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 3-5-10

FEATURED STORIES

Florida Chamber, environmental groups will lobby to revive Florida Forever

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

Sometimes the lions and the lambs lie down together.

EPA delays controversial water regs

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times Buzz Blog

The Environmental Protection Agency today agreed to a extend the public comment period on proposed new water rules that have been blasted by Florida politicians.

Looking north for the Glades

By Paul Quinlan

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

To stanch pollution flows into the headwaters of the Everglades, Obama administration officials are considering designating a new national wildlife refuge north of Lake Okeechobee.

IWC Compromise Would Allow Commercial Whaling

By Kate Bradshaw

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

The International Whaling Commission is meeting in St. Pete Beach this week to discuss a possible lift of its 1986 ban on commercial whaling.

DEP holding back on cap-and-trade -- for now

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection won't ask the Legislature to approve a proposed carbon cap-and-trade rule in the legislative session that began yesterday, according to DEP Secretary Michael Sole.

Ban proposed on dangerous reptiles

By Paul Flemming

Tallahassee Democrat

Florida lawmakers ratcheted up the war on exotic reptiles Tuesday with a proposal to ban ownership of the animals outright.

To protect vital land, restore Forever

Editorial

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Last year, Floridians found out that calling something "forever" doesn't guarantee its funding will never run out. That's when the Legislature stopped paying for the popular Florida Forever program. The decision broke with a 20-year tradition of supporting the state's nationally known land-buying program, which originated as "Preservation 2000."

Critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.

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 3-5-10:

Drilling push continues despite findings

By Keith Laing

News Service of Florida via Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Despite the Senate's seeming reluctance to lift a 20-year ban on offshore oil drilling in Florida waters, the first legislation on the subject was filed in the upper chamber.

Lawmaker: Any drilling bill would ban 'visual blight'

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

Floridians won't have to worry about oil platforms spoiling their view if the Legislature opens Florida waters to offshore drilling this year, the chief House proponent said Monday.

Pledge to keep oil rigs out of sight from coast falls flat

By Laura Ruane

Ft. Myers News-Press

Southwest Florida's tourism industry took no apparent cheer from a Florida legislator's remarks Monday that any bill permitting offshore oil drilling also would require that platforms be kept out of sight from shore.

Oil drilling backer drops lobbying corps

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Florida Energy Associates, one of the primary backers of the push to open Florida waters to oil drilling last year, recently trimmed its lobbying force to zero after having more than 30 last year.

Offshore Florida oil: Not much there, there

By Michael Peltier and Kathleen Haughney

News Service of Florida via Orlando Sentinel

A new report says drilling in Florida waters would “have no discernible impact” on gas prices or the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but could pump millions into state coffers.

Report says oil supplies in Fla. waters negligible

By Bill Kaczor

The Associated Press

Estimated reserves in Florida waters would provide the United States with less than a week's worth of oil and have no discernible effect on prices at the pump or U.S. reliance on foreign oil, says a report released Friday as part of a state Senate review of whether a ban on offshore drilling should be lifted.

In Florida, support for offshore drilling depends on where you live

By Craig Pittman

St. Petersburg Times

When it comes to drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, it's as if there are two Floridas.

State lawmakers expected to discuss oil drilling, but little action expected

By Michael Peltier

Palm Beach Post

Expect a lot of talk but possibly little action as lawmakers continue the debate on offshore drilling when they return Tuesday to begin the 2010 legislative session.

Offshore oil bill is viewed as risky

Staff Report

Florida Today

Despite the backing of two heavy-hitting Republicans, Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island and House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon of Winter Park, the push for offshore drilling has slowed to a crawl.

Florida's offshore drilling panel convenes today

By Jim Ash

Ft. Myers News-Press

The House panel looking into oil and gas drilling in Florida waters convenes this morning, a day before the start of the legislative session and after the release of an academic report that proponents are already criticizing.

Senate 2622: Relating to Regulation of State Lands & Oil and Gas Resources

General Bill by Haridopolos

The Florida Senate

Regulation of State Lands & Oil and Gas Resources; Provides for the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to accept and award bids for oil and gas leases on submerged lands underlying the territorial waters of the state.

Area lawmakers still opposed to offshore drilling

By Matt Dixon

Panama City News Herald

A predictable sequence of events played out over the past few days.

State House hopeful Barker comes out against offshore drilling

By Tom McLaughlin

Northwest Florida Daily News

Craig Barker, who is running for the District 4 state House seat, took a bold step Tuesday when he declared his unequivocal opposition to offshore drilling close to Florida’s coast.

Another push for offshore oil drilling looms

Editorial

Bradenton Herald

When the state Legislature opens its annual 60-day regular session on Tuesday, the primary issue will be grappling with yet another multibillion budget shortfall.

