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 4-9-10

FEATURED STORIES

Crist links jobs, environment during Florida Forever rally

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Related: Top 10 at-risk land purchase areas listed

Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday told a rally at the Capitol that the state's land-buying program is critical to the Florida's tourism economy.

Opportunity Knocks For FL Preservation

By Glen Gardner

Public News Service Florida

Those hoping to preserve quickly-vanishing wildlife habitat in Florida will be delivering a message at the State Capitol Wednesday, centering on the Forever Florida program, which is the largest land-buying program in the country.

Florida Supreme Court raises its own questions about Everglades land deal

By Andy Reid

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Related: Everglades land deals and Big Sugar battles head to Florida Supreme Court

After nearly two years of political fights and legal battles over Gov. Charlie Crist's Everglades-restoration land deal, the Florida Supreme Court now will decide whether the public benefit is worth the cost to South Florida taxpayers.

Momentum for renewable-energy legislation lacking

By Mary Ellen Klas

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau

In the last legislative session before his death, state Sen. Jim King tirelessly pushed for an energy compromise to reduce the amount of dirty fuel the state uses to produce electricity.

Committee bill would remove climate change language in state law

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

A proposed energy bill filed Wednesday by the House Energy & Utilities Committee appears to remove language in state law that addresses climate change and requires utilities to increase the amount of renewable energy they provide to customers.

Water bill squeaks out of committee amid opposition

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

SB 550, dubbed the "mega-water bill" that includes springs protection measures, barely passed a Senate committee on Tuesday after development groups raised concerns about its septic tank requirements.

Endangered wood storks.

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 4-9-10:

160-Square-Mile Oil Spill Fouls Mississippi Delta Wildlife Refuge

Staff Report

Environment News Service

An 18,000 gallon spill of crude oil from a pipeline into the Delta National Wildlife Refuge has personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, the state of Louisiana, and the Cypress Pipe Line Company scrambling to contain the spreading mess.

Thousands of gallons of crude oil spill into Louisiana wildlife refuge

By Niki Fears

Environmental News Examiner

The Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana is currently under threat from a recent pipe line disaster that has spilled at least 18,000 gallons of deadly crude oil into the waters of the wildlife refuge.

Spilled crude oil encroaching on Delta National Wildlife Refuge on the Louisiana coast. We want this here?

Obama Plan May Revive Offshore Oil

By Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lakeland Ledger

While it appeared a House Republican plan to open state waters to oil and gas exploration was not likely to happen this year, the proposal got an unexpected boost from a leading Democrat.

Obama's Offshore Drilling Pitch Sways Few Fence-Sitters on Climate Bill

By Mike Soraghan

New York Times

It's often said in Washington that if you anger both liberals and conservatives, you must be doing something right.

No-take fishing zone is 30 miles from proposed drilling buffer

By Kevin Wadlow

Florida Keys Keynoter

“This could come very close to the Dry Tortugas," said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida. "In terms of distance to the Keys, this is nothing."

Risks to Florida outweigh benefits of gulf drilling

By Paul Defenderefer

Panama City News Herald

I am deeply concerned about the possibility of oil drilling off Florida’s coastline.

Buchanan firm in drilling opposition

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is not budging in his opposition to oil drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast.

PolitiFact: Stearns' claim about Chinese oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico is half true

By Aaron Sharockman

St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Politifact

Longtime U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, a proponent of increased oil and natural gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, says drilling may be coming near Florida's shores whether we like it or not.

Obama lost me when he proposed oil drilling in the gulf

By Ernest Hooper

St. Petersburg Times

After President Barack Obama lauded my grandmother on election night, my wife theorized I would never criticize him.

Three Florida Democrats oppose offshore drilling

By Lesley Clark

Miami Herald

Related: White House says it will listen to Florida drilling critics

Florida Democrats have sent letters to President Barack Obama, protesting his plans to expand oil and gas drilling as close as 125 miles off Florida's coast.

