2009 archive

Here’s a look at the Top 10 environmental stories from around Florida’s Capitol in 2009 and a look at how those issues may play out in 2010: 1. Oil drilling — Drilling off Florida’s coastline faced bipartisan opposition until 2008, when Gov. Charlie Crist said he was open to the idea at the time he […]

Environmental groups are applauding Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc.’s decision not to build a new coal-fired power unit at its generating in Putnam County. Seminole Electric, which doesn’t have retail customers but sells electricity wholesale to other utilities across Florida, proposed building a third coal-fired unit at its Seminole Generating Station six miles north of Palatka.

Two environmental groups served notice today that they plan to sue federal officials for failing to take steps to protect the Florida panther. The only population of Florida panthers is located in Southwest Florida where they face loss of habitat from development and threats from traffic while crossing roads. Perhaps fewer than 120 exist there

By The News Service of FloridaMONTGOMERY, Ala. — Gov. Charlie Crist met with his two neighboring governors today in Alabama to renew efforts to resolve a dispute over water usage and the three emerged confident they’ll resolve the dispute rather than let a federal judge’s solution stand. Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama and Gov. Sonny

The governors of Alabama, Florida and Georgia likely won’t have a proposed water-sharing agreement in hand next week when they meet to discuss the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, a Florida official said today. The three states have been battling in federal court since 1990 over the river system, which is a source of drinking water for

Twenty-five members of Florida’s congressional delegation have signed a letter urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work closely with state officials and industry in setting limits for nutrients in Florida waterways. Scientists say nitrogen and phosphorus feed algae that have choked springs, rivers and lakes and have contributed to red tide in coastal waters.

A group of 25 business and government officials is going to the United Nations climate change conference in Denmark next week to push for green jobs for Florida. Meanwhile, a former U.S. climate negotiator told a Tallahassee audience on Tuesday that climate changes threatens the global economy and security. Florida State University scientists presented evidence

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection today delayed action on proposed stricter rules over the land disposal of sewage sludge after one disposal company said the changes could cost it more than $1,000 per day. DEP has been working since 2002 on proposed rule revisions in response to public complaints and environmental concerns about sewage

The Environmental Regulation Commission on Tuesday will consider changes to regulations dealing with “biosolids.” That’s the term used to describe the waste from sewage treatment plants, also called sewage sludge. Spreading biosolids or sewage sludge on land has raised health and safety concerns in some counties. The National Academy of Sciences says the use of