Permits Issued for Everglades Mining

http://www.abcnews.go.com/ ^ | April 11 2002 | AP

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Permits Issued for Everglades Mining
Army Engineers Issue Permits to Expand Limestone Mining in the Everglades

M I A M I, April 12 — The Army Corps of Engineers issued permits Thursday that will allow mining in 5,409 acres in the Everglades for the next 10 years, more than doubling the amount of limestone quarries in the protected wetlands.

The 10 companies who receive the permits will pay about $46 million in fees that will be used by the federal government to purchase and improve another 7,500 acres of wetlands near the Everglades, officials said.

"This is one of the important and complex decisions I've made since assuming command," said Col. Greg May, who authorized the permits.

Mining industry officials said the extra mines are needed to ensure enough affordable crushed stone for Florida's highways, bridges and roads. Rock from the Everglades quarries generates 40 percent of the aggregate used in cement in the state, May said.

But environmentalists said the expanded mining could endanger drinking water and harm efforts to restore the Everglades.

"There's huge uncertainties as to what the impact of these permits are going to be on the Everglades," said Brad Sewell, senior attorney at Natural Resources Defense Council.

May said the additional mining is compatible with the restoration plan. Most of the permits are concentrated around existing mines, he said.

The permits allow the companies to fill wetland areas in order to move in equipment

[Joe Boucher]

Oh no, the ecoterrorists will decry this to the hills, they're destroying mother nature. Just like protecting the endangered aligator. I was just back from everglades city and saw more of the protected endangered species then you could believe.

[Soul Citizen]

Anyone who questions the impact of the phosphate mining, especially the acid pool should look at the NASA imagery of Polk County and the proximity to Tampa Bay. The impact is evident from space!

[Clemenza]

I gather that this was in the Big Cypress preserve as mining of any kind is illegal in Everglades National Park. The presstitutes mislead us once again.

The thing I always loved about Big Cypress is that there is actually an oil rig there (yes we do have A LITTLE oil in Florida). The Enviroweenies have been trying to close it for years, to no avail.

[AFreeBird]

Oh no, the ecoterrorists will decry this to the hills, they're destroying mother nature.

Well, I'm no eco-terrorist but, we're not talking about some mud puddle in some farmer's field somewhere with a couple of minnows in it. The Everglades is a very vast and complex ecosystem that the whole of south Florida needs very very much.

The Corp damn near killed it and was ordered to fix what they broke, and rightly so IMHO.

[Clemenza]

Well, if we simply allowed Okechobee to flow naturally into the "River of Grass" all those libs in Palm Beach and Broward would be forced to moe elsewhere.

In all seriousness, Big Cypress Preserve (which accounts for much of the Everglades north of ENP) has been a "multiuse" (hiking, mining, oil exploration, hunting) area for many years.

[AFreeBird]

Well, if we simply allowed Okechobee to flow naturally into the "River of Grass" all those libs in Palm Beach and Broward would be forced to moe elsewhere

Gee, that would be a shame, now wouldn't it? ;-)

But hey, they'd be glad to do it - for the environment & the chillin :o)

[stainlessbanner]

"There's huge uncertainties as to what the impact of these permits are going to be on the Everglades," said Brad Sewell

But, what the hell, let's destroy it anyway. It's only a big, stinky swamp! < /sarcasm>

I have to side with the enviros on this one. I thought we actually got federal funding to start preserving the glades.

[Joe Boucher]

The corp of engineers destroyed florida when the built the canal system that drained the state. They are repairing the damage they did but very very slowly. Kissimmee river is looking very good again but not enough is being done. Lake O is looking good but many of the businesses have gone under after the lake was so low. The whole of south florida is being destroyed by agriculture and cattle raising. Not by an occational pit that is turned over as a lake.

[Rebelbase]

I used to spend weekends swimming in the rock quarry lake out near Monroe Station on the trail. A few more lakes in the area won't hurt a thing.