Author name: bruce

Author, friend who promotes ‘water ethic’ to speak in Tallahassee

By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Cynthia Barnett, author of “Mirage” and “Blue Revolution”, is coming to Tallahassee on Feb. 28 to give a presentation on developing a water ethic. When she said she wanted me to help let people know, I couldn’t refuse. She has been my friend for more than 24 years and she introduced […]

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Is saying hi to a reporter taboo for government employees?

By Bruce Ritchie Floridaenvironments.com I didn’t see Connie Bersok at the Tallahassee airport art reception last April, but she sure saw me. And she made a beeline out of there. I know only because she told Florida Department of Environmental Protection investigators that during a recorded interview under oath on June 1. Bersok is a

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COMING SOON: Big renewable energy project that may never get built

BY BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Sometimes covering the environment and energy in Florida seems like the land of big promises and broken dreams. But I’ve decided that just comes with the beat. Witness this week when James Scrivener, CEO of National Solar Power, updated the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce on his plans to build 400

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Supreme Court decision affects Apalachicola River and Gulf of Mexico

There was another Supreme Court ruling this week that was important to a few million people, if not the world. Besides deciding on the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court announced Monday it was not taking up an appeals court decision on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, according to The Florida Current. Alabama, Florida and Georgia

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Wildlife expedition holds scientific value even if biologist has regrets

By BRUCE RITCHIE Floridaenvironments.com Biologist Joe Guthrie sounds like he’s being too hard on himself for not taking more notes or recording data on his recent 1,000-mile trek with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition. Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr., conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmett and documentary filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus finished their journey April 22 in

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Cabinet members join group on expedition across Florida

By BRUCE RITCHIE A team of conservationists on a 1,000-mile expedition across Florida was joined by two Cabinet officials last week just past midway on their trek. Photographer Carlton Ward Jr., biologist Joe Guthrie and filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus began their journey on Jan. 9 from Florida Bay at the tip of Everglades National Park. They

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Septic tanks bill will hurt Wakulla Springs, Tallahassee official says

BY BRUCE RITCHIE There’s new opposition to bills that would repeal a state septic tank inspection requirement: A Tallahassee official told senators this week that the bill could make it more difficult to restore Wakulla Springs. The Legislature in 2010 adopted a statewide septic tank inspection requirement that supporters said would protect springs and groundwater.

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Florida environmentalists say there are more bills to work on

By Bruce Ritchie Floridaenvironments.com After scoring victories last week, environmental group lobbyists at the Florida Capitol say there is plenty more work to do during the 2012 legislative session. Environmental groups dropped their opposition on Tuesday to HB 503 dealing with environmental permitting and HB 639 dealing with reclaimed water after they were amended to

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