Sticking with the drill: What do proponents of coastal oil exploration really want?

Editorial

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The Legislature's chief proponents of drilling for oil near Florida's coastline are nothing if not determined.

Oily facts

Editorial

Orlando Sentinel

Despite a new study that concludes drilling in Florida waters would produce less than a week's worth of oil for the U.S., no noticeable effect on domestic gasoline prices and nothing to lower the nation's dependency on foreign oil, Sen. Mike Haridopolos filed his bill Friday lifting the state's offshore drilling ban.

Love tourists, not drilling.

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.

Cumulative oil slick "footprint" resulting from the 10-week Montara oil platform blowout and spill that occurred in the Timor Sea off Western Australia in 2009; superimposed on the Gulf coast of Florida for scale. More info here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

Quote of the week: "Wacko environmental group ... Earthjustice"

By Bruce Richie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Murzin was referring to proposed nitrogen and phosphorus limits in waterways offered in response to a federal lawsuit filed by Earthjustice.

Airplanes and alligators mix at remote Everglades airport

By Ken Kaye

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The runway is long enough to handle the biggest airliners, even a space shuttle. But at this airport, blue herons swoop in far more frequently than JetBlue.

PSC ethics reforms sail through Senate, bog down in House

By Mary Ellen Klas and Steve Bousquet

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

A bill aimed at tightening the ethics rules at the Public Service Commission flew through the Florida Senate Wednesday and then became snagged by a House committee, which raised red flags about some parts of the measure.

Fight could be looming over recycling bill

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Tribune

Industry groups may be fine with her recycling bill for now, but they may not be as supportive of Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda's HB 1559 if she makes the changes she says she wants to make.

Florida legislature: Bill would speed up alternative energy projects

By Sara Kennedy

Bradenton Herald

Sen. Mike Bennett hopes one of his bills will speed up construction of a proposed Florida Power & Light solar thermal plant near Parrish.

Don’t Trash the Florida Black Bear

By Glen Gardner

Public News Service Florida

When Florida's black bears come in contact with humans it often results in a death sentence for the bear involved, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Protect Peace River from strip-mining

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

A dramatic new phase of phosphate mining along the Peace River in Southwest Florida is in the works, raising concerns about whether government will effectively protect the source of drinking water for 700,000 Floridians.

Critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.

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 period ending 1-22-10

FEATURED STORIES

EPA to provide pollution limits for Florida waters
By John Frank
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
In a move cheered by environmental groups, the federal government Friday proposed stringent limits on "nutrient" pollution allowed to foul Florida's waterways.

New EPA water rules worth every penny
Editorial
Miami Herald
Few things are more deadly to a healthy watery ecosystem than algae, much of which comes from nutrients in fertilizers and pollutants that wash from the land into waterways during rainstorms.

Rising Tide: Sea-level rise affects the Keys now
By George Neugent
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Let me start by saying that I'm not trying to take a Chicken Little approach by saying the sky is falling.

Record number of manatees counted
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
An annual aerial survey recorded a record high number of endangered manatees this year — 5,067.

DEP warns that Florida springs are being degraded
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
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.

Cold killed record number of sea turtles
By Kate Spinner
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Volunteers, state biologists and conservation groups across Florida mounted an unprecedented rescue effort to save most of the 5,000 endangered sea turtles found near death during this month's cold snap.

Statewide turtle rescue hits historic proportions
By Dinah Voyles Pulver
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Hundreds more endangered green sea turtles were plucked from the frigid waters of the Indian River Lagoon on Tuesday and delivered to temporary turtle hospitals statewide during what could be the largest turtle rescue in history.

Florida's least wanted: invasive plants
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
Some of them, like fire ants and water hyacinths, have been around so long they seem like a natural part of the landscape.

Federal stimulus money injects new life into Everglades restoration
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
The multibillion-dollar Everglades restoration program, which for 10 years has moved with the speed of a tortoise with a broken leg, suddenly turned into a jackrabbit over the past two months.

Hundreds of risky fuel tanks go unrepaired despite state deadline
David DeCamp
St. Petersburg Times
Despite 19 years notice, hundreds of gas stations, governments and businesses failed to upgrade risky fuel storage tanks before a New Year's deadline.

State planners enforcing climate, energy requirements
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
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.

Giving voters the say on development plans
By Tom Lyons
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Related: Manatee's McClash favors amendment
As amendment titles go, "Hometown Democracy" is the apple pie kind that usually makes me suspicious.

Stimulus funds help Red Hills ecosystem
By Dave Hodges
Tallahassee Democrat
Federal stimulus dollars have found their way to Tallahassee yet again with the start of an environmental project designed to improve pine forest habitat for endangered species living in the Red Hills region.

