Misc

House and Senate budget conferees have agreed to provide $2 million to the Florida Department of Health for an ongoing study of septic tank technologies. Meanwhile, bill language looms that would prevent agencies from reducing nitrogen pollution from septic tanks while the study continues. The study has been an issue for the past two years […]

The Florida House adopted resolutions Wednesday calling on Congress to roll back federal environmental regulations or not adopt new ones. The House adopted HB 1589, which criticizes the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed water quality standards. The EPA says nitrogen and phosphorus reductions are needed to reduce algae that is clogging waterways, but utilities

Twelve national and southern environmental groups called on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to delay action on proposed new nuclear plants, including two in Florida, because of design flaws that raise safety issues. Florida Power & Light Co. has proposed expanding its Turkey Point nuclear plant and Progress Energy has proposed building a new nuclear plant

A bill requiring expanded public notification of contamination sites passed the Senate on Wednesday. SB 602 was filed in response to contamination at the Raytheon electronics manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg. Groundwater contamination was discovered in 1991 and the state was notified in 1995. But surrounding residents were not told until 2005 when the Florida

A controversial Senate water bill won committee approval Tuesday after the sponsor won support from home builders. SB 550 by Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, followed public hearings around the state last winter as senators heard concerns about algal blooms, pollution and overpumping of groundwater. Constantine told the Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Ways

PSC Commissioner David E. Klement A Senate committee adjourned its meeting Tuesday before voting on two of Gov. Charlie Crist’s nominees to the Florida Public Service Commission. The decision left the fates of two appointees in limbo although Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, said that there would be another chance to decide whether

The House agreed Tuesday to provide money for Florida Forever, ending a year-long funding drought for the state land-buying program. The House agreed Tuesday to provide money for Florida Forever, ending a year-long funding drought for the state land-buying program. Florida Forever is the largest land-buying program in the nation with 2.4 million acres having

A Senate recycling bill on Monday was amended and passed by a committee after it was nearly derailed by biomass energy opponents. SB 570 by Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, lays out a path towards reaching the state’s goal of recycling 75 percent of waste by 2020. The state now recycles about 28 percent of

A House energy bill was passed Monday by a committee despite concerns about biomass energy raised by a pulp and paper industry representative. HB 7229 allows utilities to recover $386 million from customers for 735 megawatts of renewable energy over the next three years. Chris Broome, general manager of the Smurfit-Stone container board mill in

The House on Monday did not include money for Florida Forever in its conference committee budget offer but it did offer $10 million for Everglades restoration. Florida Forever is the nation’s largest land-buying program but the program received no money from the Legislature last year and could run out of money this year. The House