Spring 2009 Pelican Newsletter, Florida Sierra Club

8/9/2019 Spring 2009 Pelican Newsletter, Florida Sierra Club

1/12w w w .flor ida.s ierraclub.org 1

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F S I E R R A C L U B F L O R I DA

Spring 2009

Inside this issueEverglades restoration 3

Group Advisory Council 3

Crane Island victory 4

National Sierra election 4

Sierrans strut their stuff 5

Wakulla Wildlife Festival 5

Hometown Democracy 6Paddling Chassahowitzka 6

Renewable energy 7

Rock mining lawsuit 8

Inner City Outings 8

Outings 9

Day of Service 10

Community partnerships 10

Water reservations 11

Fund appeal 11

Cleaning up Tampa Bay 12

Though the Big W still smolders, this is anamazing victory for the environment and

the wishes of this community. This battlefor the property next to the Anclote River inTarpon Springs has required the continued

and dogged attention of unbendingfightersin Tarpon Springs and throughout Pinellas

County for over four years.

This fight started in 2004 with strong

testimony from the Sierra Clubs SuncoastGroup and Friends of the Anclote River at

the planning and zoning board, followed bythe marathon all-night hearing at the Tarpon

Springs City Commission in January 2005.Along the way it was aided by many people

and several organized groups and a $5,000contribution from Florida Sierra.

Coincidentally, we were involved in asimi lar battle over in St. Petersburg. That

one began and ended in 2005. In that

Vic t or y! Wal-Mart puts Tarpon Spr ingsSuperc enter p lans on hold indefin i te ly

fight, the Suncoast Group, Association forCommunity Reform Now (ACORN), the

Service Employees International Union(SEIU), AFL-CIO and the Brighton Bay

Homeowners Association successfullyand permanently fended off a Wal-Mart

Supercenter on a wetland along GandyBoulevard. That victory showed us what

could be done in Tarpon Springs.

We hope the victory in Tarpon Springs is

also permanent. Wal-Mart must go backto square one if they want to revisit this,

and they are facing a political situation thatincreasingly favors protecting the property.

All such battles have low points, and at onepoint in Tarpon Springs it seemed that allwas lost. Spirits wereflagging and money

was scarce. Then, a combination of theSierra Florida financial help for the ongoing

legal effort and the enthusiasm of Suncoast

The Florida Legislature is now in session,and as usual we are doing our best to see that

any bills that could harm our environmentand wildlife are defeated, and those that helpprotect our natural resources will succeed in

becoming law.A summary of the Sierra Florida Steering

Committees 2009 Legislative Platform

is below. A more detailed version of it isavailable in pdf format on the Sierra ClubFlorida website at http://florida.sierraclub.org/Legislative.asp.

How you can get involvedAs in years past, the most effective part ofour lobbying program will be the efforts

of every member of the Sierra Club inFlorida. Your informed input on issues tothe members of the legislative lobbying team

and your well-written letters and emails to

legislators on behalf of our priorities will beinvaluable. There are three ways you can

help:Please join our fact-packed legislativeemail listserv. This is where you will

get weekly alerts with the most up-to-date information and learn where

your email and letter writing efforts

wil l count the most. To join, simplyhave your membership numberhandy and go to:www.sierraclub.org/memberlists?listname=FL-FLORIDA-

REPORT. If you need assistance youcan email the owner of the list at

[email protected]

To follow bills through the FloridaLegislature, you can go to the Florida

Sier ra Club s pr ior i t ies for t he F lor idaLeg is la tu re

Legislature contd on Page 2

Wal-Mart victory contd on Page 10


2/122 w w w .flor ida.s ierraclub.org

Sier ra pr ior i t ies for Fla. Legis l a t ure

The Pelican, Vol. 41, No. 2

Kathy Criscola, managing editor

The Pelican is published by Sierra Club Florida, 319 E. Park Ave.,

Tallahassee FL, and mailed to Florida Sierra Club members. Annual

membership dues include $1 for the Pelican newsletter. Address

all inquiries to PO Box 575, Tallahassee FL 323092-0575 or email

[email protected] or [email protected]

Steering Committee

Linda Bremer, Jacksonville

Craig Diamond, Tallahassee

Betsy Grass, Miami

Tom Larson, Jacksonville Beach

Marian Ryan, Winter Haven

Rudy Scheffer, Safety Harbor

John Swingle, Fort Myers

Communications Committee

Liz Cantarine, Bradenton,[email protected]

Kathy Criscola, Tallahassee, [email protected]

Betsy Grass, Miami, [email protected]

Ron Haines, Lantana,[email protected]

