conservation:
Turn off the lights March 28 for Earth Hour!
(8:30PM - 9:30PM)
I'm in, are you?
-Judi

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comment:
A very strong YES!!!!!!!
 
e-lists and friends please pass it on,
-ed
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Fee/WATER/Hike/Infrastructure/Water Scarcity/Conservation/FL Forever/Drought/Marker/Rockledge ASR/FLA Bills 
 
 
Our Santa Fe River, Inc.

www.oursantaferiver.org

1-386-454-4446 (new number)

oursantafe@hotmail.com
 
 
 
MARCH 22  World Water Day celebration
I wish to share the story of a woman who chartered a boat from Key West to the Dry Tortugas. 
The trip was to last several days.  The minute she and the others stepped onto the boat they
were given one gallon of water each and told that was their personal allocation for each day
(1 gallon per day).  It was to be used for drinking, brushing teeth, bathing, anything that required water. 
She learned very quickly how much water one really needs. 
 
In honor of World Water Day try to use one gallon per family member and see your water limitations.
 
One more thing.  I am also reminded of the children in water starved, poor countries that must walk
for miles in one direction to the community water pump to fill their bucket only to turn around and
walk home for their entire family's water needs. Do your part for them and participate in the
Food and Water Watch call to action request below.
 
Hello Everyone,
 
It's time for Our Santa Fe River, Inc. to make a public statement about Florida Senate and House Bills being debated in Committees in Tallahassee. 
They are companion bills relating to Severance Fee or Tax on bottled water. 
I have posted many documents below so that you may make your own conclusions on how to fee or tax the water bottlers.
 
Call the Rep. and Sen. here and then find out your own Rep. and Sen. and tell them how you feel about this type of legislation.
HB 681, presented by Representative Rehwinkel Vasilinda (850) 488-0965. ask for Leisa Wiseman if the Rep is not available.
http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=hb068100.html&Directory=session/2009/House/bills/billtext/html/ 
 
SB 2576,  presented by Senator Evelyn Lynn (850) 487-5033, ask for Connie Mullis  if Sen. is not available
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2009&BillNum=2576
 
See how our area Representative, Debbie Boyd feels about this bill, then call her 850-488-9835 and tell her how you feel about it. Ask for Diana Robinson if she is not available
http://bruceritchie.blogspot.com/2009/03/crist-bottled-water-tax-draws-fire-in.html
 
http://www.leakbird.com/water-industry/bottled-water-industry-trying-to-avoid-florida-severance-tax-says-it-will-let-lawmakers-remove-sales-tax-exemption-to-be-paid-by-citizens-miamiherald 
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/03/florida-tax-bottled-water-companies.php
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/v-fullstory/story/929571.html
 
This describes Bill 485, a bill discussing many exemption statuses  
http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/politicalwhore/2009/03/11/florida-legislature-2009-session-day-10-tax-exemptions-sos-ballot-property-taxes-and-none-of-the-above/
 
We feel that the time has come to make the luxury water bottlers pay a premium price for their mining operations in the state of Florida. The fee in the Suwannee River Water Management District for a CUP (Consumptive Use Permit) is @ $250 dollars for a 20 year permit. and in the case of Coca-Cola (CCDA), they were issued 1,152,000 gallons per day allocation back in 1993 and began pumping in 1998 (they actually self-regulate and claim they only use between 350,000 and 660,000 daily).  Yes, they pay taxes to the state for the business they run here, but any business of that size would be subject to the same taxes.  Yes, they employ people, but any business of that size would employee people, and they are not immune to cut backs as they have had their fair share. 
 
We need sustainable development that doesn't impact our natural resources.  Nestle, at Madison County Blue Springs, operates at full throttle, pumping 1,470,000 millions of gallons of water daily. They make billions of dollars on our resources, it's no surprise that the facility is state of the art with lots of awards.  This is important to them because without this distinction they would be even more disliked by the general public who want their spring back.  The lovely spring has been downgraded from a 1st magnitude to a 2nd mag.  Some would argue that agriculture has impacted the flow of the spring head.  No doubt both, together, have had devastating impacts to the vulnerable Floridan Aquifer.  Agriculture operates seasonally and when needed, bottlers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
 
The bottlers say if they get charged than so should any business using water, referencing agriculture as a smoke screen to their predicament.  Do not allow this type of argument to get in the way of the reality that the bottlers steal our public natural resource, put it in plastic, ship it away and make billions of dollars.  Agriculture is necessary to FEED the masses. Certainly, Agricultural Best Management Practices are voluntarily being practiced now that we have a better understanding of how our water flows.  Water is not RENEWABLE as one supposes thanks to drought conditions and population explosion. The water agriculture uses stays here in the form of irrigation.  Food requires water.  Do you think for a moment that we should just stop eating?  Guess what, if we stop using bottled water we can get our needs met with our OWN (filtered if need be) tap water.   
 