House panel considers Florida Forever funding
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
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.

Fund Florida Forever
By Charles Pattison
Miami Herald
The nation's biggest land-conservation program has another chance before the 2010 Legislature to renew itself and change course from the 2009 majority decision not to fund this very popular and successful effort.


Operation Migration in action.

THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP

The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the period ending 1-22-10:



Eglin commander: Offshore drilling could affect bases
By Jim Ash
Tallahassee Democrat
In an unusually candid acknowledgement, the commander of Eglin Air Force Base told lawmakers Wednesday that oil and gas drilling in Florida waters could pose a threat to military operations.

Florida oil drilling opponents challenge report
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Related: Nelson: Oil drilling is incompatible with military training
Oil drilling opponents attempted to refute one of the most potent arguments against drilling off Florida shores Tuesday with a new report that suggests that weapons testing and pilot training is compatible with oil rigs and pipelines.

Is oil drilling safe in the Gulf of Mexico? SAFE says so – or do they?
By Cathy Harrelson
Creative Loafing Tampa
On January 19th, a report was issued by a corporation called SAFE (Securing America’s Future Energy)…They are not energy specialists but have military backgrounds.

Military Is ‘No Go’ on Oil Drilling
By Mark Pafford
YouTube video
January 13, 2010 testimony before the Florida Legislature’s Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee by Eglin Air Force Base Col. Bruce McClintock regarding what impact oil drilling and exploration off Florida’s Gulf Coast would have on United States Air Force operations in Florida.

Drilling bad for Eglin
Editorial
Pensacola News-Journal
It's about time that area military leaders realized that many Panhandle legislators are simply looking for an excuse to vote in favor of putting drilling rigs off Northwest Florida's coast.

Oil lobby scaling back its presence in Tally
By John Kennedy
The News Service of Florida via Orlando Sentinel
Florida Energy Associates, the group spearheading the effort to open the state’s Gulf waters to offshore oil-drilling, is scaling back its once dominant presence at the state Capitol.

House panel debates offshore drilling
By Jim Ash
Tallahassee Democrat
A House panel took up offshore drilling on Thursday at a time when supporters are scaling back their legislative push and opponents are building momentum.

Join the ‘Hands Across the Sand’ event to help protect Florida’s coast against oil drilling
By Cathy Harrelson
Creative Loafing Tampa
On Saturday February 13, 2010, Florida residents and tourists will be going to a number of beaches across the state to do a beach clean up and hold hands to show a united front to protect Florida’s beaches against oil drilling during the ‘Hands Across the Sand’ event.

Offshore drilling remains hot topic at Tallahassee debate
By Paul Flemming
Tallahassee Democrat
The proposal to drill for oil or natural gas in Florida state waters may be on simmer, but debate remains heated.

House panel working on new state energy policy
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
The House Energy & Utilities Policy Committee Wednesday heard from speakers on what a new state energy policy should include.

Why Offshore Drilling is a Bad Idea for Florida
Interview with John Jelks
Not the Answer
John is a marine geologist who spent over 10 years in the 1980s and early 1990s working as a Houston-based contractor for major oil companies on oil drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil Drilling Debate Has Begun Again
By John Kennedy
News Service of Florida
Officials from the federal Interior Department, Shell Oil Co. and an industry association touted the technology and safety history of offshore oil-drilling last week before a panel in the drill-friendly House.

Forum to discuss oil, gas drilling in Gulf
Staff Report
Pensacola News Journal
The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center will be sponsoring a public forum on the proposal to allow oil and gas drilling in Florida state waters.

A message on drilling
Editorial
Pensacola News Journal
Northwest Florida's Legislative Delegation got a clear message last week from the area's business community: protecting tourism and — especially — the mission of Panhandle military bases far outweighs the value of offshore drilling.

Capping offshore drilling
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
Offshore drilling may not be coming to Florida's Gulf Coast, thanks, it appears, to Senate President Jeff Atwater.



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
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.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
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

Florida panther found dead in Lee County; first reported death of year
By Eric Staats
Naples News
Florida wildlife officials reported this morning the first death of an endangered Florida panther in 2010.

Private land to be set aside for panthers
The Associated Press
Miami Herald
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the conservation of a 4,000-acre chunk of private land for Florida panther habitat.

Florida Panther: More Than Hope
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
On New Year's Eve, a Florida panther kitten was run over by a car on a road in Naples. That brought the number of panther road kills in 2009 to a record high of 17.

Whooping crane flock makes it to Florida — finally
By Barbara Behrendt
St. Petersburg Times
The 20 whooping cranes that make up the Class of 2009 have finally made it to Florida.