Frances Howell-Coleman, Winter Haven, [email protected]

Corbett Kroehler, Orlando, [email protected]

Rosalie Shaffer, Bradenton,[email protected]

V is i t w w w .flor ida.sierraclub.org

Lobbying Advisory Team

Our lobbying advisory team will be helping us withinformation and advice on lobbying. These volunteers are:

Dwight Adams, Linda Bremer, Kathy Cantwell, CeciliaHeight, Lisa Hinton, Terry Janssen, Tom Larson, Drew

Martin, John Miller, Demetra McBride, Mark Oncavage,Marian Ryan, and Rosalie Shaffer. The teams contact on the

Florida Sierra Steering Committee is Marian Ryan, (863) 293-6961; email: marianryan@gmai l.com.

David Cullen, Florida Sierra Legislative Lobbyist

continued from page 1

House of Representatives website at http://www.myfloridahouse.gov and click on Legislative Tracking.

You can set up a userid and input the bill numbers youare interested in following.

If you are in, or wil l be visiting, Tallahassee in the nextmonth or so and have time to visit legislators on ourbehalf, let the lobbying team know you are available.

By the same token, if you have time to visit legislatorsdistrict offices in your area on behalf of the Sierra Club,

let the legislative team know so you can be provided themost up-to-date information.

Legislative Platform 2009

Support full funding for the Florida Forever landpreservation program.

Support the purchase of 180,000 acres of sugar lands inthe Everglades.Support increased seagrass bed protections and opposeseagrass mitigation bank schemes.Support increased protection of mangroves.Support the ratification of Floridas adoption of theCalifornia motor vehicle emission standards by the

Florida Legislature.Support legislative ratification of the Public ServiceCommissions recommended Renewable PortfolioStandard in support of the Governors goal: 20 percentrenewables by 2020.

Support legislation strengthening regulatory authorityto mitigate nutrient pollution in Floridas 33 first-order

springs.Support statewide ban on phosphorous lawn fertilizer.Support stormwater policy that reduces or eliminatesnonpoint source pollution and oppose unwarrantedexceptions.

Support legislation promoting mass transit andalternatives to automobile use.

Oppose legislation that preempts local governmentsability to manage growth according to comprehensive

plans or that prevents local governments from enactingstricter land use restrictions than the state.

Oppose legislation that would reduce the rights of local

governments and/or citizens to act to protect theirenvironmental resources.

Oppose the elimination of moratoria prohibitingoffshore drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf near

Floridas Gulf and Atlantic coasts.Oppose preemption of local control of fertilizermanagement.Oppose legislation that deprives citizens of meaningfulopportunities to be involved in shaping their society,

including the citizen initiative process. Support fulltransparency in government.

Preserve The Future

Make a commitment to the nextgeneration by remembering Sierra Club inyour will. Your support will help oth erspreserve the intricate balance of nature.

Gift Planning Program85 Second St., 2nd FloorSan Francisco CA 94105800-932-4270

[email protected]



Sugar lands cr i t i c a l to Ever lades res t orat ion

The first thing you should know about the state of Floridas

pending purchase of U.S. Sugar lands (a.k.a the sugar deal)is that everyones trying to kill it. No, not just a few people.

Its so many that they have to sit and take a number. Wevegot an Indian Tribe, a pair of sugar barons, entire towns,high schools, editorial boards, the Florida Legislature, and

yes, even an environmental group.

The next thing you should know is that this $1 billion plussale must go through or the Everglades has no chance

of survival. As environmentalists, we understand theproblem: Lake Okeechobee is separated from the remainingEverglades by more than a half million acres of sugar farms.

These sugar farms have been pumping out phosphorus fordecades and altering water levels to the detriment of the

Everglades. In order to clean, store and move enough waterfor the Everglades to survive, we have to buy land. If we

dont, the Everglades will continue to be taken over by acancer of phosphorus-loving cattails in the north, and dried

into dust in the south.

There are a myriad of arguments made against the deal. Here

are a few: the Miccosukee Tribe says it opposes the dealbecause it will strip funds from other restoration projects.

That would be a valid point if it wasnt also true that fewother projects work unless you have the land to clean thewater. Florida Crystals, which has launched two lawsuits and

is lobbying to kill the deal, objects to a $50 an acre seven-yearleaseback to U.S. Sugar. We, too, would have preferred the

state to use all the land now, but the lease terms were set bythe parties, not us. Seven years is a long time to wait, but in

year eight, time is on our side.