Because water bottlers ship our water out of the state a "sales tax"  would mean Florida would lose millions in tax revenues to other states and countries.  We already lose our most precious natural resource to these mining corporations.  AND the consumer would bare the burden of the cost here.   
 
A "severance fee" is necessary.  Whether from a spring or a municipality source, each gallon of water that gets extracted needs to be charged a 6 cent user fee from these luxury corporations.  They use the water not only to fill the bottles up, but also to clean the plastic bottles, and to purify the water (reverse osmosis, RO, in many cases).
 
Yes, they mine the water.  OSFR has said this from day one.  They stick a pipe in the ground and suck out a universal necessity, our planet's most valuable resource, water...for free and turn it around to make billions of dollars.  This type of business depletes our Floridan Aquifer and other aquifers in the state of Florida, creates sink holes, and often sucks the life out of a spring.   Clean-clear artesian water, here in North Florida, is a bottler's dream....MAKE THEM PAY
 
Bottlers covet this flagrant use of water so much that once they get all their permits in place they are free to continue to suck, even in times of drought when restrictions on residential use is limited.  They also believe once they have this CUP permit paper that all neighborhoods should simply lay down and allow them to exist because they claim they will be good for the community.  WHAT???  Trucks, noise, water depletion, plastic, good for them maybe, but not for it's neighbors at all.   Recently, neighbors to the Santa Fe River told the local public officials that it was not good for them and the Gilchrist County Commissioners listened and subsequently denied a construction permit to Blue Springs Properties to build a bottling facility.  
 
They say they are good stewards of the surrounding land.  In our area, they buy land alright, so that their product is protected.  I gotta say that once the well runs dry...they're gone without looking back and their land acquisitions will go right back on the market for whomever to do what's legally available to them.
 
The state of Florida wants to impose a 6 cent per gallon severance fee on the water bottlers, we support this.  We would want provisions made so that the money goes directly to protecting the state's most vulnerable precious natural resource...water.  Without this fee we have nothing, bottlers take the water and we have no money for their luxury use.  Money we could use to buy land to protect our springsheds in perpetuity, money we could use to restore a spring, money we could use to improve our natural riparian environments.
 
This by no means is a concession to allow more bottlers to come to the Santa Fe River or the state for that matter.  It is a matter of practicality.  Make the water bottlers pay for the injustice they have created by utilizing a public resource for profit and gains through losses and harm to our environment. 
 
Sincerely,
Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson
President of Our Santa Fe River, Inc.     
 
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Water Forum in Turkey

March 20, 2009

Dear Supporter, 

I wanted to personally thank you for objecting to the actions by U.S. representatives at the World Water Forum in Turkey, which removed language declaring water as a human right and public good from the final ministerial document.

We've flooded Congress with more than 17,000 messages already. Help us get to 50,000!

If you haven't already, please take a minute now to contact your member of Congress about the actions of these U.S. representatives and make sure to forward this to your friends.

These U.S. representatives in Turkey are still trying to make water part of the corporate profit margin and it's important that you continue shining a light on what is happening in Turkey.

Honor the water that is essential to our lives and communities by contacting your elected officials.

The World Water Forum ends on Sunday, March 22 -- on World Water Day. Our international activists are doing their best here in Turkey. We need every voice. More details soon...

Wenonah Hauter
Executive Director
Food & Water Watch

P.S. Please support World Water Day events in your community. 
Check out the Food & Water Watch calendar to find out how you too can celebrate our precious resource.

 
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http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=UvIXG5Imm0OwJZ5Lz26ubY2D7Jj4vnsA

Bush staffers: Still doing you wrong. This time it's water.
"Tell Congress: ENOUGH!"

Dear Merrillee,

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HgtVnV+vD8hkYkEKdgjgCo2D7Jj4vnsA

You want water to be considered a human right -- none of us can live without it, after all. Around the world, people -- people like you-- are fighting for their right to water and demanding that water be declared a human right.