Democrats from Florida oppose Obama's drilling plan

By Jim Turner

TC Palm

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, and two other Florida Democratic members of Congress, have sent a letter to President Obama objecting to his plans to allow drilling off the state’s coastline.

Off-coast drilling threatens Florida economy and jobs

By Rep. Kathy Castor

The Hill

Drilling for oil off of Florida’s west coast beaches would be a serious threat to Florida’s economy and jobs.

PRO AND CON: Energy independence or slaves to Big Oil?

By David Batt and Dave Rauschkolb

Destin Log

Florida is on the brink of decisions that could forever endanger our clean waters, our clean beaches and our valuable tourism-based economy.

Offshore Drilling and Florida's Gulf: How Much Oil Is There?

By Scott Finn

WUSF Public Radio Tampa

In the long-running debate over offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, one question always comes up: how much oil and gas is really out there?

Castor says Florida 'too special' for offshore oil drilling

By Alex Leary

St. Petersburg Times

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, today sent a letter to President Obama objecting to his plan for more offshore oil drilling in Florida, saying the area is "too special" to risk environmental damage.

FRLA opposes oil exploration

By Carol Dover

Tampa Bay News Weekly

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is closely monitoring legislation filed by both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives on the issue of oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.

Look at drilling's cost

By Walter C. Brown III

Daytona Beach News-Journal

From the standpoint of someone that has worked on oil-field supply vessels, it is not the platforms that worry me as much as the support systems that are needed onshore: The fuel docks, the storage facilities for drill-pipe, drill mud, etc.

Humans are the risk in drilling

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

Related editorial: Drilling plan a loser

The Orlando Sentinel recently took a close look at the Australian drilling rig that blew out last August in the Timor Sea, leaked oil for more than two months and dumped millions of gallons of crude. It's a cautionary tale for Florida.

Drilling in Gulf makes no sense

Editorial

Highlands County News Sun

The debate over off-shore drilling is a real concern for Florida, especially since tourists flock here for a view of the beaches, not the oil rigs.

The drilling mistake

Editorial

Florida Today

The 72 miles of coast where Brevard County meets the sea is the heart of our community’s quality of life.

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.
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

Concern raised over nuclear waste storage at Turkey Point

By John Dorschner

Miami Herald

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has called a special meeting next week to discuss three apparent violations involving a spent-fuel pool at Turkey Point -- a critical issue as the long-held plans for storing waste in Nevada have collapsed.

Sugar deal's sour politics; biggest critic has self-interest at heart

By Joel Engelhardt

Palm Beach Post

In 2008, before Florida Crystals began to criticize the U.S. Sugar land deal, the company offered to be part of it.

Groups ask DEP to delay new waterway classification

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Environmental groups are asking the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to delay approval of a new stream classification system.

Key chairman says there is still time for DCA

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

The chairman of a key House council said Tuesday there is plenty of time in the legislative session to approve a bill that would reauthorize the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

Rare photo shows mother Florida panther and two kittens

Submitted by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Naples News

A rare photograph taken last month of a Florida panther and her two kittens is making the e-mail rounds among wildlife biologists and conservation partners who have toiled for decades to restore the big cat’s habitat.

FPL opens solar plant

By Wayne T. Price

Florida Today

The solar energy center at the Kennedy Space Center could -- and should -- be one of many throughout Florida, Florida Power & Light President and Chief Executive Officer Armando Olivera said Thursday.

Not an Everglades setback: Judge leaves room for U.S. Sugar deal to proceed

Editorial

Palm Beach Post

U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno seemingly dealt a significant setback to Gov. Crist's plan to buy U.S. Sugar land for Everglades restoration.

Growth watchdog in danger

Editorial

Palm Beach Post

Developers believe it's too hard to exploit Florida's natural resources to build whatever they want.

Critically endangered Florida Panther and cubs.

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 3-19-10

FEATURED STORIES

Wildlife 2060: In the next 50 years..What's at stake for Florida?