The underprivileged communities around Lake Okeechobee,

like Clewiston and Belle Glade, are opposed because theseare company towns and the sale comes during an ever-

deepening recession. While one cannot underestimate thepersonal suffering that wi ll most likely take place, we can

see a brighter, stronger future there. After the purchase, theLakeside communities will have seven years to transition toa new economy one that is economically empowering and

environmentally sustainable.

One concern that lingers is that of the 187,000 acres to bepurchased, the state may be forced to sell a sizable percentage

of the land back to a private entity as surplus because itcant afford the financing. The extent and nature of such aresale is not clear. Its something we need to watch vigilantly,

but even that threat is not reason enough to oppose the deal.

By this summer, if all goes well, the state of Florida willbe holding the deed to one-third of the states sugar lands.

It means we wont have to spend tens of billions of dollarsin the future. It means that we can clean up phosphorus

before it heads south. It means an end to fish kills in theCaloosahatchee basin and Indian R iver Lagoon. It means

fires wont ravage Shark River Slough and erode the organic

peat that keeps the Everglades out of the sea. It meanseverything is possible.

But if we do nothing, we will simply return to the box weve

created, and the death of the Everglades will continue.

Help the Sierra Club Everglades Committee reach out to non-environmental organizations and activate our friends. Help usexplain that despite the pitfalls and uncertainties, Governor

Crists sugar deal is a once in a lifetime opportunity to restorethe Everglades. To get involved, call 305-860-9888 or email:

[email protected]

Jonathan Ullman, Everglades Coordinator

Meet the Group Advisory Council

National Sierra appointed these volunteers to help groups

connect with each other and with the Steering Committeewhile we attempt to build a new Sierra Club Florida.

From left to right: Sachi Sachidanndan - East Region(Central Florida, Turtle Coast, Volusia/Flagler); Chad Hanson

- Panhandle (Big Bend, Northwest Florida); Debbie Matthews- Southeast (Miami, Broward, Loxahatchee); Rob Brinkman

- North (Nassau County, Naturecoast, Northeast Florida,Suwannee-St. Johns); Linda Jones - West (Manatee-Sarasota,Suncoast, Tampa Bay); Chuck Geanangel - Southwest

(Ancient Islands, Greater Charlotte Harbor, Calusa)



Nassau Sier rans Win Law sui t t o St opCrane Is land Developm ent

A Nassau County Circuit Court judge has agreed with threemembers of the Nassau Group and ruled that Nassau Countyviolated the law in approving a planned unit development on

environmentally sensitive Crane Island. The three membersof the Nassau Sierra group ExCom had sued the county

after the commission voted in 2006 to create a Planned UnitDevelopment (PUD) on the island, which is designated as

conservation in the countys comprehensive plan.

The history: There were three failed efforts by Crane

Island landowners and developers to amend the countyscomprehensive plan and change the islands designation

to residential between 1995 and 2003. None of the effortsmet the approval of the Florida Department of Community

Affairs (DCA). So then, the Amelia Island Company, one ofNassaus largest developers, successfully lobbied the county touse an obscure section of the comprehensive plan to approve

a PUD consisting of 169 houses with a 92-slip marina. Theexisting conservation designation allows for only one dwelling

everyfive acres - a maximum of 41 houses on the property,which consists of two-thirds of the island.

Crane Island is a maritime hammockwith a number oflarge heritage oaks and magnoliasthat lies between Amelia

Island and the Intracoasta l Waterway. It is direct ly oppositethe Fernandina Beach airport. The northern third of the

island is owned by the Florida Inland Navigation District for adredging spoil site.

The lawsuit, brought by Nassau Sierrans Eric Titcomb, Julie

Ferriera and Robert Weintraub, claimed that the county didnot have the authority to amend the comprehensive planwithout getting DCA approval. Judge Brian J. Davis

December 22 ruling agreed with that position and vacated thecountys order approving the PUD.

The plaintiffs victory is the most recent chapter in a longhistory of tension over the island. In 1991, when the state

required counties to have comprehensive plans, NassauCountys first attempt at a plan was rejected because Crane

Island and other environmentally sensitive areas were notprotected. In a 1993 negotiated settlement with the DCA,

Nassau was required to establish a conservation category in

its comp plan that included Crane Island.

When the Amelia Island Co. decided to press for theapproval of a PUD, then-county attorney Mike Mullin

met with DCA officials to ask if an obscure clause in thecountys comprehensive plan would allow the plan to be

self-amending. DCA said it would not, but Mullin issued acontrary legal opinion upon which the commission proceeded.

The county ... ignored [DCA] and util ized the policy toapprove 169 units on Crane Island without amending theFuture Land Use Map designation for Crane Island, Davis

wrote in his ruling.