Act Now

Old Bush staffers (yes, they are still around and still dangerous), negotiating on behalf of the United States, successfully removed language regarding the human right to water from the ministerial declaration of the 5th World Water Forum currently underway in Istanbul, Turkey.

Protect your right to water by writing to your members of Congress today. Tell them we must include the human right to water and water as a public good as part our international policy. This affirms the right to water for Americans and all people around the world.

The idea is as simple as breathing-without water, there is no life. Water needs to be declared a human right in order to stop the increasing privatization of municipal water systems by multinational corporations and to bring clean, safe public water to those areas that are without it.

Without the right to water, people all over the world face the nightmare scenario of choosing to pay the water bill instead of buying groceries for their families. The global water statistics are heartbreaking:

-- 1.4 billion people live without clean drinking water.
-- Two-fifths of the world's population lack access to proper sanitation.
-- Every eight seconds a child dies from drinking dirty water.
-- Half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by people with an easily preventable waterborne disease.
-- 80 percent of all sickness and disease worldwide is related to contaminated water, according to the World Health Organization.
-- Dirty water kills more children than war, malaria, HIV/AIDS and traffic accidents combined.

In honor of World Water Day on March 22, take action to bring water to the thirsty by telling your members of Congress today that it's time to clean house and support water as a human right. 

Sincerely,
Darcey O'Callaghan
International Policy Coordinator
Food & Water Watch
P.S. Find out about U.S. events in honor of World Water Day and learn about the counter World Water Forum going on in Istanbul right now (www.peopleswaterforum.org).

Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit consumer organization based in Washington, D.C., works to ensure clean water and safe food in the United States and around the world.  We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.  For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.

Talk to Us | Support Us | Subscribe

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JEA: Decline In Consumption To Blame For Possible Rate Hike

Water Rate Hike Looms For JEA Customers and IT IS SPREADING TO ALL OVER FLA IN EVERY DISTRICT

Keeping the faucet off and taking shorter showers may soon cost Jacksonville residents extra.

JEA said it is considering a water rate hike that would essentially have consumers paying more money for doing their part to conserve.

read more: http://www.news4jax.com/news/18954010/detail.html

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Failing Infrastructure Cannot Support a Healthy Economy

Civil Engineers' New Report Card Assesses Condition of Nation's Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Decades of underfunding and inattention have jeopardized the ability of our nation's infrastructure to support our economy and facilitate our way of life. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure - assigning a cumulative grade of D to the nation's infrastructure and noting a five-year investment need of $2.2 trillion from all levels of government and the private sector. Since ASCE's last assessment in 2005 there has been little change in the condition of the nation's roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works, and the cost of improvement has increased by more than half a trillion dollars.

read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS48781+28-Jan-2009+PRN20090128

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Water Scarcity "Now Bigger Threat Than Financial Crisis"

by: Geoffrey Lean  |  Visit article original @ The Independent UK

photo
A man stands next to an old well in Morocco. (Photo: Reuters)

    By 2030, more than half the world's population will live in high-risk areas.

    Humanity is facing "water bankruptcy" as a result of a crisis even greater than the financial meltdown now destabilising the global economy, two authoritative new reports show. They add that it is already beginning to take effect, and there will be no way of bailing the earth out of water scarcity.

read morehttp://www.truthout.org/031709EA
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Tax Savings and Conservation Opportunities for Agricultural Lands
 
A Free Seminar for Landowners, Professionals, and Interested Citizens
 
Tuesday March 24, 2009
8:30 am till 2 pm
Otter Springs Campground
 
*  Basics of Conservation Easements
*  Finanacial Impacts and Benefits
*  Conservation Easement Appraisals
*  Long Term Planning
*  National, County and State Resources
 
read more: http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/events_calendar/files/ctf_workshop032409.pdf
 
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Subject: Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink's Consumer eViews & Economic Benefits of Florida Forever 

FNPS Board of Directors: 

As a member of the Florida Forever Coalition, FNPS is making strides towards our mission in the most direct way possible.  A couple of weeks ago, I sent you a copy of the Economic Benefits of Land Conservation  paper put out by the Florida Forever Coalition and written primarily by The Nature Conservancy staff.  I've attached another copy here. 

Below are comments from Governor Crist's Cabinet CFO Alex Sink regarding the Economic Benefits report that you can use in your outreach programs.

