By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM APALACHICOLA — Both candidates in the race for Congress in the Florida Panhandle say the Apalachicola River and the tri-state water wars are an important issue for voters in the district. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal court since 1990 over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint system. Last year, […]
Larry Childers, chief of the Communications and Information Division, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, responded after deadline to comments by Mitch Reid of the Alabama Rivers Alliance: What is Alabama’s role in the lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court Oct. 1, 2013 by Florida against Georgia to request a water-sharing plan? CHILDERS: Alabama
Alabama responds to River Alliance comments Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A flotilla of about 70 red, green, orange a blue kayaks and canoes drifted down the Alabama River, providing a colorful contrast against the gray capital city and overcast skies. Alabama depends on water flowing from Georgia to feed some of its rivers just as Florida does with
Alabama grapples with water use, planning affecting Florida Read More »
State officials are recommending denial of a requested water use permit for a cattle ranch in Marion County whose application in 2011 prompted a political campaign on behalf of Florida’s springs. The St. Johns River Water Management District staff says the application by Sleepy Creek Lands for 1.12 million in new pumping, combined with exiting
District staff urges denial of controversial ranch water request Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM EUFAULA, Ala. — The Chattahoochee River is a single stream flowing towards Florida. But there were two very different activities going on this week that showed the contrasting ways in which people and institutions can deal with a water issue. Along the banks of Lake Eufaula, created by a dam across
One river system — with varying efforts to save it Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed 94 bills into law including most of the notable environmental legislation that passed in the 2014 legislative session. The 2014 session overall was quiet, but only after controversial bills dealing with growth management (SB 372) and environmental regulation (HB 703) died in committees. Among the bills signed
Scott signs environmental bills following quiet session Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Environmental groups say a coal-fired power plant along the Apalachicola River is leaking cancer-causing pollutants into the river. The Earthjustice law firm announced Thursday it had filed a federal lawsuit in Tallahassee on behalf of environmental groups to stop the alleged leaks from Gulf Power Co.’s Plant Scholz near Sneads. Coal ash
Groups claim coal ash is leaking into Apalachicola River Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Gov. Rick Scott spared legislators’ prized water projects on Monday while vetoing $68.9 million in the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The state budget will increase by $3 billion since last fiscal year with the help of a rebounding economy that produced more state revenue. “I looked at every
Scott signs 2014-15 budget, spares local water projects Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Sierra Club Florida is asking Gov. Rick Scott to veto a bill that supporters say would speed the cleanup and redevelopment of contamination sites known as brownfields. Meanwhile, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $400,000 to three Florida communities for brownfields cleanups, according to the Florida Department of Environmental
Sierra Club seeks ‘brownfields’ bill veto as grants are given Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Five years later and the scenario sadly seems the same, but I’m not the same person. In December 2008 I was laid off by the Tallahassee Democrat. Rather than taking the day off or updating my resume, I instead went back out and covered the environment beat, created a web site
Surviving another layoff with optimism but some concern Read More »
