Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday allowed a bill to become law that delays a statewide inspection requirement for septic tanks. The inspection requirement was in SB 550, which then-Gov. Charlie Crist signed in June with support that included the Sierra Club Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association. Supporters said the requirement would protect public […]
Septic tanks inspection delay becomes law without signature Read More »
The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday told Florida Power & Light Co. to resubmit its energy conservation plan to meet yearly goals established by the agency under state law. FPL, the state’s largest utility with 2.1 million customers, was the last among seven utilities to have its plans reviewed by the PSC as provided
Florida Power & Light told to revise its energy conservation plan Read More »
A recommendation to Governor-elect Rick Scott that the state transportation, environmental and planning agencies be combined suggests a return to Florida’s past growth management mistakes, a University of Florida planning expert said Tuesday. Scott’s regulatory reform transition team suggested combining the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Community Affairs during the
Expert: New Florida governor risks repeating past growth mistakes Read More »
A federal judge on Friday expressed support for a new $1.5 billion federal plan to reduce Everglades pollution while raising concerns with Florida’s response to the proposal, according to the Associated Press. United States District Judge Alan. S. Gold, who in April threatened the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with contempt of court over chronic water
Judge not pleased with Florida in Everglades case Read More »
Attorneys for Martin County and two development firms are defending a state appeals court decision ordering environmental groups to pay for challenging a Martin County land-use decision. The 1st District Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered 1000 Friends of Florida and the Martin County Conservation Alliance to pay attorneys’ fees for the Florida Department of
Attorneys defend court ordering Florida environmental groups to pay Read More »
Leading up to a federal court hearing in Miami on Friday, Friends of the Everglades is calling on the state to require polluters rather than taxpayers to pay for cleaning up the “River of Grass.” Friends of the Everglades and the Miccosukee Tribe have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over failure to clean up
Federal court to hear Everglades case Friday Read More »
A state appeals court ruled on Tuesday that environmental groups must pay the attorneys fees of Martin County, the Florida Department of Community Affairs and development interests for appealing a land-use case. Richard Grosso, an attorney for the groups 1000 Friends of Florida and the Martin County Conservation Alliance, says the ruling sets a chilling
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The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 to approve a settlement with Florida Power & Light Co. to resolve a controversial rate-hike request denied by the commission earlier this year. The PSC denial in January of a $1 billion rate hike request played a role in the Senate’s refusal in April to confirm
Florida PSC approves rate freeze for Florida Power & Light Read More »
This manatee was rescued from Wakulla Springs during a cold weather snap in February 2008. The number of manatee deaths in 2010 is already more than 50 percent higher than the record number that died in 2009 — with cold weather this year having taken a heavy toll on the lumbering sea cows, Florida wildlife
Cold weather pushes manatee deaths past last year’s record Read More »
Environmental groups say this algae bloom in 2009 on a tributary of the St. Johns River was fueled by excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection official on Thursday for the first time sounded a note different from the sharp criticism leveled by state officials and industry representatives towards
Florida DEP credits controversial federal water standards Read More »
