Government

Permitting bill includes “sneak attack” on local rock mining regs

2011 Legislature, Government, Permitting, Water /

In a move described as a “sneak attack” by one environmental opponent, a House bill that supporters say would streamline the state permitting process was amended Thursday to prevent local governments from regulating rock mining. HB 991 by Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, was amended by the House Economic Affairs Committee. Business groups long have […]

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Florida environmentalists uneasy as legislative session enters second half

2011 Legislature, Conservation, Government, Growth Management, Growth Management Law, Land Acquisition /

With the Legislative session more than half over, some environmentalists are saying the session already has been bad enough. But at least one veteran environmental lobbyist says the worst could be yet to come. The Legislature is showing little interest in providing new money for the Florida Forever land-buying program while at the same time

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EPA agrees to study new water standards in Florida

Federal Agencies, Government, Pollution, Water /

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to an independent review of federal water quality standards for Florida that were adopted last fall. The EPA says nitrogen and phosphorus have caused algae in Florida waterways and toxic red tides along the coast. The federal numeric nutrient criteria replaces a state narrative standard that environmentalists

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Commission faces heat for considering increase in redfish catch

Federal Agencies, Government, Wildlife /

A proposal by state fisheries managers to increase the daily recreational catch for red drum in North Florida recalls the “redfish wars” of the late 1980s, according to a veteran recreational fishing activist. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday will consider raising the limit for red drum from one to two in

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Wakulla Springs lodge could close under proposed versions of state budget

1 Comment / 2011 Legislature, Budgets, Government, Parks /

The historic lodge at Wakulla Springs State Park could eventually close under proposed House and Senate versions of the 2011-12 state budget. Both versions of the budget call for turning concessions at five state parks over to private companies to operate. Wakulla Springs State Park supporters are concerned that the 27-bed lodge built in 1937

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Senate budget chief wants land sales to pay for new purchases

2011 Legislature, Budgets, Conservation, Government, Land Acquisition /

The Senate’s budget chief says selling state land could help the Florida Forever land-buying program survive these lean budget times. A proposed Senate version of the 2011-12 state budget includes $308 million in spending authority for the program. But the money would have to come from the sale of land the state now owns. Florida

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Coley targets another section of last year’s water quality bill

2011 Legislature, Legislation, Pollution, Water /

Rep. Marti Coley has filed another bill to repeal a section of the SB 550 the water quality bill that passed the Legislature in 2010. SB 550 included a requirement that septic tanks statewide to be inspected every five years and it banned the spreading of septic tank waste on land in 2016. The Legislature

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Walton County bill raises statewide concerns for sea turtles

2011 Legislature, Government, Growth Management, Land-use Planning, Wildlife /

Some environmentalists are asking the Legislature to take a closer look at a local bill for Walton County that could allow sea walls to remain in place without state permits. Following extensive beach erosion caused by Hurricane Dennis in 2005, Walton County authorized the construction of between 250 and 275 sea walls along 26 miles

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Governor skips Florida Forever rally, visits with Tea Party

Advocacy, Budgets, Conservation, Gov. Rick Scott, Government, Land Acquisition /

Gov. Rick Scott skipped a rally for the Florida Forever conservation land-buying program but attended a nearby “Tea Party” rally on the opening day of the legislative session. Florida Forever was the largest land-buying program in the nation from 1990 to 2008, when funding was reduced. Scott offered no money for the program in his

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Environmental groups digging in for tough legislative session

2011 Legislature, Advocacy, Conservation, Gov. Rick Scott, Government, Growth Management, Growth Management Law, Legislation, Water /

Environmental groups, which have become accustomed to playing defense in the Legislature for many years, are digging in for what could be an even tougher fight this year. The legislative session starts on Tuesday, March 8. There are bills filed to streamline environmental permitting, repeal a statewide septic tank inspection requirement and prohibit local governments

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