The case, which lasted more than two years, went to trialin October. Plaintiff witnesses included Shaw Stiller, DCAgeneral counsel, and Mike McDaniel, DCA bureau chief. The

plaintiffs attorney is Ralf Brooks of Cape Coral, who had alsoassisted Nassau Sierra with an earlier Crane Island issue.

The Nassau County Commission voted on January 12 to

appeal the ruling. The developer is expected to lead theappeal and cover defense costs. For more information,contact me at 904-491-6817; email: [email protected].

Robert Weintraub, Nassau County Group

National Sierra ClubBOD election underway

The annual election for the Clubs Board of Directors is

now underway. Those eligible to vote in the national SierraClub election will receive in the mail (or by Internet if youchose the electronic delivery option) your national Sierra

Club ballot in March. This wil l include information on thecandidates and where you can find additional information

on the Clubs website.

The Sierra Club is a democratically structured organizationat all levels. The Club requires the regular flow of viewson policy and priorities from its grassroots membership in

order to funct ion well. Your Board of Directors is required

to stand for election by the membership. This Board setsClub policy and budgets at the national level and worksclosely with the Executive Director and staff to operate the

Club. Voting for candidates who express your views onhow the Club should grow and change is both a privilegeand responsibility of membership.

Members frequently state that they dont know the

candidates and find it difficult to vote without learningmore. You can learn more by asking quest ions of your

group and chapter leadership and other experiencedmembers you know. Visit the Clubs election website:http://www.sierraclub.org/bod/2009election. This site

provides links to additional information about candidatesand their views.

You should use your own judgment by taking several

minutes to read the ballot statement of each candidate.Then make your choice and cast your vote. Even if youreceive your election materials in the mail, please go to the

user-friendly Internet voting site to save time and postage.

If you have not received your mailed ballot by early April,contact [email protected] or 415-977-

5500. The voting deadl ine is April 21, at 12 noon, E.T.



Nananana, nananana, hey, hey, Bush, good-bye! A groupof twenty-six fun-loving Sierrans said good-bye forever to

President Bush and Vice-President Cheney at the annualKing Mango Strut, a popular and wacky parade held in theCoconut Grove section of Miami. This year attracted more

than 6,000 spectators a great audience to see our humorous

conservation message. Our theme was BASHED BY BUSHAND THE CHAIN-Y GANG: we highlighted and mockedthe last eight years of environmental disasters under the Bush

regime.

Mr. Bush punched Earth balls into the audience, with the help

of Mr. Cheney, while a whole circus of activities was going on:Mother Earth in intensive care, all bandaged up and on

crutches, was pursued by two nurses, who tried to give her ashot with an immense syringe, craftily created by Chris. An

immense Earth ball was 212 degreestoo hot to handle.Paul Michel had to wear mittens to carry it to the audience,warning them not to touch it. A logger chased The Last Tree

Standing with an axe, while a hunter ran after an unfortunatewolf with a rifle. Two oil rigs attacked Sun and Wind Power,

who tried desperately to avoid them. When a polar bear wasntfanning six pengu ins on an iceberg, he was running after

them in search of a little ice.

Additionally, a huge smokestack pursued a poor, coughing

victim, who wore a gas mask and was covered with soot.Last, but not least, two blind and clueless E.P.A. Enforcers,

wearing dark glasses and sporting canes, followed the group,running into one another and doing all sorts of antics to

amuse the audience. Amy Werba hammed it up as usual, asshe enthusiastically led our group and the crowd into singing

the Good-bye, Bush song.

We even got newspaper coverage: a photo of Mother Earth

and her nurse was published in The Miami Herald. Thiswas a group effort: we met a few times to plan our strategy,

work on signs and banner, and rehearse. Thanks to all ofyou who participated and who helped make this such a funevent! Special thanks to my husband Paul, Pat Hudson,

Sierrans wow a crowd of thousands in zany parade

Nurses take care of Mother Earth

Debbie Matthews, and Chris DeMello for their invaluablecontributions, and to Brian Logan for attending Mangohead

meetings and keeping us informed. Don Howe was our expertprop makerwe couldnt have pulled this off without him

and Amy. As always, they worked non-stop to make ourSierra Club entry the huge success it was.

Coky Michel, Miami Group

The crowd chants Drill baby, drill, as an oil rigand solar panel dance by.

See natural wonders of NorthwestFlorida at Wakulla Wildlife Festival

The Big Bends colorful heritage and exceptional ecosystemswill be celebrated at The Wakulla Wildlife Festival, at Wakulla

Springs State Park on April 2-4. The festival will featureopportunities to explore diverse habitats, enjoy its expressive

music, and discover new skills and information.