FWC

Foster Folly News

Nevertheless, like the storybook tortoise, development plods on. And as the hare did, Floridians could learn a lesson from the resolute, slow-moving turtle.

‘Hometown Democracy’ foes offer bogus arguments

By Lauren Ritchie

Orlando Sentinel

you don't have to sort through confusing wording of two competing constitutional amendments — one that would give you absolute power to limit or grant huge developments and a second that was just developers in a tree-hugger's Birkenstocks.

Amendment 4 for livability

By Lesley Blackner

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Amendment 4 isn't on the ballot until November, but our opposition is already in overdrive.

4 or against? There’s more to Hometown Democracy than environment vs. sprawl

By Kate Bradshaw

Creative Loafing Tampa

He approaches the podium in a black turtleneck.

Bill would overhaul Florida water laws

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

Virtually every important aspect of water in Florida, from tap to toilet and from storm runoff to bubbling spring, has a place in sweeping legislation unveiled Wednesday by state Sen. Lee Constantine.

Less than three months in, 2010 manatee deaths set annual record

By Karen Voyles

Ocala Star-Banner

Three months into 2010, Florida already has set an annual record for manatee deaths, and the number is expected to continue rising.

Deathly cold: Frigid temps kill record number of manatees

By Eric Staats

Naples Daily News

The largest manatee die-off ever recorded in Florida is playing out in the state’s backwaters and bays this winter.

Information Key to FL Panther Survival

By Glen Gardner

Public News Service Florida

There are only some 100 Florida panthers left in the state, and public awareness may be the key to their long-term survival.

Loggerhead turtles have chance at protection

By Kate Spinner

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Science showing steep declines in the number of loggerhead sea turtles may not be enough for the animal to achieve endangered status under federal law.

Charter committee strikes compromise on environmental standards

By Jeff Burlew

Tallahassee Democrat

Leon County's charter-review committee backed away from a proposal to allow county environmental ordinances to prevail over city ordinances in all instances.

Wood stork fledglings nesting in Fred George Basin, Leon County.

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 3-19-10:

Atwater Indicates Drilling Bill Will Be a Tough Sell

By Keith Laing

News Service of Florida

Senate President Jeff Atwater said Monday that the debate on oil drilling in Florida waters should be shaped by a recent report that said that new drilling would "have no discernible impact" on gas prices.

Commission: no strong case for drilling off Florida

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Opening Florida's Gulf Coast to oil drilling would have almost no impact on prices at the pump or on the state's ongoing budget problems, a nonpartisan commission told a key committee of the Legislature on Monday.

Drilling report's conclusions disappoint both sides

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

With its chief proponent saying he is in no hurry, the push to open Florida waters to oil and gas drilling inched past another milestone Monday when a House panel was briefed on a report by a Florida think tank.

Study: Drilling debate over state’s Gulf waters has wider implications

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

Florida's debate over whether to open its narrow strip of waters in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore drilling is really about a much bigger decision, according to a report done for the state Legislature.

Florida oil: not so much, not so bad?

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Related: Collins Center Report

Last year, when some in our Legislature wanted to throw open Florida's waters to oil drilling right away, the president of our state Senate slowed it down.

New map suggests coastal residents aren't buying off-shore drilling concept

WTXL ABC News Tallahassee

A new map recently released, suggests residents near the coast aren't buying the concept of off-shore drilling.

The fight against nearshore oil drilling in Florida isn’t nearly over

By Cathy Harrelson

Creative Loafing Tampa

The last year could be considered a success in local environmental activism.

Renewable Energy is Florida's Best Bet for Economic and Environmental Security, Not Offshore Drilling

Staff Report

Audubon of Florida

Be in Tallahassee March 22nd and 23rd to voice your concerns about this urgent issue.

When it comes to the drilling debate, what we already have in hand is worth protecting

By Brian Haugen

Destin Log

You’ve heard the old phrase “one in the hand, two in the bush”?