Operation Migration - Whooping Cranes Arrive in North Florida!
By Rich Leighton
Florida Nature Photography
For the first three days of this week, an event was happening in St. Marks, Florida area that held the riveted attention of birders and other wildlife enthusiasts around the North America.

Whooping cranes make annual flyover
Staff Report
Ocala Star-Banner
Printed on the side of a white Operation Migration truck are these words: "Fewer than 500 Whooping Cranes remain between survival and ... extinction."

Riverkeeper not consulted as judge grants confidentiality
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
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.

Controversy surrounds seagrass project
By Cammy Clark
Miami Herald
On 95 acres of ocean floor near the Seven Mile Bridge, a seagrass meadow damaged by boaters is Exhibit A in an environmental group's controversial quest to start a new marine mitigation fund for Florida.

State studies tax, eventual ban of paper, plastic bags
By Jim Ash and Jim Waymer
Florida Today
When he reaches the register, Drew Martin always has to explain

PSC rejects Progress Energy rate hike request
By Jim Saunders
Daytona Beach News-Journal
West Volusia homeowners and businesses will avoid a hefty increase in electric bills after regulators Monday scuttled a Progress Energy Florida proposal to raise base rates.

Up against the law, fuel pumps go dark
By Kim Hackett
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Hundreds of Florida gas stations, including 39 in Southwest Florida, have closed since Dec. 31 because of an environmental protection law intended to protect drinking water resources.

New laws aim to rid South Florida of `injurious' snake species
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Federal wildlife managers said Wednesday they will pursue a ban on the import of Burmese python and eight other giant exotic snakes that threaten the Everglades.

Lake Okeechobee water once again tapped for Gulf coast
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Lake Okeechobee water, relied on to back up South Florida supplies, will once again be siphoned off to protect west coast fishing grounds.

11th Circuit allows Georgia water appeal to proceed
By the News Service of Florida
FloridaEnvironments.com
As 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.

Red snapper may be in short supply
By Chris Phillips
Pensacola News Journal
The new year has arrived and once again everyone is left wondering what will happen with the upcoming red snapper season.

Regulators slash FPL's rate hike request
By Julie Patel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Florida Public Service Commission approved a $75.5 million base-rate increase for Florida Power & Light Wednesday, all but rejecting the utility's request for a record hike of $1.27 billion.

African rock pythons add to worries about snakes in Everglades
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Fears of a new "super snake" emerging in the Everglades grew this week during a hunt to track South Florida's invasive python population.

Progress Energy rate hike rejected; will FPL lose too?
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
The Public Service Commission did Monday what many consumer groups and industry watchers never expected -- it voted down a rate increase for one of the state's largest utility companies, Progress Energy.

Consumer victory
Editorial
Florida Today
You won big Wednesday in Tallahassee when the Public Service Commission rejected almost all of a huge rate hike request by Florida Power & Light.

Finally, the 'River of Gra$$'
By Sally Swartz
Palm Beach Post
It looked like a ho-hum gathering of environmentalists at last weekend's recent Everglades Coalition Conference at PGA National Resort. But it was historic, even exciting.

County prevails in watter bottling case
By Bill Thompson
Ocala Star-Banner
A local judge has rejected arguments that the Marion County Commission wrongfully denied a proposed land-use change that would have green-lighted the pumping of nearly a half-million gallons of water a day for bottling.

Cold inflicted major toll on fish in Florida
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Everywhere he steered his skiff last week, Pete Frezza saw dead fish.

Bill would require permit votes again
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
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.

Florida has a few fixes for Lee plan
By Gabriella Souza
Ft. Myers News-Press
Lee County will look at state-recommended changes in the next few weeks to a plan to protect 83,000 acres in southeast Lee County.

Breathing easier
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed new limits on smog will vastly improve the quality of life for millions who suffer from heart, lung and other serious health problems.

EPA to Florida: No more rivers green as grass
Editorial
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Here's Florida's standard for clean water: "In no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna."

As farmers pump, neighbors go dry
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
This month's freeze underscores why Florida needs to better balance the interests of farmers and their suburban neighbors.

Recycling will pay off, if Tallahassee gets onboard
Editorial
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida lags in recycling efforts, and lawmakers have been loathe to do anything about it.

Glades menace
Editorial
Miami Herald
A hunt for Burmese pythons in the Everglades turned up an even scarier predator: the African rock python.

Everglades momentum
Editorial
Miami Herald
Nothing talks quite like money. This helps explain the optimism at the annual Everglades Coalition's 29th annual conference this past weekend in Palm Beach Gardens.


Endangered green sea turtle.

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