Tours given Thursday through Saturday will showcase themagnificent flora and fauna of Wakulla County. Many of the30 tours will take you to places unknown or often unavailable

to the general public, such as underwater viewing throughglass-bottom kayaks, or seeing whats inside a gopher tortoise

burrow. Other tours will take you through the Cathedral ofPalms, on a journey to the hidden Liquid Gems (the sinks)

of Wakulla County, or down the Wakulla River, where the

ruby-red eyes of alligators may be seen in thefl

ashlight-litnightscape.

Also enjoyfine art, dining, and music. Living history

demonstrations bring to light skills once necessary forsurvival. There will be free childrens activities, shows, and

over 30 knowledgeable exhibitors on Saturday. Be sure tovisit the Sierra Club Big Bend Groups booth.

Wakulla Springs State Park is located south of Tallahassee.Visit www.WakullaWildlifeFestival.org for information, and

for direct ions to the park go to www.FloridaStateParks.org. Ifyou have questions, contact Jeff Hugo, 850-561-7286.



FHD campaign updateMaking our efforts more challenging, the Florida Supreme

Court has recently approved the growth amendment backedby the Florida Chamber of Commerce and development

interests for placement on the 2010 ballot. If the rest of thesignatures the organizers need are collected, this so-called

Smarter Growth Amendment will compete head-to-headwith the Florida Hometown Democracy (FHD) Amendment,which is supported by the Sierra Club.

Smarter Growth provides for a citizen vote on changes

to a local growth plan, but only after completion of anonerous process, requiring 10 percent of voters to physically

go to the local supervisor of elections office (SOE) to signa petition within 60 days. In effect, the process is designedto make it next to impossible to actually achieve the right to

vote on comprehensive plan land use changes. It also servesto discriminate against the disabled, housebound or active

military stationed out of stateanyone who cannot get to anSOE office.

One of the results of FHD, when it is approved by 60 percentof voters on the 2010 ballot, will be an end to many of the

speculative, developer-driven comp plan changes contraryto the best interests of communities and the environment.

Developers are concerned about that. For example, theMiami Corp. requested a comp plan change in Edgewater/

Volusia County, and admitted to the Orlando Sentinel thattheir goal is to beat the adoption of FHD. Some places inFlorida, like Yankeetown, already have their own versions of

FHD, and show the advantages it would bring statewide.

The Florida Hometown Democracy campaign

is ramping up our efforts for the 2010 ballot, so pleasetell at least five new people each week about HometownDemocracy. And please donate either on our website (www.

floridahometowndemocracy.com) or send a check (FHD, P.O.

Box 636, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32170-0636). The timeis now! Note that our opposition is also gearing upthe

Florida Association of Realtors just contributed $150,000 tothe Smarter Growth campaign.

Join us to protect the Florida we love, and spare ourcommunities from comp plan changes that are threatening

our environment and qual ity of life. The bulldozers that arepaving over our beautiful state will continue to do so until we,

the people, regain control over our communities. For moreinformation and other ways you can help, please contact one

of the following key people working with FHD and who arealso Sierra members. Thanks in advance for your continuing

support and anticipated help:

Lesley Blackner, President

Email: [email protected] Herrin, Campaign Manager

Email: [email protected] Tel. 866-779-5513John Hedrick. Florida Sierra contact

Email: [email protected] Tel. 850-339-5462

Paddling on the Chassahowitzka

a threatened Florida river

The Chassahowitzka River, located in the ChassahowitzkaWildlife Refuge about 65 miles north of St. Petersburg, is one

of the few remaining undeveloped rivers in Florida. There areno houses lining its shores or parking lots bordering its banks,

and no industry is allowed to dump wastewater into the river.Sierra Club of Central Florida received a grant to go camping/kayaking on the river from October 18-19. On Saturday we

volunteered at the wildlife refuge for its annual festival.

We had fun doing our volunteer dutieswe gave out free boatride tickets, helped staff the gift shop and helped launch theboat to see Three Sisters Spring. We also gave out compact

fluorescent light bulbs at the Sierra booth and passed outinformation on public lands in Florida.

On Sunday we met several local guests who came out topaddle with us. The refuge is 31,000 acres and accessible

only by boat. Over 250 species of birds, more than 50 speciesof reptiles and amphibians and more than 25 species of

mammals (including the manatee) call this place home. This isFlorida the way it used to be, and a place that few get a chance

to see. Local activists took us paddl ing into narrow hiddensprings. Manatees came up to our kayaks and greeted us.Maybe they were encouraging us to speak up for saving their

river.

