What next for Florida's springs after bill dies?

Former state biologist Jim Stevenson said he recently asked a teenager who had grown up in Tallahassee if he'd ever been to Wakulla Springs. The teen replied that he had never heard of the state park and popular swimming spot 15 miles south of Tallahassee.

To Stevenson, who is coordinator of state working groups for Wakulla Springs and for Ichetucknee Springs near Lake City, the teen's lack of awareness represents the lack of public understanding about springs and the threats to groundwater that flows from the sparkling watery jewels. And he says that lack of understanding is a large part of the reason why an ambitious springs bill died in the recent legislative session.

"We've tried to educate the public through all kinds of means -- you name it," Stevenson said. "I guess we have just not been effective enough or not reached enough people."

With Senate Bill 274 having failed to win Senate approval last session, the future of the more than 700 springs across North and Central Florida appears greener than ever. And green isn't good when it comes to springs.

Springs have become choked with weeds and algae as nitrogen levels in groundwater have increased during the past 10 years, scientists say. Sources of nitrogen include treated sewage, septic tanks, dirty stormwater runoff, fertilizer and manure from livestock farms.

SB 274 would have established "springs protection zones" in counties with major springs. The bill also would have set limits for nitrogen flowing from property with septic tanks and required that new developments with more than one home per acre be placed on central sewer.

The Florida Home Builders Association and the Association of Community Developers opposed the bill. They said the groundwater standard would require advanced septic systems that are too expensive to install and operate.

Along with not passing the bill, the Legislature approved a 2009-10 state budget that prohibits any state agency from conducting "nitrogen-reducing" activities. That led the Florida Department of Health to suspend rule-making to require advanced septic systems in the Wekiva River basin in Central Florida.

So what should happen now with our springs in Florida?

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Lee Constantine, said he's going to keep working on the measure so that he can bring it back next year. A Republican from Altamonte Springs, he is chairman of the Senate Committe on Environmental Preservation.

"I'm still going to try to forge some kind of consensus," he said. "Nothing is going to happen on its own. We have got to come up with a comprehensive plan to protect all of our springs. I'm committed to doing it before I leave (office in 2010)."

Stevenson, a former Florida Department of Environmental Protection biologist and namesake of an award bestowed annually on an exceptional state park employee, said the key is making people aware.

"The people of Florida have not made it clear to their legislators they want their springs protected -- that's the bottom line," Stevenson said. "At this point the influence of industry lobbyists carries more weight than the influence of the people of Florida."

The Florida Home Builders Association believes springs should be protected, said Keith Hetrick, the group's general counsel. But the group also says any required septic systems must be cost-effective, environmentally-proven, user-friendly and energy efficient.

"I get a little frustrated with (home builders) being assigned the black hat," Hetrick said, "when we're all trying to be part of the solution here."

The Florida Department of Health says "performance-based" septic systems cost from $3,000 to $10,000 more than standard septic tanks depending on site conditions. The tanks also cost about $30 per month for maintenance, a two-year permit and electricity to run a pump.

The home-builders group urged the Legislature to delay a proposed state rule to require the installation of advanced septic systems when homes are sold along the Wekiva River in Central Florida. The builders want a three-year, state-funded study of alternatives to advanced septic systems to be completed first.

Meanwhile, UCF researcher Martin Wanielista is testing a new septic drainfield system that includes the use of ground up tires, sawdust and sand to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus from the wastewater being discharged, according to an Orlando Sentinel article.

The new drainfield system could add about $4,000 to the cost of a standard septic system, Wanielista told the Sentinel. He could not be reached last week by FloridaEnvironments.com.

Hetrick said the new drainfield system would allow existing septic tanks to be retrofitted to reduce nitrogen, saving homeowners the cost of replacing septic tanks and advanced systems along with the cost of electricity -- estimated at $7.65 a month by state health officials.

If the state pushes advanced septic systems, other companies won't spend the money on research for the so-called "passive" technologies that cost less. And the cost, home builders say, is what's important to helping protect springs.

"The more affordable it is the more people will buy into it," said Dale Fuller, executive officer of the Tallahassee Builders Association. "And the more functional will be the solution."

Photo of Wakulla Springs by Kris Barrios courtesy of the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Story copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not copy or redistribute without permission.

Crist calls for federal support for Everglades, Apalachicola River

Following a tour of the Everglades today, Gov. Charlie Crist called on the U.S. Department of the Interior to take a "fresh look" at Everglades restoration and to conduct a comprehensive review of the downstream effects of water withdrawals from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system.

Crist toured the Everglades by airboat with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. In remarks and in a letter to Salazar, Crist acknowledged President Obama's request for $279 million for Everglades restoration in the 2009-10 federal budget, according to a statement from the Governor's Office. The 2009-10 state budget signed by Crist on Wednesday includes $50 million for Everglades restoration.

“It is especially important right now, to renew our commitment and cooperation to the federal/state partnership, and reaffirm our dedication to completing the projects needed to restore the River of Grass,” Crist said in his statement.

Salazar said today the Obama administration is committed to restoring the River of Grass, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Salazar said the administration has proposed "more than $600 million to fund ongoing projects and to generate good jobs in design, engineering, construction and rehabilitation work.”

Salazar’s trip to the Everglades was at the invitation of Nelson, who said it was important that the cabinet secretary see the "River of Grass" for himself, according to a statement from the senator's office.

“It really shows you something when the secretary of the interior comes down to South Florida to hear about why restoring the Everglades is so important, not just to Floridians, but nationally,” Nelson said. “And he didn’t just get to hear from us, we took him out on an airboat so he could see for himself.”

Crist also asked the Department of the Interior to measure the downstream environmental impacts caused by federal management of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal court since 1990 over water from the rivers.

“This is a tri-state problem which requires a tri-state solution, and it is imperative that we work toward a long-term solution, or else we will find ourselves facing a crisis every year,” Crist said. “Florida recognizes that a solution must include an equitable sharing of adversity.”

On Wednesday, Salazar said he told Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue he was willing to help mediate the states' water dispute. They toured the Lake Lanier reservoir on the Chattahoochee River north of Atlanta.

"I think the governor of Georgia has rightly pointed to the value of Lake Lanier to Georgia and the Southeastern part of the country," Salazar said, according to the Gainesville Times.

The governors of the three states failed to reach an agreement in 2008 when Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne tried to mediate at the direction of President Bush.

Photo by Tami A. Heilemann, DOI

Audubon's Draper to run for Ag Commissioner

Audubon of Florida representative Eric Draper says he's filing papers today to run for state Agriculture Commissioner as a Democrat.

Draper, 55, is Audubon's deputy director and has been with the group since 1995, previously having worked for The Nature Conservancy. He frequently speaks at the Capitol before the Cabinet and legislative committees on pending issues.

Although farmers and environmentalists are sometimes at odds on legislation, Draper said he's had good relationships with agriculture people to protect the environment. He said he helped write the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act to help the state buy conservation easements to preserve farmland.

"I've worked hard on policies that are good for agriculture," Draper said. "And I think the people are going to see me as someone with a balanced and cooperative approach."

Other Democrats in the race include former state Rep. Rick Minton Jr. of Fort Pierce and former Suwannee County Commissioner Randy Hatch of Branford. Republicans running include U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow, state Sen. Carey Baker of Eustis and former Rep. Marsha "Marty" Bowen of Winter Haven.

Nelson, Crist to tour Everglades with DOI's Salazar

Gov. Charlie Crist will tour the Everglades today with U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek.

They will receive a briefing on invasive species control and the Burmese python and will take an airboat tour of Alligator Bay, according to a news release from Meek. Assistant DOI Secretary Thomas Strickland and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole also will be along for the tour.

Burmese pythons, having escaped from or having been released by reptile enthusiasts and the pet trade industry, have increased in numbers across the Everglades. They can consume large mammals and could threaten populations of endangered Florida panthers and wood storks, according to researchers at Davidson University.

Meek said the House Appropriations Committee last year provided $195 million for Everglades restoration. On Wednesday, Crist touted a $50-million appropriation for Everglades restoration in the 2009-10 state budget.

"It will allow continued efforts to restore our natural water flow and improve water quality," Crist said. "It protects the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers."

Fee increases for parks, fishing in new state budget

Some anglers and state park visitors are among those who will pay more to enjoy the outdoors under the 2009-10 state budget signed into law today by Gov. Charlie Crist.

The $66.5 billion budget also includes $50 million for Everglades restoration but lacks money for the Florida Forever land-buying program for the first time since a predecessor program was created in 1990. Environmental groups earlier this month reacted with disappointment to the lack of Florida Forever money.

While defending the various fees in the $66.5 billion budget including a $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes, Crist praised legislative leaders for their efforts to reduce spending to meet declining revenues.

"We'd rather not do it (raise fees), everybody knows that," the governor said. "We'd rather not have the economy we have today, too."

Entrance fees to state parks, which now range from $2 to $5 per carload depending on the park, will increase by $1, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole said. The fee increase was supposed to raise $7.2 million when it was included in the governor's budget proposal in March.

Sole said the department proposed the fee increase to help make visitors cover the cost of park operations. But even with the increase, he said, the entrance fees don't cover the operating costs yet.

"We also want to protect what I call the 'affordability factor,' " he said. "I think that's critical in that the fact they (state parks) are affordable for us to go use."

For Florida residents who previously fished for free from the shoreline or piers along the Gulf or Atlantic coasts under what is known as the "shoreline exemption," they will have to pay $7.50 beginning Aug. 1 or buy a state fishing license for $17, said Lee Schlesinger, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The fee is provided for in SB 1742, which was sent to the governor for his signature on May 15. An exemption is provided in the bill for anglers using a cane pole or similar rod with no retrieval mechanism.

The shoreline exemption is being repealed to avoid a federal registration system that would cost $15 to $20 on top of any licenses that may be required, Schlesinger said.

Revenue from the shoreline exemption will be used for marine fisheries law enforcement, research and management, Schlesinger said. A revenue estimate was not immediately available.

The fee increases will provide opportunities for cost-savings in the future, said Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch in Tallahassee.

"When you add them (fees) all up they are a lot of money for a lot of families -- desirable or not," Calabro said.

Cabinet approves $24.3 million Harbor Branch land buy

By MICHAEL PELTIER
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

The state will purchase 403 acres from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution under a $24.3 million deal approved today that will expand state protection of the Indian River Lagoon and bolster funding for the research facility now controlled by Florida Atlantic University.

Using money from a pair of financing sources, the governor and Florida Cabinet approved the purchase after presentations from state environmental officials and FAU president Frank Brogan, who said the infusion of cash will be pumped back into the institute’s research efforts, providing another steady stream of revenue for years to come.

Had the state not stepped in, Brogan said the institute was seeking private buyers to develop portions of the area to help the institute continue its work.

“It is a much better route to sell it to the people than to have it developed,” said Brogan, adding that both parties benefit. “Harbor Branch continues in perpetuity and the people have acquired a significant parcel of property that by all expert accounts is really beautiful, pristine and one of the last such parcels available on the Indian River Lagoon.”

Plans call for the state to purchase 135 acres for $18 million under the Florida Forever program, the state’s environmental land buying program. Included in the purchase is 300,000 square feet of warehouse, office and laboratory space.

Florida Communities Trust is purchasing the remaining 268 acres for $6.3 million. The acquisition will extend the county’s 880-acre Indrio Greenway and reconnect the tidal swamp to the lagoon system. Recreational improvements will include an observation platform, canoe launch, fishing pier and nature trails.

Mike Sole, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, said the purchase price is well below the $37 million appraised value in an area that would have undoubtedly been developed if the state hadn’t stepped in.

“The Board of Trustees will ensure that this property will be protected forever,” Sole said.

Founded in 1971, Harbor Branch is one of three U.S. organizations to run manned deep-sea submersible research vehicles along the ocean floor.

It merged with FAU in 2007 after falling on hard financial times following hurricanes and the founding family’s decision to stop paying between $4 million and $8 million a year to run it. University officials last week announced a $22 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Following the Cabinet decision Wednesday, the state will have purchased 4,012 acres of the 26,380 Indian River Lagoon system, about 15 percent of the total.

Crist raises concerns with bill as enviros seek veto

Gov. Charlie Crist this morning raised concerns about SB 2080, which would allow the heads of the state's five water management districts to approve permits without a vote of their full boards.

SB 2080 originally dealt with state landscaping requirements and received support from environmental groups. But it was amended late in the legislative session earlier this month to include the provision allowing approval of permits by directors with board votes only if the permit is denied.

Some environmentalists now are calling for a veto of the bill, which they say restricts public access to the permitting process. The governor will have 15 days to sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without his signature.

Crist told reporters he is still taking a look at SB 2080 but went on to say, "It seems to me if you can have a panel of people weigh in that might be a better way to go."

Reliability of state "healthy beaches" Web site questioned

Visitors crowd Shell Point Beach in Wakulla County on April 25 despite an advisory against swimming that was correctly posted on a state website: www.floridashealth.com/beachwater.

Heading to the beach this summer? A good idea might be to check the Florida Department of Health Web site to see if there are advisories against swimming because of bacteria.

But a recent review by FloridaEnvironments.com of DOH's database of swimming advisories found numerous reporting errors. Bacteria tests are an indicator of fecal pollution from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage, according to the department.

Much of the state, including the Atlantic Coast beaches, have not been under advisories this spring. But there have been advisories at some beaches in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, where most of the reporting problems also were found.

Some advisories weren't posted when they should have been, or they were lifted when there were no test results to suggest it was safe to swim. Testing wasn't done at Taylor County beaches for several weeks and some test results weren't reported in Gulf County -- therefore no advisories were issued.

David Polk, state healthy beaches coordinator at the Florida Department of Health, attributed the Web site inaccuracies to a variety of administrative, computer and clerical problems. He began correcting some of the inaccuracies last week after FloridaEnvironments.com raised questions.

"I'm going to go back and review our policies to see if we need to make further improvements," he said.

At Dixie County's Shired Island, advisories were inadvertently lifted for 12 weeks when they should have been maintained, Polk said. He corrected the Web site last week.

At Taylor County's four beaches where water is tested, the state web site indicated that advisories were lifted when there were no test results to confirm swimming safety.

Polk said, "That was an administrative snafu by me."

He explained that advisories are automatically lifted by the computer software if there are no test results -- unless he takes action to maintain the advisory, which he failed to do. Department policy, he said, requires the advisory to be maintained until there are test results to show bacteria levels have dropped.

The Taylor County Health Department also failed to conduct testing between March 10 and May 5 that it was supposed to do, Polk said.

The Florida Department of Health allowed Taylor County to quit testing during the winter months when there are few swimmers and when low tides create mud flats that are difficult to cross to obtain water samples, Polk said.

Taylor County began retesting on March 3, and new advisories were issued on the state Web site for Dekle Beach, Cedar Beach and Hagens Cove. Then the advisories were lifted, according to the web site, after Taylor County Health Department quit testing from March 16 to May 5.

After testing resumed on May 5, new advisories were issued for Dekle Beach and Hagens Cove.

Taylor County Environmental Health Director James Rachal said in an e-mail to FloridaEnvironments.com that beaches were not tested because of local flooding and other health priorities, but he couldn't be reached on the telephone to elaborate. He also said the advisories against swimming remained even while the Web site erroneously indicated they had been lifted.

Polk said he plans to meet with Taylor County officials to discuss the testing.

"We may have to re-evaluate how they continue the program," Polk said. But he ruled out the possibility that beach testing would stop in Taylor County.

In Franklin, Levy and Wakulla counties, there were single instances of advisories being lifted on the Web site when there were no test results to show that it was safe to swim.

And at Dixie Belle Beach in Gulf County, there was no health advisory issued on April 13 despite high levels of enterococcus bacteria. Polk said he would need to find out why there was no advisory issued. Test results also were not reported for at least three weeks this spring because sampling results were not provided by a laboratory, Polk said.

Polk said the DOH beach testing Web site still is a useful tool because residents and visitors can view water quality results at their favorite beaches even if an advisory isn't correctly posted.

"We still think the Web site is a credible means to determine whether you should or should not swim that day," he said.

Editors note: This story was updated on May 30 to include comments from Rachal, the Taylor County Health Department official.

Story and photo copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not copy or redistribute without permission.

Corps may release more water to Florida's Apalachicola River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the agency probably will begin releasing more water in June from its dams upstream from Florida along the Chattahoochee River. But Florida officials say that's not soon enough.

Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in federal court over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system since 1990. Over the objections of Florida officials, federal agencies in 2007 agreed on a plan to restrict water flow to allow federal reservoirs along the Chattahoochee River to refill in the midst of a drought.

With near normal rainfall, Lake Lanier has risen 14 feet from a record low last December and now is at elevation 1,065, which is six feet below full for the summer.

"This is a good news story because that means the lakes are recovering from this long-term drought we are under," said Lisa Coghlan, deputy public affairs administrator with the Corps' Mobile, Ala. district office. "We are actually getting back to normalcy."

But Florida and Alabama officials have pressed the Corps throughout this month to suspend the drought operations, saying that the federal plan doesn't say the Corps can until the first day of each month to decide.

Alabama and Georgia want water for cities, farms and industrial users while Florida wants water to support fish and wildlife along the Apalachicola River and the seafood industry around Apalachicola Bay. Despite the drought plan, there was minor flooding along the Apalachicola River in April because of heavy rains along the Flint River and along the Chattahoochee River downstream from the major federal reservoirs.

Florida officials say fish spawning season this month is threatened by the continued drought restrictions. Florida sent letters to the federal agency on May 8 and another one 10 days later challenging the Corps of Engineer's decision to wait until June 1 to decide whether to lift the restrictions.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole stated in the May 18 letter that the drought plan calls for lifting restrictions automatically without regard to climatic conditions or any other "vague" factors being used by the Corps.

In response to the Corps' announcement that restrictions probably will be lifted on June 1, DEP spokesman Doug Tobin said in an e-mail, "DEP would have liked the Corps to have taken action sooner, say March 1."

Coghlan said the Corps' letter responding to Florida was mailed today. She said she couldn't comment on the Florida letters until state officials had a chance to review the federal agency's response.

In a telephone conference call on Thursday, an attorney representing Georgia in the water dispute said the Corps can legally wait until the first day of each month to decide. Another Georgia official urged the Corps to establish a process for slowly releasing more water from Lake Lanier.

Story copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not copy or redistribute without permission.

Planning chief says "speculative" development requests filed

The head of Florida's land-planning agency said today the state is being kept busy with speculative development proposals because of concerns about a proposed ballot initiative to require voter approval of local land-use plan changes.

During a two-hour question-and-answer session broadcast over the Web, Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham also fielded concerns about SB 360, a growth management bill that would lift restrictions on development in areas with road congestion.

Gov. Charlie Crist has until June 2 to sign the bill, which some environmental groups and the Florida Association of Counties are calling for the governor to veto. Supporters say the bill will encourage development in designated "dense urban areas."

Pelham was peppered with questions about how the bill would affect local planning and he said the department is working to get answers.

"The department is not in a position today to answer every issue that may arise under SB 360 if it becomes law," Pelham told listeners. "We have hardly had time to do that. Like any substantial piece of legislation there will be isues of interpretation."

He opened the session by stating that the department is "very busy" considering land-use change requests despite the economic downturn. He said the requests for new developments from 10,000 to 100,000 new homes each seem to be in anticipation of the proposed Florida Hometown Democracy amendment to the state constitution.

If enough signatures are collected to put Hometown Democracy on the ballot in 2010, it would require voter approval of comprehensive land-use plan amendments. The proposal, which supporters say would rein in haphazard development approval by local governments, faces opposition from industry groups and some local officials.

"I think we need to do a much better job of basing our planning on reasonably projected future (population) needs (rather) than a purely speculative proposal," Pelham said.

This is Pelham's second stint as head of DCA, having served under Gov. Bob Martinez from 1987 to 1991 during which time the state's Growth Management Act was first being implemented. He said legislators at that time saw the need for growth controls but now many of them see a need for more growth to manage.

"Twenty years ago we had the challenge to implement new legislation," Pelham said. "Now we have the challenge of salvaging what's good about that legislation (while) also adapting to the times we are in and seeking new solutions to new problems. Things are very different. The problems are very different."

And asked what is the most important thing that can be done for planning in Florida, Pelham replied that local governments should "take ownership" of their comprehensive plans rather than sending development requests to DCA so that it can play the "bad cop" role in denying them.

"Far too often it appears local plans or local planning are being driven by individual landowners' development applications for plan amendments that are acted upon in a vacuum without any comprehensive evaluation as to how it affects the entire plan," he said. "Local government just becomes a conduit for transferring the applications on up to the department."

Crist won't be signing growth bill today

Stop the presses: Gov. Charlie Crist is not scheduled today to sign SB 360, a controversial bill that which would ease requirements on developers to pay for road improvements in designated "dense" urban counties.

Crist has scheduled events across the state today to sign bills that would provide expedited permitting for developments. SB 360 was inadvertently listed among the bills that would be signed, according to an Associated Press report.

Environmental groups and the Florida Association of Counties had urged the governor not to sign the bill, which was supported by the Florida Home Builders Association.

Crist expressed lukewarm support for the bill this morning, according to media reports.

“It’s hard to get unanimity on any piece of legislation,” the governor said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“I think there are some who are concerned about the impact it might have. There are others who are very concerned about the economy and how it might help it.”

Supporters said the bill would encourage development in urban areas where it is needed. Opponents said it would remove state oversight over larger "developments of regional impact" in those counties.

Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham had raised concerns about the bill but has not asked for a veto, according to his department.

Crist met with Pelham Wednesday and said he agreed the final bill was “a lot better than some of the other measures that had been headed toward our desk.”

Obama vehicle announcement likely ends Fla. debate

President Obama's proposal today for a new fuel-economy standard probably ends the debate over whether Florida should adopt California's more stringent standard -- if the Florida Legislature hasn't already killed the issue here.

As part of his initiative in 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Gov. Charlie Crist directed the Department of Environmental Protection to move towards adopting California vehicle tailpipe standards. But the Legislature in 2008 required that it give approval for any new vehicle standard, and then the House and Senate this year failed to take up a bill to adopt DEP's recommendation.

Obama, flanked by automobile executives and environmentalists at the White House, proposed setting a unified federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fleet standard at 35.5 mpg by 2016 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. That's 8 mpg more than was required, Obama said.

DEP Secretary Mike Sole issued a statement applauding Obama's announcement and embracing a national standard. Sole said it would improve energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and allowing Floridians to spend less on gasoline.

"We stand by the Obama administration's decision to adopt more stringent CAFE standards and share the belief that a unified national standard is the best solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and minimizing the effects of climate change in Florida and nationwide," Sole said.

California is the only state allowed under the federal Clean Air Act to adopt its own automobile emissions standards. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger attended Obama's White House ceremony to announce the proposal and later praised the new federal standard.

Tallahassee attorney Wade Hopping, representing the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said Crist's proposal to adopt California's standard is dead now because even California won't be using its own adopted standard, which had not been approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Automobile manufacturers had been critical of the Florida proposal to adopt California's tailpipe standards.

"It means people won't be able to run across the border form Florida to Georgia to buy cheaper cars, or they won't have any incentive to do that," Hopping said.

While praising Obama's announcement, environmentalist Jay Liles said the issue could be raised again in Florida if Congress waters down the federal proposal. He said Obama's announcement will help Florida drivers save on the cost of fuel.

"We'll have to see what transpires now," said Liles, policy consultant to the Florida Wildlife Federation. "But it is very encouraging."

White House photograph by Samantha Appleton.
Story copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not redistribute without permission.

With Crist's Senate bid, is his climate agenda dead?

Gov. Charlie Crist (left) visits the Renovalia Energy solar facility in Spain during a European trade mission in 2008.

Gov. Charlie Crist this week announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate -- raising the obvious question of whether his climate change initiative is now dead for all practical purposes.

Crist in 2007 delighted environmentalists when he signed executive orders calling for statewide reductions in greenhouse emissions.

But the Legislature in 2008 adopted a sweeping energy bill -- supported by Crist -- that required legislative approval of any new auto emissions standards or renewable energy requirements. And bills that would have accomplished both failed to win approval in the 2009 legislative session, which ended last week.

