managers are exploring new ways to finance Gov. Charlie Crist's deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. -- a controversial land buy the governor stood firmly behind Thursday during a South Florida visit.

Death of coral reefs could devastate nations

By Brian Skoloff

The Associated Press

Coral reefs are dying, and scientists and governments around the world are contemplating what will happen if they disappear altogether.

Fishermen, activists at loggerheads on turtle change

By Jim Waymer

Florida Today

Federal biologists say loggerhead sea turtles could go extinct in the "foreseeable future."

Truth and hysteria about Hometown Democracy

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

A bunch of Greek guys started a political debate 2,500 years ago that we're still fighting about.

Is St. Pete Beach a valid case study for Amendment 4?

Staff Report

St. Petersburg Times Politifact

A group fighting a statewide ballot initiative that would give voters direct say on land use decisions says people need look no further than the disastrous results of a similar initiative in tiny St. Pete Beach.

Stop developers' handout

Editorial

Miami Herald

Suddenly, a new strip mall turns up two blocks away from your home. What about public notices? Permit hearings? Not needed any more if the Florida Senate gets its way.

Florida sprawl – where will it end? Vote YES on Amendment 4!

THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP

The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 3-26-10:

Gulf drilling bill not a priority

By Michael Peltier

News Service of Florida

Related editorial: Access to federal waters may be the real goal of legislative proponents

Florida lawmakers will vote on a bill to expand oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, but it may not be this session, a key House drilling advocate said Friday.

House will float oil-drilling bill

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

The Florida House will roll out an oil-drilling bill in two weeks, Speaker-designate and chief proponent Dean Cannon said Friday.

Oil drilling off our shores: Dean Cannon, we’ve come to know ye

By Cathy Harrelson

Creative Loafing Tampa

After concluding the House’s final workshop on the exploration of oil and gas drilling off Florida coasts on Friday, Rep. Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) outlined three areas he expects the House bill to include when it is released in two weeks.

A New Report Outlines How Much Oil Is In Florida Waters Off The Gulf Of Mexico (audio interview)

By Robert Lorei

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

Next up- Frank Alcock is a professor of political science at New College in Sarasota. He teaches about, among other things, sustainable development.

On The Mark - Oil and tourism: Not a good mix

By Mark Strain

Naples News

It is surprising how quickly some Floridians are willing to reduce their standards if there’s money involved.

Commission dumps drilling resolution

Staff Report

St. Augustine Record

A city resolution Monday night to add St. Augustine to a long list of cities and counties opposing offshore oil drilling failed for lack of support.

Offshore Drilling Revenue Sharing Takes Hold in Senate Climate Bill

By Mike Soraghan, Darren Samuelsohn and Katherine Ling

New York Times

Coastal states that agree to oil and gas drilling off their shores would be offered one-quarter of the revenue, under the latest draft of the new climate and energy bill, sources on and off the Hill say.

10 Senate Democrats oppose climate bill if it expands coastal drilling

By Renee Schoof

Miami Herald

Ten Senate Democrats from coastal states warned in a letter released Thursday that they won't support a climate and energy bill if it permits a big expansion of drilling for offshore oil and natural gas.

Florida should forget about drilling in gulf

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

Drilling off Florida's coast won't increase America's independence from foreign oil, lower gasoline prices or raise billions of dollars annually for the state.

Words of wisdom

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

Listening to the U.S. Navy has always paid off for Northwest Florida, where our economy has been buffered from the worst of the recession by stable military spending.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"

Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.

MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.
Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.
Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.
Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.
Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.
Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.
Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Floridians Against Big Oil social network.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition website.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.
Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

The future of water availability and desalination in Florida

By Sean Kinane

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

Yesterday was World Water Day.

New EPA rules label a dozen more Collier, Lee waterways as polluted, analysis shows

By Eric Staats

Naples News

More Southwest Florida streams and canals would violate water quality standards under a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to limit pollution in Florida waters, according to a Naples Daily News analysis.

State spending $650,000 for sensors to alert U.S. 41 drivers panthers may be near

By Eric Staats

Naples News

As U.S. 41 runs through the Big Cypress National Preserve, the rural highway crosses a natural pathway that is a favorite route for endangered Florida panthers – with deadly results.

Damage, restoration of Florida waters discussed by authors

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Florida needs to change the way it manages and uses water in the future as it repairs the mistakes of the past, a panel of environmental book authors suggested on Saturday.

With growth management vote coming, St. Johns has become focal point

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

In the debate over Florida growth management, a spotlight is shining on St. Johns County.

Amendment 4 forum … the short form

By Scott Maxwell

Orlando Sentinel

In today's edition of the Friday Files, we take a look at which politician took a free trip to Las Vegas, which one recently put himself up for bid and which one seems to be suffering from a bout of selective amnesia.

Helping Amendment 4: Interests that oppose it just don't learn

By Joel Engelhardt

Palm Beach Post

Hometown Democracy recognizes that, too often in Florida, the balance falls on the side of the powerful interests.

Bald eagles, plastic bags don't mix - especially in Bonita Springs

By Tara E. McLaughlin

Naples News

The bald eagle, a symbol of the United States, has become for some in Bonita Springs a reason to oppose plastic grocery bags.

Endangered whale birth photos taken near Navy site

By Russ Bynum

The Associated Press

Biologists conducting a survey for the U.S. military said Tuesday they photographed an endangered right whale giving birth near a proposed Navy training range offshore of Georgia and Florida.

Area mayors agree: Cities must cooperate to avoid water crisis

By Bob Koslow

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Having enough water at reasonable rates and economic development to provide quality jobs emerged as the priorities for the six mayors of west Volusia County gathered Thursday night at Stetson University.

Federal ban on python imports would hurt pet trade, critics say

By William E. Gibson

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A proposed ban on the sale and importation of pythons and other constrictive snakes threatens the livelihood of thousands of pet shops and breeders, Congress was told on Tuesday.

"Jobs" bill really eases limits on growth

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

When Gov. Charlie Crist caved in to developers last year and eviscerated Florida's growth management laws, he pledged to push the Legislature this year to create a new fee to help pay for roads to accommodate new development.

Keep growth management agency

Editorial

Tampa Tribune

Last session, Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham was able to fend off insidious efforts to either abolish the growth management agency or pare its scope.

Editorial cartoon by Jim Morin, Miami Herald

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