 Karina 

 

 FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Karina Veaudry, Executive Director

311 S.. Glenwood Avenue

Orlando, FL  32803-6259

Tel (321) 388-4781

Website  www.fnps.org

 The mission of the Florida Native Plant Society

is to promote the preservation, conservation

and restoration of native plants and native

plant communities.

  Protecting and preserving Florida’s natural resources with Florida Forever

The financial benefits Florida receives from its natural habitats and protected conservation lands were documented in new report released this month by The Nature Conservancy titled “Economic Benefits of Land Conservation: A Case for Florida Forever”. The report can be read here:

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/files/economic_benefits_of_land_conservation.pdf 

“As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, I am constantly on the look out for what’s in the best interest of Florida’s economy.  As this new report by The Nature Conservancy and other environmental groups shows, protecting and preserving Florida’s natural resources with Florida Forever is a great economic driver for our state,” said CFO Alex Sink..  “Florida Forever creates jobs and put billions of dollars into our state’s economy, showing that when we protect our state’s natural treasures, we’re really protecting our state’s economic treasures as well.”


From: Chief Financial Officer [mailto:cfo@fldfs.com]
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 3:34 PM
Subject: Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink's Consumer eViews Newsletter

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink's Consumer eViews Newsletter

rer

Headlines for this week’s newsletter:

  • Update: CFO Sink's 'Safeguard Our Seniors' legislation passes first hurdle; another bad agent arrested in Tampa area
  • CFO Sink urges steps to reduce Florida's hurricane risk
  • "Get Lean" Web site unveiled by CFO Sink, seeks citizen help to cut government waste
  • CFO Sink notifies travel agencies to stop representing unauthorized travel insurers
  • CFO Sink sends letter to House and Senate urging against fiscal irresponsibility of TABOR
  • CFO Sink's Florida Housing Help initiative to join Pasco County organizations to host foreclosure workshop
  • Orlando-based Detective Michael Vitta awarded Investigative Officer of the Year
  • Protecting and preserving Florida’s natural resources with Florida Forever
  • New Title Insurance Guide Helps Homebuyers Through Closing
  • Watch out for foreclosure scams
  • My Family CFO Idea: Health Insurance options to consider when unemployment hits home
  • Next week is "Fix a Leak” week

http://MyFloridaCFO.com/PressOffice/Newsletter//2009/031309/March_1309text.htm

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Despite drought, 35 Tampa Bay homeowners used more than 1 million gallons of water last year

By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, March 19, 2009


6.1 million gallons Don Wallace, Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, biggest water user in Hillsborough
6.1 million gallons Don Wallace,  Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, biggest water user in Hillsborough

read more:  http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article985101.ece

 

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To friends of the Floridan aquifer, and to whom it concerns,Please read The Marker, Spring 2009 Newsletter, printed and distributed by the Marine Resources Council of East Florida,
Leading articles: "Community Opposes Sewage Water Injected into Drinking Water Aquifer"and "Injecting Sewage Water into the Floridan Drinking Water Aquifer,  What the City says about Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), and What Science says about Aquifer Storage and Recovery."

You may find the Newsletter on the Marine Resource Council website: http://www.mrcirl.org/marker/marker.html

 

Submitted by,

Save Our Aquifer, Inc.

www.saveouraquifer.org

info@saveouraquifer.org

PO Box 251 

Cocoa, Florida, 32923

 

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Rockledge, Florida:

Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well (injection wells)

 

For Immediate Release:

On Wednesday, April 1st, 2009, Demonstrators will gather at Rockledge City Hall to ask their local officials to stop a sewage water injection plan that has sparked controversy in Rockledge, Florida.  The City proposes to annually inject 180 million gallons of partially treated sewage into the Floridan aquifer, the Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW), via an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) well.  The City has banned all potable water wells within a one mile radius in preparation for their application for a cycle testing permit to be submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).  The City has never held a formal public hearing to allow residents to express their concerns for their water rights, loss of property values, and impacts to the Floridan aquifer and the Indian River Lagoon, which is less than 2,000 feet from the proposed injection site.   The planned demonstration will occur for one hour prior to the group Save Our Aquifer (SOA) being on the Rockledge City Council Agenda the same evening. A crowd is expected to gather and then move inside the Council chamber carrying signs from the demonstration into the Council chamber at 6:30 p.m..  Jim Egan, Director of the Marine Resources Council of East Florida will provide a power point presentation, during the Council meeting, under the Save Our Aquifer Agenda item, entitled, "What Science Says About ASR."   

