Bush signs bill starting Everglades restoration [Enviro groups - some support Jeb; others complain]

AP, via www.jeb.org ^ | May 15, 2002 | AP

[summer]

White ibis birds, from the FL Audobon's site
re: The FL Everglades Restoration.

Wednesday, May 15, 2002
Associated Press

Bush signs bill starting Everglades restoration

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill Wednesday setting in motion the purchase of land to restore the Everglades and undo a half century of artificial drainage of the massive South Florida ecosystem.

The measure authorizes the state to borrow about $100 million a year for eight years to buy the land to get the federal-state project started.

Bush's approval was applauded by Audubon of Florida, The Nature Conservancy and other conservation groups, who said the bill (HB 813) was crucial to restoring the Everglades.

But it was opposed by several other environmental groups who urged Bush to veto it because of an attached provision that they said would make it harder for them to challenge permits for developments.

Bush said in explaining his signature that the groups had ''a false interpretation'' of the bill and that they would continue to be able to fight development under the law.

But Bush ordered Department of Environmental Protection Secretary David Struhs to review the impact of the law on citizens' ability to challenge permitting decisions over the next year to see if it has a negative impact.

''The secretary's review and recommendation will ensure that no unintended consequences are created by this bill,'' Bush said in a letter explaining his signing of the bill.

''Nonetheless, the minimal effects of these changes are far outweighed by the benefits of the Everglades funding provisions contained in the bill,'' Bush wrote.

[summer]

I noticed on this issue Gov. Bush received the endorsement of two well-established environmental groups on this one. Also, I think this is an example of where you see the two types of environmental groups coming to a head: some groups support Gov Bush's balanced approach to the environment, while other environmental groups sound to me to be more extreme, missing the big picture here.

Nevertheless, the two environmental groups supporting Gov. Bush, and mentioned in this article, are quite well-known in FL:

The Audubon of FL has a longtime presence here in FL, and is a statewide environmental organization with a local focus. With 35,000 members in 43 chapters throughout the state, they provide a well known and established local voice on both local and statewide issues. Here is a summary of their philosophy, from their web site:

People taking responsibility for their own communities is the underlying value of grassroots environmental leadership. Audubon has fostered this sense of conservation duty in Florida by building a statewide network of 43 chapters to represent our membership of over 35,000 people. This network- from the Panhandle to the Keys - ensures that local issues are joined to Audubon's statewide agenda. We also assist our member chapters and other community leaders in taking on the challenges of local environmental conservation, education and advocacy. Audubon identifies, recruits, trains and coaches grassroots leaders throughout Florida. We are creating a cycle of leadership that encourages people to be conservation leaders. From first time advocates to elected public official, Audubon members make a difference.

In addition to the above group, the Nature Conservancy publicly supports Gov Bush on this issue. They have been around since the 1950's, and have a much wider reach than just local or state. They have a state chapter here in FL. This organization has a very current data base of its press releases, and it is interesting to see how they praise Gov Bush's support for preserving key environmental sites in FL, as preservation is their focus.

I have no doubt many of the 96,000 FL Nader voters from Nov 2000 read with great interest such press releases applauding Gov Bush, as here and here.

[summer]

For more info on Gov. Bush's environmental accomplishments here in FL, click here.

[summer]

I meant to type:

I noticed Gov. Bush received the endorsement of two well-established environmental groups on this issue....

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[backhoe]

Just sent another mass email with a link to this- we'll see...

[Dixie Mom]

But it was opposed by several other environmental groups who urged Bush to veto it because of an attached provision that they said would make it harder for them to challenge permits for developments.

I'm curious who the opposing groups are. Do you know?

[MeekOneGOP]

others complain

Uh........don't tell me, lemme guess? DIMocRATS, right?
Bush bump!

[FreeTally]

FYI, The Nature Conservancy(TNC), for all practical purposes, operates like a governmental entity. Most people who "run the show" used to work for DEP. For all real estate purposes, TNC is considered to be a governmental body.

[FreeTally]

I'm curious who the opposing groups are. Do you know?

Not exactly sure myself, but my understanding is that this bill is sort of a "trade off". Bush is going to allow this money to pay for everglades restoration, and I believe(someone correct me if I am wrong) there are provisions that will disallow environmental groups from challenging development permitting in areas near the everglades that have preliminarily been approved for development. I may be wrong, but I think this is the jist of it.

