Misc

By Bruce Ritchie A draft House committee bill that would move Florida’s land-planning agency into the Department of State was met by an outcry Monday from environmentalists who called it an attempt by legislators and developers to punish state planners. The Florida Department of Community Affairs, which includes state land-planners, faces a “sunset” review by […]

By Bruce Ritchie Members of a House committee today criticized Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposal to tax water-bottling, saying it’s a threat to jobs and could lead to a similar tax on agricultural water use. As part of his proposed $66.5 billion budget for 2009-10, the state would collect 6 cents per gallon on water-bottling plants.

By Bruce Ritchie With the state’s land-buying program having dodged a bullet in January, The Nature Conservancy today released a report saying that the program plays a vital role in the state’s economy. Florida has conserved more than 500,000 acres since 2000 under the Florida Forever program, which receives $300 million annually. But the program

By Bruce Ritchie Florida’s efforts to reverse the decline of coastal and ocean resources earned only a C grade today from a coalition of environmental groups who want the state to show more national leadership on ocean issues. The coalition of seven groups called on Florida to restrict development in sensitive coastal areas, establish an

By Bruce Ritchie A grand jury in Leon County has cleared city officials, Florida State University President T. K. Wetherell and his wife, Virginia Wetherell, of wrongdoing in the siting of a proposed biomass gas electric plant on FSU property. Biomass Gas & Electric of Norcross, Ga. received approval from the governor and Cabinet in

By Bruce Ritchie With Tallahassee seeking federal money to upgrade its sewage treatment plant, Wakulla Springs supporters now are focusing more attention on the threat to groundwater posed by septic tanks. Wakulla Springs has become choked with weeds and algae in the past decade as nitrogen levels in groundwater increased. Scientists say nitrogen sources include

By Bruce Ritchie Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on “Meet the Press” Sunday defended his support of the federal stimulus package. But there was little mention of growth and environmental issues until Crist appeared on the program’s “Take Two” segment on the Web. During “Take Two,” Crist said the Republican Party’s approach is perhaps too narrow

By Bruce Ritchie The state’s conservation land-buying program will be maintained at its present yearly level under the 2009-10 state budget proposed today by Gov. Charlie Crist. Florida Forever and its predecessor led to the purchase or protection of nearly 2.5 million acres of state forests, parks and wildlife preserves along with urban parks. But

By Bruce Ritchie Senate President Jeff Atwater said today he thinks Florida’s possible adoption of California’s proposed auto emissions standards will remain an issue in the upcoming legislative session despite committee action this week against the measure. To reduce Florida’s contribution of greenhouse gas emissions, Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007 directed the Department of Environmental

By Bruce Ritchie A Senate committee chairman has introduced a bill that could be used to block Florida’s purchase of up to 187,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp. for Everglades restoration. SB 1436, by Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, would require water management districts to win voter approval before issuing certificates of participation, the same type