Demonstration: Wednesday, April 1, 2009, April Fools Day
Time: 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.  
Location: Rockledge City Hall, 1600 Huntington Lane, demonstrators will gather on the corner of Barton Avenue and Huntington Lane
Followed by: Rockledge City Council meeting, begins at 6:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Jim Egan, Director of Marine Resources Council of East Florida, Presentation: "What Science Says About ASR"

Participants of all ages will gather to express, with signs and banners, their objections to the City's plan to annually inject wastewater from the sewage treatment plant at 1700 Jack Oates Boulevard.  This aquifer, also known as the Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW) by State and Federal agencies, is the purest aquifer in Florida and the same aquifer our drinking water comes from.  

The EPA's top 126 Priority Pollutants are all found in this waste water.  They are carcinogenic and/or harmful to human health.   Residents are fighting to keep partially treated sewage water out of the aquifer beneath their homes, out of private wells and out of the Indian River Lagoon.

"If injection occurs the aquifer will be permanently contaminated with carcinogens, heavy metals, unregulated toxic chemicals, hormones, birth control, pharmaceuticals, PCB's, coliform bacteria, etc., and this valuable and viable resource would be lost forever." Amy Mosher, Secretary, SOA.


Contact: Carolyn Jacobs, (321) 504-3668
Save Our Aquifer, PO Box 251, Cocoa, Fla. 32923


Participants at the March 4, 2009 "Keep Sewage Out" Demonstration at Rockledge City Hall.
 

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Florida Bills in Senate and House

 

To: FL-FLORIDA-REPORT@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG
Sent: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 1:47 am
Subject: Sierra Club Florida Report 3-20-09

Sierra Club Florida Report 3-20-09
 
Greetings from Tallahassee,
 
This coming week will be the fourth week of session and Speaker Cretul has decided it will be the last for House Policy Committees to hold regular meetings.  House Councils will meet during the fifth week and after that only fiscal Councils.  The Senate is still scheduling committees through the 50th day of session (April 21st).
 
This is important=2 0because bills must pass all of their committees before they can come to the floor.  Therefore, shortening the time frame for committee meetings further limits the opportunities for passage.  There are always ways for leadership to move bills forward regardless of the committee schedule such as withdrawing a bill from committee or amending it into another bill that has already passed its committees, but this schedule puts new pressure on legislators to get their bills heard next week. 
 
The bills that are on the agenda, therefore, give an indication of where leadership in the House is headed. Some of the bills coming up this week include:
(This is the action packet for the Ag and Natural Resources Committee this past Thursday.  It is a 9.78 MB file so it may take a while to open.  The bill starts on the 202nd page of the Action Packet.)
 
Remember, our Legislative Platform for 2009 can be seen at: http://florida.sierraclub.org/Legislative.asp  .   Also, you can track bills you are interested in at www.flsenate.gov and www.myfloridahouse.gov  .   To track a bill just enter the bill’s number in the ‘Jump to bill’ bo x on the left side of the webpage and click enter.  Both sites have information on legislators, their districts, and the calendars for the House and Senate. 
 
Top Major Priorities:
 
Mining
There has been no action on S 1556 or HB 1361. 
No bills have been filed that deal with aggregate or phosphate mining by name, and S 1556 by Sen. Baker, Property Rights, has not been agendaed in its first committee of reference.  This bill includes a provision that a moratorium of a year on development as defined in 380.04 is not necessarily temporary under the Bert Harris Act.  Since 380.04 includes any kind of mining operation and the Bert Harris Act gives a legal advantage to property owners who want to overturn a denial of permission for certain uses of their property (such as mining) we will stay on top of this bill.
 
The companion bill in the House is HB 1361 by Rep. Eisnaugle,  It has been referred to Military & Local Affairs Policy (EDCA); Civil Justice & Courts Policy (CCJP); Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council; Finance & Tax Council  If this bill is  not heard during the coming week, it will not have any more regularly scheduled Policy Committee meetings=2 0to be agendaed in.  As of this writing, the House schedule is only available through Tuesday.  The Senate is available through Wednesday.
 
Wetlands
Rep. Schenck’s HB 73- the “Mike McHugh Act”,  Expedited Permitting Process for Economic Development Projects, passed the General Government Policy Council 17-0.  It will be heard on Monday, 03/23/09 in the House Policy Council at 1:00 pm.
 