A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency

found that rain falling into the Chassahowitzka River hasmercury levels more than 23 times higher than federal

standards allow. One of the nations largest emitters ofmercury, the Crystal River power plant, is just 15 miles from

the Chassahowitzka River. In addition to mercury, coalpower plants release large amounts of carbon dioxide, whichcontributes to global warming. In the event of sea level rise,

the Chassahowitzka River will be very much affected, sincethe headwatersseveral fresh water springsare just seven

miles from the Gulf of Mexico. With our Sierra Club grant,we were able to become educated on these issues and speak up

for the manatees and wildl ife that call this river home.

Read more at http://www.fws.gov/chassahowitzka/

Mary-Slater Linn, Central Florida Group Outings Chair



The Sunshine State v. nuclear stateIssue before the Legislature may determine Floridas energy future

While Florida has made a commitment to encourage clean,renewable energy, a current proposal would cripple these

efforts. The Legislature will soon determine whether almost20 percent of the big utilities power may come from nuclear

or renewable sources. Of course, thats not the way it is beingstated, but that is what it comes down to.

Governor Charlie Crist issued an executive order in 2007directing util ity regulators to set a standard requiring energyutilities to produce 20 percent of their power from renewable

sources by 2020 (Renewable Portfolio Standard). However,Florida Power and Light (FPL), for example, produces less

than two percent of its energy this way, and is lobbying fornuclear energy to count toward this goal. If its Turkey Point

plant is expanded as proposed, FPL would meet the 20percent target without using any solar or other renewablesin the mix. In order to make this use of nuclear sound more

acceptable, names such as Alternative Standard and CleanEnergy Standard are under consideration.

The utilities have a significant business incentive for makingit easier to go nuclear, since in 2006 our Legislature made it

legal for the big energy companies to have their rate payersprepay for nuclear power plants just as they do for gas, oil and

coal. It is called Early Cost Recovery, and in other states,Construction Work In Progress.

The problem comes when the Public Service Commissionmust answer two questions before approving charging

ratepayers for new power proposals:Is there a demand for the power?If so, is this the most cost effective means of meetingthat demand?

If almost 5,000 megawatts of new nuclear are constructed inFlorida, there will be no need for more power, no matter how

clean. As a result, the truly sustainable energy solutions suchas solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal, wil l lose their financialincentive and those efforts will come to a screeching halt.

This is unconscionable in light of the study commissioned bythe Florida Public Service Commission which determined the

amount of renewable energy possible for utilities to produce

in FloridaNavigant Consulting predicted almost 150,000Gigawatt-hours from solar alone!

Also on the nuclear front, Sierra has contributed to a pro se

intervention by Nuclear Information and Resource Service,Green Party of Florida and the Ecology Party into theNuclear Regulatory Commission proceeding on Progress

Energy Floridas Levy County nuclear proposal. It wouldbe the first Greenfield site application in the country, so the

environmental impacts are potentially great. Sierras CarterQuillen, Calusa Group of southwest Florida, submitted

contentions regarding alternatives to the plant which have not

been considered. The contentions have yet to be admitted andwe will post progress on this case as it develops.

What you can do

Contact your state representatives and tell them not to changethe state Renewable Portfolio Standard in name or otherwise,and not allow new nuclear to compete for incentives which

must be applied to truly clean renewable energy resources.For website links to petitions to representatives, to sites

protesting pre-paying for nuclear, and for backgroundmaterial on this issue contact me at [email protected].

Rhonda Rof f, Energ y Issues Committee, Sierra Club Florida

Interested in energy issues? The Sierra Club Florida EnergyIssues Committee has just been formed, is looking for more

volunteers, and is setting up their web page. Go to florida.

sierraclub.org/energy for more information.

How to keep up with yourFlorida Sierra

A complete record of what Florida Sierra is doing andinformation about plenty of opportunities to help Sierra

Club in Florida are now at your fingertips.

The ClubhouseNever been to the Clubhouse? If you are a Sierra leader

and need resources to help with programs and activities,or if you have a new position in the club and want

information, go to http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org.They will give you the userid and password for lots of

information, and for finding Florida Sierra Club files.

Florida ClubhouseSummaries of all the actions of the Florida SierraSteering Group, as well as the records of the Florida

Chapter, are on the Florida section of Clubhouse. Simplygo to http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org/fl. TheSteering Committee has worked hard to get all these

documents into one, easily accessible place. You gainaccess by using the Clubhouse userid and password.

