Misc

A special land deal involving the Legislature, Florida Atlantic University and the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution Foundation goes back before the governor and Cabinet on Wednesday. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is requesting consideration of a new purchase agreement for 134.74 acres in St. Lucie County along Indian River Lagoon. With approval, the state […]

In advance of a protest in Washington by recreational and commercial fishermen, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson said today he will file legislation to address red snapper fishing restrictions. The restrictions are being imposed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which was amended in 2007 to mandate the use of catch limits to end

Florida Hometown Democracy today announced that Florida writer and political activist Julie Hauserman has been named campaign manager for Amendment 4. Dubbed the “Hometown Democracy” amendment, the Florida Constitution ballot measure would require voter approval to changes to local comprehensive growth plans. Supporters say voter approval is needed to wrest growth management from the control

Artist’s rendering of proposed biomass plant, from BG&E; web site A group of more than 20 Gulf County residents have filed a legal challenge against a proposed biomass gas electric plant in Port St. Joe. Biomass Gas & Electric (BG&E;) of Norcross, Ga. has proposed building the Northwest Florida Renewable Energy Center to heat and

Democrat Scott Maddox on Monday used the release of an environmental scorecard of Congressional representatives to fire a shot at the likely Republican nominee, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, in the agriculture commissioner race. The League of Conservation Voters rated all members of Congress based on their votes on issues including energy, global warming, environmental health

Rules meetings and workshops — they sound boring. But there are two interesting meetings going on this week that both involve state or federal rules and both are being held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. They are items on the “Week Ahead” published by The Florida Tribune at Lobbytools.com. Today, the Florida Department of Community

The Nature Conservancy and state forestry officials are asking the state to buy 10,087 acres along Wolfe Creek in Okaloosa County. The state Acquisition and Restoration Council on Friday voted to move forward on five new proposed purchase areas, including two that would be landowner conservation agreements. The Wolfe Creek area, owned by International Paper

A House panel on Thursday saw some of the prettier and uglier sides of coastal oil drilling and production. The House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning held another hearing in a series towards developing legislation to allow drilling in Florida waters, which extend 10.3 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. On Thursday,

What a difference a year makes — when it comes to a bill to require that neighbors be notified of groundwater contamination from a pollution site. HB 207 by Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, Wednesday was temporarily passed by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee after Kriseman acknowledged that members appeared ready to

A revised bill that would allow the state to grant state permits to limestone mining operations for the life of the mine was approved by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee. Permits for the life of a mine now are granted for heavy minerals operations but not limestone mines, according to a bill