The bill requires DEP and water management districts to adopt programs to expedite the processing of permits for eco nomic development projects identified as target industry businesses; requires municipalities and counties to identify certain businesses by commission resolution; and provides a 45 day timeframe for permit application approval or denial.
 
The Senate companion S 0852 by Sen. Fasano was temporarily passed (TP’d) in its first committee, Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation, last Tuesday because all of the committee members had questions about the impact of the bill on the environment and Sen. Fasano’s aide was presenting the bill.  The bill is scheduled for the same committee this coming Tuesday.
 
 
Environmental Permitting, HB 1123 by Rep. T. Williams passed the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources last week 18-0.  It is not yet agendaed for next week.  S 2016 by Sen. Bennett has still not been agendaed in its first committee.
 
These identical bills revise provisions requiring the DEP to develop and use a mechanism consolidating federal and state wetland permitting programs. They authorize implementation of a state programmatic general permit or regional general permits by the DEP and water management districts for certain dredge and fill activities and delay the effective date of a rule adding slash pine and gallberry=2 0to the list of facultative plants.
 
HB 1133 Agriculture by Rep. Poppel passed the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources and now goes to Military and Local Affairs Policy Council.  The companion bill, S 1974 by Sen. Bennett, passed the Agriculture Committee 4-0 and now goes to Community Affairs.
 
These bills deal primarily with agriculture but a subsection of both bills provides that while county powers to enforce its applicable wetland protection ordinances, regulations, or rules adopted before 1/1/09 are not limited, it preempts the adoption or enforcement of any such ordinances after that date. 
 
 
Offshore Drilling
Rep. McKeel’s HM 21 passed the House Energy & Utilities Policy 15-6 and goes next to the General Government Policy Council.  The companion bill, S 0504, by Sen. Oelrich has not been agendaed.
 
These bills urge the US Congress to support the expiration and removal of moratoria prohibiting exploration and production of oil and natural gas in federal waters surrounding Florida and to include Florida in revenue sharing resulting from such exploration and production. 
 
HB 1219, Environmental Control by Rep. Van Zant, is on the agenda for the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy  on Tuesday morning at 8:00 am.  The bill d irects the DEP to develop a plan for the implementation of an expedited permitting process for nuclear power plants. It also directs the DEP to develop a plan for the implementat ion of an offshore drilling program.
 
 The companion bill, S 2294 by Sen.Wise, has not been agendaed in its first committee.
 
HB 1219’s references are to Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy (GGPC); Energy & Utilities Policy (GGPC); General Government Policy Council; and Natural Resources Appropriations on 3-9-09
 
S 2294 has been referred to Environmental Preservatio n and Conservation; Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities; and General Government Appropriations
 
Energy: Clean Cars
S 1994 Motor Vehicle Emission Standards by Sen. Constantine is on the agenda in  Environmental Preservation and Conservation this coming Tuesday at 1:45 pm.  After that it will have four more committee stops: Commerce; Transportation; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means. 
 
This bill embodies the Governor’s stated goal of ad opting the California tailpipe standards.  The auto industry is lobbying heavily against the bill.
 
The companion bill, HB 1309 by Rep. Rader, has been referred to Referred to Governmental Affairs Policy (EDCA); Energy & Utilities Policy (GGPC); Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy (GGPC); Economic Development & Community Affairs Policy Council; Natural Resources Appropriations (CGHC); and Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care.  This is a full SIX (last week’s Report said ‘seven’ – we regret the error) com mittee stops which is a clear sign that leadership does not want this bill to pass.
 
Electric Car Bill
Rep. Hasner’s electric car bill, HB 879: Financial Incentives for Electric Vehicles, has not been agendaed in its second committee yet.
 
The bill provides significant tax breaks for the purchase of electric vehicles, providing charging locations available to the public, and for parts needed to convert traditional cars to electric power.   Its next committees of reference are: General Government Policy Council; Finance & Tax Council; and the Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care 
 
Sen. Altman’s companion bill, S 1610, has still not been agendaed in its first committee.
 