[FreeTally]

This organization(TNC) has a very current data base of its press releases, and it is interesting to see how they praise Gov Bush's support for preserving key environmental sites in FL, as preservation is their focus.

TNC gets grant money from the State to purchase properties for conservation. They also work hand-in-hand with the State. Of course they praise Jeb. The grants ensure that they have a job!

[Catholicguy]

. The measure authorizes the state to borrow about $100 million a year for eight years to buy the land to get the federal-state project started.

Soon, my State will have the best damn swamp in America. Burdening future generations with additional debt to re-swampify a swamp makes glorious sense (sarcasm)

[summer]

You sound very silly to me, CatholicGuy. The restoration of the Everglades has a lot more to do with just cleaning up a swamp.

[summer]

Re your posts #9 and #11 - I have not heard that before, because FL is iteself the buyer of many properties for preservation purposes, under Gov Bush's program "FL Forever." I'm not sure if you're correct.

[summer]

No, I don't know -- but if I happen to read about it, I will post here. I too am curious about that.

[summer]

LOL...I think some Dems do have a tough time recognizinig Gov Bush's great record on environmental matters. And, I notice: the Dem candidates for gov, other than saying they too like FL's environment, have said zilch about this issue.

[summer]

Thank you, backhoe! :)

[summer]

From FL's Department of Environmental Protection --

DEP Secretary Everglades Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2002
CONTACT: Lucia Ross, (850) 488-1073

The Department today joins Florida’s environmental advocacy community in applauding Governor Bush’s signing of a bill that will make up to $800 million of funding available to restore America’s Everglades.

The Governor’s commitment to ensuring that Florida continues to pay its half of the project costs has been critical to maintaining an equivalent share of federal funding. Today’s action by the Governor continues this pattern.

We would have preferred the Governor’s original funding proposal which would have put $250 million in cash directly into the Everglades Restoration Trust Fund and provided additional bonding authority. However, given budget constraints and other legislative priorities, we welcome this alternative which will also allow Florida to fully meet its Everglades funding commitment.

There are a couple of statewide environmental organizations and a handful of editorial writers who suggested the Governor not sign this bill for fear that it may impede the ability of Florida residents to legally challenge environmental permits issued by this department. They have either not read or not understood the language in the bill. In fact, it will have no material effect on the ability of citizens to challenge any environmental permitting decision.

This conclusion is based, in part, on our asking the question, “What would the real effect have been historically had this language already been law?”

In the year just passed, only 15-one-thousandths-of-one-percent (.00015%) of all environmental permits issued might have been affected. In other words, of the more than 26,000 permits issued, only 4 out of 96 permit challenges might have been affected by the new law.

We take seriously the Governor’s charge to carefully monitor the actual effects this law has going forward on the ability of Florida residents to challenge environmental permits. We will report back our findings.

Today’s action by Governor Bush is yet another important environmental victory for Florida.

[summer]

CatholicGuy, FYI. (cc: DixieMom) BTW, CatholicGuyif you live in FL, you should know the state been suffering from drought conditions recently:

[From an article posted on my profile page, and I will post the link below this reply:]

The signing [between the state of FL and the federal government] was required by the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, which calls for a binding agreement in which the state promises that nature will have first claim to new water supplies. Congress insisted on such an agreement before the federal government could pay its part of the costs.

The project -- really a series of 68 projects -- is expected to capture billions of gallons of water that now are discarded and flushed out to sea. After intentionally draining much of the Everglades in past decades to serve development and farming, the federal government and its restoration partners will now strive to restore something closer to the natural system.

Environmentalists who had been clamoring for the agreement said they were generally pleased with the signing on Wednesday.

"It's a legal contract I believe can't be violated," said Mary Munson, the National Parks Conservation Association's director of South Florida and Marine Programs. Under the agreement, "they continuously have to make sure nature is getting its due share. So we're pleased. The brothers have come through."

Rock Salt, executive director of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, called the agreement "an incredibly significant document. It provides a foundation for our success."

...

The president [GW] issued a statement saying, "The restoration of this ecosystem is a priority for my administration, as well as for Gov. Bush." The White House also released a "fact sheet," saying the restoration, while serving the 'Glades first, will still benefit those who live around them.

"When fully implemented, it will provide the region with an additional 1.7 billion gallons of fresh water per day, ensuring an expanded water supply to meet the growing needs of South Florida communities and farms," the White House said.

[summer]

FYI -- Bush brothers agree: Ecosystem comes first [Jeb and GW win praise from FL voters on Everglades]