The Florida WebsiteSimply go to http://florida.sierraclub.org/ No username

or password is required. There is a link to the SteeringCommittee and you will find information about

committee activit ies. If you think you can assist oneof the committees, use the contact link for the steering

committee and tell us you want to help. This site is alsofull of news about environmental efforts in Florida andtips on how you can help. Please visit the site regularly.



Altman Tract phosphate mine update: the fight goes on

As reported in the last Pelican, phosphate mining giantMosaic Fertilizers plans to strip mine the wetland-rich

Altman mine were stopped dead in its tracks, thanks to yearsof activism by the Manatee-Sarasota and Greater Charlotte

Harbor Groups, Sierra regional staff, and a September 2008Manatee County Commission vote to deny the land use

change and mining plan that Mosaic would require.

Not two weeks after the historic denial vote, Mosaic informed

Manatee County that it would file a takings claim for thevalue of the phosphate on the tract, which it estimated to be

$617 million, unless the county reversed its decision in 90days.

Several days after that legal threat was made, the legalchallenge filed in July 2008 by the Sierra Club, Gulf

Restoration Network (GRN), ManaSota-88 and People forProtecting the Peace River (3PR) against the Army Corps of

Engineers resulted in a suspension of Mosaics Altman permit.

The Corps had issued the Altman wetland permit withouthaving completed an environmental impact statement forthe proposed minea requirement under the Clean WaterAct and National Environmental Policy Act. The Corps

had determined that it was in the public interest to revisit theanalysis in support of the permit decision.

However, the federal permit suspension did not stop Mosaic

from wielding its various forms of pressure on the ManateeCounty Commissioners and legal staff. In December 2008,

after two new pro-business commissioners were sworn in,the public was given only 6 days notice of the existence ofa Mosaic settlement agreement before the new commission

voted (without any public hearing or public vetting of thesettlement language) to invalidate the September denial vote,

readdress the Altman Tract permitting issues, and take a newvote by February 5, 2009.

The settlement agreement language itself made it clear that avote for the agreement would lead to a rubber stamp approval

of the Mosaic proposal at the hearings scheduled in Januaryand February but that did not stop us from rallying our

activist troops to make another stand against the mine.

In the course of the 3-month campaign against the settlement,Sierra Club members from Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee,

Desoto, Charlotte and Hillsborough Counties attended theManatee County Commission hearings. We were joined byour friends and allies from ManaSota-88, P3PR and GRN.

We also organized more Duette-area residents (those who liveclose to the Altman Tract) opposed to the mine than we ever

had before.

Attendees challenged the countys failure to provide its

citizens due process in making its rezoning decision andchallenged the legality of the decision itself what a show

of strength! Many thanks to everyone who attended theManatee County Commission meetings in December, January

and February the impression we made together will not besoon forgotten. Activism in the Sierra Club is alive and well.

Although the new Manatee Board of County Commissioners

did vote on February 5 to permit mining on the Altman Tract,this fight is not over. On February 17, Sierra, along with

ManaSota-88 and several citizens, filed suit in circuit court toprevent the Manatee CountyMosaic settlement and Altmanzoning change to take place. Our petition cited numerous

failures of the county to follow its own rules and procedures.

The battle will continue on several new fronts and we wil lkeep pressuring the various powers-that-be to protect the

natural environment and our precious water resources.Mining on the Altman Tract would destroy 400 acres ofpristine wetlands in the 2,048 acre tract, which sits at the

headwaters of Horse Creek, a major tributary to the PeaceRiver. This watershed is of great ecological importance, as

well as a source of drinking water for southwest Florida.

Sierra Club Regional Office, St Petersburg

Sailing with Inner City Outings

Inner City Outings had a fantastic day on the water, courtesyof the Lake Monroe Sailing Association. The day was picture

perfect for sailing, with blue skies, a little wind and balmyweather.

We split up among 6 boats, each one different. The kids got

to see how a sailboat operates, when to duck, lean, or moveto the other side of the boat, and, best of all, got to steer the

boats. At first a couple of them were worried that there weresharks in the lake. We told them there were only 12-foot

all igators. They responded by saying, Go Gators!

One girl said she liked steering the boat the most. Anotherliked when the sailboat was at a steep angle. They all said it

was so much fun and one boy now aspires to own his ownsailboat someday.

Story and photo by Karen Frye,

Central Florida Group Inner City Outings Chair



.Jonathan Dickinson State Park marina. The total distance,

11 miles. More details are available at http://lox.floridatrail.org/html/ocean_to_lake.html. Strenuous. Limit 10. FREE.