Springs
Sen. Constantine’s Springs bill, S 0274 – the Florida Springs Protection Act passed the  Environmental Protection and Conservation Committee 6-0.  The bill rolls portions of S 118, S 982, and S 1490 into one package dealing with water quality in the 34 counties that have a first or second order magnitude spring within their borders (all of north F lorida down to the I-4 corridor with the exception of Gadsden, Liberty, and Franklin counties).  The bill requires septic tank inspecti ons and upgrades, advanced water treatment for new facilities, inclusion of spring protections in comprehensive plans, and includes fertilizer provisions that would allow the use of slow release fertilizers and would also include the provisions of Sen. Pruitt’s No-P bill.  Sierra Club’s Legislative Committee made a number of contributions that have been inserted into the bill which  can be seen in its current form here: Web Page
 
Next, the  bill goes to Community Affairs; Health Regulation; and General Government Appropriations. 
 
Sen. Constantine’s S 0118 Wekiva Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal is included in the strike all amendment to S 274.
 
Sen. Dean has filed S 2120 Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force  which is essentially the same bill as last year’s Springs Task Force. The bill saw no action last week and is not agendaed for this week.
 
Fertilizer
There are now three fertilizer bills:
SEE S 274 ABOVE
 
Rep. Murzin’s HB 1515 Turf and Landscape Maintenance passed the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee 15-1.    
Thank you to those of you who responded to the Alert that went out last week on this bill.  We will send another alert as soon as it is agendaed in the Civil Justice and Courts Policy Committee.
 
The bill preempts localities from adopting ordinances stricter than the model using the following language:
A local government may adopt additional and more stringent provisi
ons if the local government can verify impaired waters and the achievement of total maximum daily loads allowable under state or federal law or if the local government can provide 
scientific evidence that harm to human health or the environment exists or that the prevention of such harm warrants such fertilizer application requirements.
 
This would impose extra expense and difficulties for local governments that want to prevent water problems before they occur.  HB 1515’s remaining committees are Civil Justice & Courts Policy (CCJP); General Government Policy Council; and Natural Resources Appropriations (CGHC).  The bill does not have a Senate companion.

No action on SB 982 last week.
S 0982 "Protection of Urban and Residential Environments and Water Act." (the PURE Water Act) by Sen. Constantine – this bill has been very much improved and rolled into the strike all amendment to S 274 (please see above in ‘Springs’)
 
No action on SB 1490 last.
S 1490 by Sen. Pruitt – Fertilizer Application/Phosphorus: Provides definitions. Limits the amount of fertilizer containing phosphorus that may be applied to urban turf on or after a certain date.  This is a good statewide No-Phosphorous bill.  The language of this bill has been inserted in S 274 (please see above in ‘Springs’)
 
 
Transportation
The House transportation bill dealing with the purchase of CSX rail is HB 7009 by Economic Development and Community Affairs Policy Council.  The bill was originally EDCA 1.  It still has not been referred to a committee or council.
 
The Senate companion, Sen. Constantine’s S 1212  Public Transit, saw no action last week and has two committees to go: Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations; and Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means
 
Sen. Gardiner’s S 0424 Transportation passed Senate Transportation 10-1 and will be heard in Community Affairs, Tuesday, at 1:45 pm.   The bill deals mostly with non-controversial issues and does not affect public transportation issues. 
 
Seagrass and Mangrove Protection
Sen. ConstantineE2s S 2536 Boating, which includes fines for damaging seagrasses with boat propellers will be heard in the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee on Tuesday at 1:45 pm.  After that it goes to Criminal Justice; Judiciary; and General Government Appropriations.  The bill does not have a House companion.
 
03/12/09 SENATE Referred to
S 0148 Mangrove protection by Sen. Aronberg passed Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation 6
-0 on the opening day of session and will next go to Community Affairs.  S 148 saw no action last week.
 
 
The companion bill, HB 625 by Rep. Kriseman has not yet been agendaed in its second committee,  Military & Local Affairs. 
 
Florida Forever
Florida Forever Day at the Capitol will be April 6 from 11 am to 3 pm.  Find out more at http://www.supportfloridaforever.org/index.shtml
 
Also, see the Nature Conservancy report detailing the significant economic benefits derived from Florida Forever here: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/press/press3916.html
 
Any budget request will be tough to come by this year… but it’s always hard.  Preserving Florida’s lands is essential to accomplishing the goal of a sustainable Florida.  The budget impact of full funding for this year would be $12.39 million.
 
  • When the lands are lost to development, they are lost for good.
  • Prices will never be this lo w again.
  • We can use conservation easements to protect land without buying it outright.  This preserves environmentally important property while keeping it on the tax rolls.
 
Preserve this preservation program!
 
