By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Gov. Rick Scott on Monday reappointed Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson along with 15 other agency heads following the Senate’s failure to confirm. The Senate failed to vote on many of Scott’s appointments last week as the 2015 legislative session broke down amid an impasse between the House and […]
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAPOLITICS.COM An official appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court to oversee a lawsuit filed by Florida against Georgia over water use on Monday issued an order providing for confidential talks among the states. Ralph I. Lancaster, a Maine attorney who’s special master in the case, in a conference call also called the
Court official in FL v. GA water case issues confidentiality order Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE A legal dispute in the U. S. Supreme Court between Florida and Georgia over water can proceed without the involvement of federal government that operates dams on the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers, federal officials say. That argument highlights how the water dispute between the states has changed. And if the argument holds
Florida in a bad spot with argument in water dispute, professor says Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTS Two Florida universities, two counties and more groups in Apalachicola have received subpoenas from Georgia in its water dispute with Florida before the U. S. Supreme Court, prompting more criticism of Florida’s lawsuit. Florida in 2013 asked the U. S. Supreme Court to divide water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) system
Apalachicola group fires back at Georgia subpoena in water lawsuit Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTS Environmental groups in Georgia and a seafood workers group in Franklin County are among the organizations required to turn over information in a legal dispute over water between Florida and Georgia. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in court over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system since 1990. In
Florida, Georgia issue subpoenas to groups in water legal fight Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTS Gov. Rick Scott’s office on Thursday provided a breakdown of how the governor requests $757 million provided by Amendment 1 be spent in the 2015-16 state budget. Amendment 1, approved by voters in November, provides one third of the revenue from an excise tax on real estate transactions to the
Governor provides Amendment 1 spending breakdown Read More »
BY BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS Georgia is denying it caused the decline of oysters in Apalachicola Bay beginning in 2012 and says Florida is responsible for environmental problems along the Apalachicola River. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been battling in court since 1990 over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system. Florida contends that increasing water use
Georgia claims Florida is responsible for collapse of Apalachicola Bay oysters Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS After taking office this week, “The North Florida Way” for U. S. Rep. Gwen Graham on Friday meant joining with Republicans on Friday in support of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Graham, D-Tallahassee, unseated Republican Rep. Steve Southerland of Panama City in November. She said in her campaign she would bring the “North Florida
Graham irks environmentalists with vote for Keystone XL pipeline Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Sen. President Andy Gardiner said Thursday that a five-year planning process for land purchases and water projects may be a good idea following voter approval last month of Amendment 1. The amendment provides one-third of revenue from an excise tax on real estate to water and land conservation. Amendment 1 was
Senate president says five-year land-buying work plan needed Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced Thursday he is establishing a new office to coordinate the state’s efforts on two fronts in water wars with Alabama and Florida. Also on Thursday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott named Jon Steverson, the outspoken executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, to lead the