The Trouble with Offshore Drilling

By Regan Nelson

Natural Resources Defense Council

Last Friday, NRDC released this statement in response to the recent energy report issued by the National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP).

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

Judge shows impatience over Glades cleanup

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Eighteen months ago, the federal judge overseeing Everglades cleanup progress tentatively endorsed a state bid to buy sugar fields for restoration projects, calling the opportunity to ``buy out the polluters'' a logical solution to long-standing problems.

Palm Beach County questions costs of governor’s Everglades restoration land deal

By Andy Reid

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The numbers for Gov. Charlie Crist's blockbuster Everglades land deal just aren't adding up for Palm Beach County officials worried about seeing local environmental projects sacrificed to help cover the $536 million cost.

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

Burning down: New energy source is running into trouble

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Tribune

As biomass energy supporters complain of opposition to some biomass projects around the state, a company that is proposing to build two in north Florida has suspended work on one in Gadsden County.

Snake slaying was improper, wildlife officials say

By David Fleshler

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A man who helped kill a Burmese python in front of journalists at a Hallandale Beach processing plant broke the rules governing the hunting of the non-native snakes in the Everglades, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Constantine’s recycling bill would boost reuse of solid waste to 75% by 2020

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

State Sen. Lee Constantine's longtime goal of dramatically boosting the recycling of Florida's 32 million tons a year of trash is gaining momentum.

Cement Over Miami

By Kirk Nielsen

Poder 360

In the aggregate, the federal stewards of Everglades restoration are moving quickly to preserve wetland destruction for generations to come.

Sugar deal has turned sour

By Paula Dockery

Miami Herald

Friends of the Everglades were understandably excited when Florida Gov. Charlie Crist unveiled a $1.75 billion deal to buy out U.S. Sugar two years ago, effectively closing down a major polluter of the Everglades.

What's happening to pythons bagged in state-sanctioned hunt?

By David Fleshler

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

For some Burmese pythons captured in the Everglades, the end of the line is a building in a warehouse district of Hallandale Beach.

House proposes to overhaul PSC's structure

By Mary Ellen Klas

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

Florida's Public Service Commission would undergo a complete face lift under a draft House proposal released Tuesday that moves the commission's regulatory staff into a separate entity that answers to the Legislature and tightens qualifications for commissioners.

A Good Deal for the Everglades

Editorial

New York Times

The effort to restore Florida’s Everglades has been revived thanks to the efforts of President Obama and Florida’s Republican governor, Charlie Crist.

First Coast might need a drink of (river) water soon

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

State water managers and utilities, some offering determined resistance, are drafting long-term plans for taking drinking water from Northeast Florida’s rivers.

Limbaugh needs tutorial in turtle ways

By Frank Cerabino

Palm Beach Post

Rush Limbaugh's great at using satire to make a point.

Nicer weather raising chances of boaters, whales crossing paths

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

Jay Smaglis was on his boat with a friend last week, trying to do some reef fishing east of Jacksonville Beach, when a surprise rose up from the ocean.

At Jacksonville Superfund site, Nelson calls for tax shift to pay for cleanups

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson visited a long-vacant Superfund site on Jacksonville's Talleyrand riverfront Monday to say he will try to reinstate taxes on the oil and chemical industries to pay for environmental cleanups at the country's most contaminated places.

Marine waters planning needed to avoid conflicts, panelists say

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

States, industries and scientists should work together to plan for the management and use of natural resources in oceans, panelists at a Florida Oceans Day workshop said Wednesday.

House OKs red tide study

Staff Report

Ft. Myers News-Press

Algae blooms that create red tide, which kill fish and threaten tourism in Florida, would become a focus of government study under legislation the House approved Friday.

Killing solar rebate program throws Florida into reverse

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

When it comes to finding energy, the Legislature seems stuck in the past. It would rather talk about drilling for fossil fuels than lighting up Florida's future with renewable energy.

Politics and the environment

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

Decades of environmental recklessness have left us depending on the political system to fix problems. And that often creates a bigger mess.

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