Everglades - US Sugar land acquisition
The US Sugar land deal is dependent on SFWMD receiving permission to issue bonds to come up with the $1.34 billion needed to complete the purchase.  They have gone to the court to “validate” the bonding process.  The Palm Beach Circuit Court devoted Monday – Wednesday of last week to hearings on the issue and is expected to issue its findings in about six weeks.&nbs p; However, the decision may be appealed and eventually go to the Florida Supreme Court. 
 
Opponents of the acquisition tried to make the case that spending the $1.34 billion on the 180,000 acres of US Sugar land would cause harm to the Everglades because other restoration projects would be stalled.  SFWMD has stated that they do not intend to allow the land to lie fallow, but to work in partnership with agricultural interests that will use best management practices to keep the land in good shape until the district is ready to construct the next phases of the project.
 
Sen. Bennett’s S 1436 which would require a referendum of the voters in a water management district to authorize bonding by the district a nd the companion bill, HB 987 by Rep. T. Williams, have still not been agendaed as of this writing.
 
Energy: Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
The two bills filed to satisfy the requirement that the RPS proposal made by the Public Service Commission be ratified by the legislature, S 2490 by Sen. Constantine and HB 1319 by Rep. Mayfield, did not see any action last week.
 
Rep. Fitzgerald has filed HB 1317, the "Florida Renewable Energy Freedom Act" did  not see any action last week and is not agendaed for this coming week as yet.  This feed in tariff bill (FIT) provides a mechanism for individuals and businesses to produce electricity and sell it to utility companies. HB 1317 may be amended into a Proposed Committee Bill by the House Energy and Utilities Policy Committee if Leadership approves. 
 
The Senate companion to HB 1317 is Sen. Altman’s S 2392 which has been referred to to Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities; Finance and Tax; and General Government Appropriations.
 
Citizen Participation:
HJR 81 and HB 83, by Rep. Hays to abolish the public financing of statewide campaigns. 
 
HJR 81 (the proposed constitutional amendment) and HJR 83 (the conforming legislation that will be implemented if voters approve the constitutional amendment) will be heard in their last committee of reference: Full Appropriations Council on Education & Economic Development on Monday at 3 pm.
 
Sen. Haridopolos’ companion bills S 0566  passed the Senate Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means 11-4 but S 0564 ran out of time in the committee and was TP’d.  It will have to be on the agenda again in order to move forward.  S 566 has only Rules to go.
 
Citizen initiative process
Rep. Dorworth’s HB 497 Paid Petition Circulators passed Governmental Affairs Policy 9-3 and will be heard in Civil Justice & Courts Policy on Tuesday at 8 am.
 
Thank you to those who responded to the Alert that went out on this bill. 
The contact for the next committee is:
 
House Civil Justice and Courts Policy Committee 2009
Rep. Kevin C. Ambler        Tampa                     (850) 488-0275                kevin.ambler@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Eric Eisnaugle           Orlando                   (850) 488-9770                eric.eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Adam Fetterman        Port Saint Lucie       (850) 488-8749                adam.fetterman@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Audrey Gibson          Jacksonville            (850) 488-7417                audrey.gibson@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Tom Grady                Naples                    (850) 488-4487                tom.grady@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Dorothy Hukill           New Smyrna Beach  (850) 488-6653                dorothy.hukill@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Michael Scionti          Tampa                     (850) 488-9460                michael.scionti@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. William Snyder          Stuart                      (850) 488-8832                william.snyder@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Kelli Stargel              Lakeland                 (850) 488-2270                kelli.stargel@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Nick Thompson (Chair)   Fort Myers          (850) 488-1541         &n bsp;      nick.thompson@myfloridahouse.gov
Rep. Michael B.  Weinstein (V. Ch.)   Orange Park   (850) 488-1304          mike.weinstein@myfloridahouse.gov
 
The committee’s grouped emails are:
 
The bill would require Supervisors of Elections to discard voter’s petitions if a paid petition gatherer’s paperwork was not in order.  The bill would raise the cost of petition gathering significantly and expose the sponsor(s) of an initiative at risk of fines up to $1,000 if an employee violated any provision of the bill.   The bill does not have a Senate companion but there are “shell bills” on the Senate side that could serve that purpose.  We are keeping a close eye on Senate Ethics and Elections for any bills that might come from that committee on this subject.
 
 
Trust funds
There were no raids on environmental trust funds last week. 
 

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