2010 archive

Representatives of Florida cities and counties were warned Tuesday that there may not be state grant money again this year for their park and open space purchases. The Florida Communities Trust (FCT) program in 2008 received $63 million for matching grants with cities and counties. But the program didn’t process grant applications last year after […]

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association is opposing offshore oil and gas drilling and is asking the Legislature not to take up the issue before the session ends on April 30. The House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning is expected has been holding hearings on drilling and is expected to consider possible

Anglers from Gulf states including Florida will be allowed to catch more red snapper this year but must do so during shortened season under a new federal proposal. Federal snapper and grouper restrictions have become a political hot-button issue as commercial fishing groups and recreational anglers have protested restrictions imposed to end overfishing under the

Florida last year for the first time began requiring residents to purchases licenses to fish from the shoreline, docks and jetties. Residents could either buy a saltwater fishing license for $17, which allows them to fish from boats or the shoreline, or buy the shoreline-only permit for $7.50. As of Feb. 28, 59,530 of the

A comprehensive bill, dubbed the “mega-water bill” by one senator, received approval from the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation Tuesday despite a variety concerns raised by groups. The bill, SB 550, sponsored by Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs and committee chairman, would establish septic tank utilities statewide, create a state financing mechanism for

Florida needs to change the way it manages and uses water in the future as it repairs the mistakes of the past, a panel of environmental book authors suggested on Saturday. The panel at the Tallahassee Festival of Books and Writers Conference featured Cynthia Barnett, Doug Alderson and Michael Grunwald. Barnett, author of “Mirage: Florida

An artist’s rendering of the planned Adage LLC plant in Hamilton County, which received a state air permit in January. As biomass energy supporters complain of opposition to some biomass projects around the state, a company that was proposing to build two in north Florida withdrew its permit application for one in Gadsden County. Biomass

The House Energy and Utilities Policy Committee on Wednesday voted to introduce a bill that would allow local governments to finance individual renewable-energy, conservation and wind-resistance projects at homes and businesses. Committee Republicans and Democrats alike praised the idea of the proposed “Property Assessed Clean Energy” program (PACE). Under the program, local governments can finance

Ichetucknee Springs State Park A Senate panel is recommending that the Legislature consider establishing local septic tank utilities across the state to protect water quality. Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-Palm Beach, established the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Inland Waters in October and named Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, to chair it. The committee held

Coastal and Marine Resources Assessment Prototype States, industries and scientists should work together to plan for the management and use of natural resources in oceans, panelists at a Florida Oceans Day workshop said Wednesday. A proposal to allow oil drilling in state waters in the Gulf of Mexico is being crafted by the House Select