Environment and Natural Resources
4 DEP attorneys ousted, prompting Facebook backlash
by Bruce Ritchie - 1 day ago - +
What spending counts as conservation spending? Analysts wrestle with proposed constitutional amendment
by Bruce Ritchie - 2 days ago - +
Governor vetoes $50 million for proposed bike trail along with $27.3 million in water projects
by Bruce Ritchie - 4 days ago - +
DEP attorneys seek new hearing in permitting case involving employee who testified against bosses
by Bruce Ritchie - 7 days ago - +
The Week in Review for May 17, 2013
by Florida Current Staff - 7 days ago - +
Water projects left off Florida TaxWatch's "turkey" list this year
by Bruce Ritchie - 1 week ago - +
Reservoirs language stripped from federal bill while Florida groups support alternative approach
by Bruce Ritchie - 1 week ago - +
Foundation will direct $356 million from oil spill criminal cases to Florida for natural resource projects
by Bruce Ritchie - 1 week ago - +
Federal EPA denies groups' petitions challenging 2 top Florida DEP officials
by Bruce Ritchie - 1 week ago - +
2013 Session Summary: Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
by LobbyTools - 2 weeks ago - +
Florida Supreme Court declines to hear case involving sanctions against environmental groups
by Bruce Ritchie - 2 weeks ago - +
Environmental representatives lament budget for land-buying, question outcome of land sales
by Bruce Ritchie - 2 weeks ago - +
The Week Ahead for May 6 to May 13
by Florida Current Staff - 2 weeks ago - +
Senate, House agree on permitting legislation despite groups' sustained opposition
by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Arrivals and Departures for May 3, 2013
by Florida Current Staff - 2 weeks ago - +
Senate strips language dealing with wetlands, fertilizer ordinances from permitting bill
by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
LobbyTools is seeking talent
by LobbyTools - 3 weeks ago - +
Nuclear bill passes House, returns to Senate as critic says legislation was "hijacked"
by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Permitting bill facing opposition from environmental groups looks to change in Senate
by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Water bills stream through House, flow towards governor
by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
2013 Session Summaries
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Real Estate and Growth Management
Popular Environment and Natural Resources News
Legislators In The News



When deciding whether to approve or reject a spending item, Scott said his criteria was whether it helps families get jobs, improves the education system or makes government more eficient.
Judge E. Gary Early issued the recommended order April 11 backing DEP wetlands expert Connie Bersok, who testified last November in a legal challenge to a proposed permit for a wetlands mitigation bank in Clay County. She had written a memo objecting to a draft proposed permit before being suspended from her job for unsubstantiated work violations.
This week leading senators took a shot at the annual turkey list of state budget items compiled by a business-backed policy group. And Gov. Scott turned down a proposed deal to bring Internet-retailer Amazon to the state.
The Legislature's 2013-14 state budget includes 88 water projects totaling $59.4 million. Last year, Florida TaxWatch labeled as turkeys 23 local water projects totaling $19 million and asked Gov. Rick Scott to veto them. The governor eventually vetoed $12.6 million in water projects. Other items were targeted as turkeys including appropriations for wildlife and state parks groups.
Florida officials were supporting language that would require congressional approval for water withdrawals from reservoirs including Lake Lanier in Georgia. Some groups are backing an alternative proposal that they say would require adequate flows for Apalachicola River and Bay.
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Clean Water Network filed a petition in February 2011 asking the federal agency to investigate conflicts of interest by DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. "It is apparent that EPA pursued this violation with the vigor of a wet noodle," said Jerry Phillips, Florida PEER director.
Cat colonies and coal ash, fracking and fertilizer. The 2013 legislative session was surprisingly active on the environmental front with old battles being waged and new issues emerging. Some issues will still be fought out in the weeks ahead as groups seek vetoes of bills that were passed. But compromise reigned on other issues as old adversaries united in the end to advance legislation.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection holds a rule adoption hearing on the statewide environmental resource permit and the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Legislature's request to throw out a challenge to the Senate districts the Legislature created in 2012.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce says HB 999 is among the bills that will make Florida more competitive economically. But environmentalists still didn't like it after getting fertilizer and wetlands language removed. "It's still a collection of bad ideas," said Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida.