Monthly Archives: July 2016

Florida Congress members ask EPA to stop ERC toxic water level hikes

One Senator and eight representatives want the EPA to fix what ERC broke last Tuesday. Letter Two of them are running against each other for Senate yet they signed this letter together: that’s how serious this situation is. Here’s PDF and the text is below.

Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20510

July 26, 2016

The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
US. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy,

We’re writing to alert you to our serious concerns with a problematic public health proposal in Florida that will soon be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval.

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Confirmation of unregistered Sabal Trail Lake City Pipe Yard 2016-07-29

Caught red-handed with an unregistered pipe yard north of Lake City, Florida, Sabal Trail Lake City Pipe Yard Sabal Trail tried today to make excuses to FERC. Here’s the response WWALS filed with FERC today, 29 July 2016, as Accession Number 20160729-5198, “Evidence of unregistered Sabal Trail Lake City Pipe Yard and Request of WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. for rescinsion of FERC approval of pre-construction activities under CP15-17-000.” (PDF)

-jsq

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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Stop Florida ERC from raising water toxin levels 2016-07-26

Update 2022-12-23: EPA gives Florida 12 months to fix its water quality standards 2022-12-05.

FDEP could have stuck with U.S. EPA’s recomendations for water quality, but instead did a complicated statistical analysis to excuse raising the amounts of benzene and other toxins in Florida’s waters. Drinking, fishing, swimming: all are affected. The decision may be made 9AM this Tuesday morning, July 26th 2016, by the Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) in Tallahassee. Please call or write its members, your newspaper or TV stations, or come to the meeting early for the demonstration and then attend (see below for details).

The ERC has cancelled all its other monthly meetings so far this year, yet Continue reading →

Sabal Trail Georgia Section 401 Water Quality Permit

Received today from GA-EPD, although they issued it three weeks ago. Sabal-Trail-WQC-SAS16-Signed-Copy-0001 2013.0000000, 6.0000000 Basically, they believed Sabal Trail, with a few requirements, and issued the permit.

GA-EPD sent three documents, which are inline below with links to the PDF copies that were attached: Continue reading →

Management update public hearing, Suwannee River State Park 2016-07-26

Received today from FDEP:

Recreation and Parks Public Hearing

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP’s Florida Park Service is in the process of updating the Unit Management Plan for Suwannee River State Park. Citizens are invited to attend a public hearing to learn more about the proposed plans for the state park and to provide their comments.

Please review the public notice, agenda and draft plan. Copies may also be obtained by emailing Craig.Liney@dep.state.fl.us or calling 386-362-2746. The public is invited to review and submit comments to the Division of Recreation and Parks at FL_StateParkPlanning@dep.state.fl.us until Aug. 10, 2016.

WHAT: Public Hearing

WHEN: July 26, 2016
5-8 p.m.

WHERE: Suwannee River Water Management District Complex
9225 County Road 49
Live Oak, FL 32060

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SRWMD listens about Sabal Trail easements, chooses unfortunately, yet offers assistance 2016-07-12

Attached are my comments to the SRWMD Governing Board today (July 12th 2016) in regards to the Sabal Trail crossing site over the Falmouth Cathedral Cave System.

I was the first to speak at the public comment period followed by Jim Tatum then Merrillee. Jim and Merrillee echoed my concerns. The three of us set the tone for the meeting! The Board was interested and engaged asking questions to better understand what impacts Sabal Trail poses for the cave system and the District. About Time!


Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson of Sierra Club Florida speaking to SRWMD 2016-07-12
Photo credit: Our Santa Fe River

Executive Director, Noah Valenstein offered to personally call the ACE to request Continue reading →