Crist's Senate bid announcement this week led reporters to begin questioning him on a variety of national issues. But Crist also said he doesn't think his climate agenda in Florida had been killed by the Legislature.

"I don't think so," he told reporters. "I think we press on. We've talked about trying to do some things maybe administratively. I think actually the Senate was rather favorable. We'll continue to move forward."

But Florida State University political science professor Lance deHaven-Smith said he doesn't think the climate agenda will go anywhere now with Crist running for the Senate.

"Without him pushing for it, it won't have any momentum," deHaven-Smith said.

"He's not going to let it die entirely because he's interested in it," deHaven-Smith said. "On the other hand, you only have so much time -- and he is going to have to focus on his campaign."

Asked this week how he would juggle his duties as governor with his candidacy, Crist replied, "Very carefully."

Crist appears to face a steeper uphill battle now to win House approval. Republican leaders pushed through an oil drilling bill at the end of the session that the Senate refused to hear while the House refused to hear the energy bills that Crist supported.

The governor last week said he was considering taking additional action through executive orders to advance his climate agenda. Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Amy Graham did not elaborate when asked this week what other new measures are being considered.

Last year, DEP adopted a rule restricting the idling of heavy trucks and other equipment in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, the department is proposing an emissions cap-and-trade rule, with a workshop scheduled for May 18.

The department also is keeping an eye on whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants California a waiver for its tailpipe standards, Graham said, even though Florida can't adopt those standards without the Legislature's approval.

Industry lobbyist Wade Hopping said he thinks it's unrealistic for any state to implement its own cap-and-trade system or auto tailpipe standards and that the new Congress will be taking action on both.

"I will give the governor a lot of credit -- I think the rattling around the state of Florida and other states did on energy policy caused movement at the federal level," Hopping said. "And for that, they are to be congratulated. The question is, 'What is going to be the result of that movement?' "

Renewable energy advocate Susan Glickman said Florida should want to have a say in the national cap-and-trade debate by moving ahead with its own rules. And she said she finds it hard to believe legislators don't want to expand the solar energy market in Florida by requiring more renewable energy.

"I think we (advocates) have some homework to do," she said. "No one is suggesting the Florida Legislature will not be a place where energy will move forward. We just have to create a new understanding."

Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office.
Story copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not redistribute without permission.

Groups call for growth bill veto

Environmental groups are calling on Gov. Charlie Crist to veto SB 360, a growth management bill that critics say will weaken state oversight of new development projects.

SB 360 lifts those traffic restrictions in designated "dense urban" counties with at least 900,000 people. The bill also removes the largest developments in those counties from a state review process.

Audubon of Florida today urged supporters to ask Crist to veto the bill, saying it "significantly undermines" good planning. 1000 Friends of Florida sent a letter to Crist Wednesday asking him to veto the bill and urging supporters to contact him.

"We're telling them they need to act fast," said Charles Pattison, executive director of 1000 Friends. The Florida Association of Counties also is preparing a letter requesting a veto, an association spokeswoman said.

Crist has not received the bill and will have 15 days to review it once it is received, said Sterling Ivey, the governor's press secretary.

"He expressed some concerns about the bill during the session and looks forward to reviewing the final product," Ivey said.

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton and sponsor of SB 360, has been traveling this week and is not available for comment, an aide said.

Environmentalists and developers alike criticize transportation "concurrency" requirements in state law that require developers to pay for building in areas with congested roads. Critics say the requirement instead encourages developers to build in rural areas where there are fewer cars, but that gobbles up open space and creates longer trips to work, schools and shopping areas.

Environmental groups and the Florida Department of Community Affairs supported SB 360 until it was amended by the House on the last week of the legislative session. DCA said it is still reviewing the bill to decide whether it will ask the governor for a veto.


Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange and sponsor of the bill in the House, said SB 360 will exempt only six counties -- Hillsborough, Broward, Pinellas, Duval, Orange, Seminole and Broward.

Dade County was exempted, she said, because Dade officials were concerned the bill would interfere with future phases of development that are planned there.

Land use changes still will receive state review, she said, though not through the "development of regional impact" (DRI) process.

"I can't imagine that what we have done in terms of these six counties will gut growth management throughout the state," she said.

Story copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not redistribute without permission.