Donna Brown, donnabrownintl@gmai l.com. (Loxahatchee)

April 26. Florida Trail Day Hike at the Dupuis

Management Area near Indiantown. 3 hour, 6 to 8miles. Moderate. FREE. Charles Hunt, 561-967-4770,

[email protected] https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=2236,4744679,2236_19848181&_dad=portal&_

schema=PORTAL (Loxahatchee)

May 1-3. Cayo Costa Kayak and Camping. Join us for

a great weekend at one of the states premier island parks.Truly a Gulf Coast paradise located on Lacosta Island west of

Fort Myers; it has one of the top-rated beaches in the nation.Well paddle out on Friday morning with a stop at legendary

Cabbage Key restaurant for lunch, and paddle back onSunday. If you wish to take it easy, there is a ferry boat, Tropic

Star (239-283-0015; tropicstarcru ises.com). Weve rentedfour primitive cabins and four campsites and will divide costsappropriately. This trip is rated moderate to strenuous because

of open water and possible wind conditions. Contact Don

Kirkley at 941-493-3085. (Manatee-Sarasota).

All part icipants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign astandard liabi lity waiver. If you would like to read the waiver,

please go to: www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/.

Spring for outings

March 28, Sat. 9:30 am. Public Transportation Adventure

and Mangrove Park Ecowalk in Boynton Beach. Explorethe mangrove system along the Intracoastal waterway and

hopefully see migrating birds from the short walking trai l andboardwalk. Read more at www.boyntonbeach.com/points/

mangrove/index.html. Well take a free trolley to the park

and back. Leisure. Limit 10. FREE. Sabrina Carle, 561-732-4486, [email protected]. (Loxahatchee)

March 28. Hike the Alligator Creek Trails at the

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (near PuntaGorda). We will begin with a leisurely one-mile interpret ive

walk led by a center volunteer. Those who are interested cancontinue for 2-3 miles at a more moderate pace on other trails.Bobcat, bald eagles, gopher tortoises, and red-shouldered

hawks inhabit the pine flatwoods. Reserve withBrigita at 239-337-1857 [email protected] (Calusa)

April 4-5. Gum Slough Paddle and Potts Preserve Car

Camp.We will spend Saturday on a strenuous exploratoryupstream paddle of beautiful Gum Slough Spring. Forexperienced and strong paddlers; kayaks are recommended.

Saturday night we will enjoy a full-moon car camp on theWithlacoochee. Sunday morning we will do an optional day

hike on the Florida Trail. Leader Ben Berauer, 727-392-2821or [email protected]. (Suncoast)

April 11, Sat. 8 am. Ocean to Lake Trail Day Hike.

Well hike from Riverbend Park west of Jupiter to the



A day of serviceAncient Islands volunteers clean up!

Answering President Obamas call for a day of service, the Ancient Islands

Group organized a work morning at Circle B Bar Reserve, a new Polk Countypark. Twenty-one participants answered the call; about half were Sierransand half were citizens who had read of the event on the internet and wanted a

meaningful experience at this t ime of change.

Many Sierrans volunteer hours each week at the Reserve. Staff there hadidentified the removal of the monofilament line webbing, which underlies

the sod, as the most vexing problem. The webbing, which has been exposedby hog rooting and water action, has proved dangerous to birds, snakes, and

fish. In addition to the webbing removal, a lot of trash that had blown into the

Reserve from the adjacent highway was picked up and removed. And, Floridasonly (we think) chimney swift tower, built by Sierran Bob Taylor, received a

coat of paint!

Historically, swifts used large hollow trees as roosting and nesting sites. As theforests were cleared, swifts adapted to chimneys. But now, most people capor screen their chimneys. Towers have been accepted by the swifts in other

states and Sierrans have high hopes that the tower will soon have a flourishingcolony of swifts.

Frances Howell-Coleman, Ancient Islands Group

volunteer Chris Hrbovsky turned the tide. With those funds

and his indomitable spirit, Chris personally drove the legalprocess to keep Wal-Mart at bay. And while he was at it, he

ran for local office.

WARN (Wal-Mart Action for Reform Now) has always beena critical supporter of this fight and continues to do amazingwork against Wal-Mart sitings special thanks to Colin Fiske

at WARN for all he and his organization have done and arestill doing to force this dialogue about Wal-Marts siting and

employment practices. We also thank our north countySuncoast Sierra Club Conservation Chair, Marc Washburn,

who has been our connection to the complexities of thiseffort, and who personally stepped in front of bulldozersattempting to bury the many gopher tortoises on the property.

Additionally, the continued fundraising and communityawareness efforts of local activist Shelley Eckert and Friends

of the Anclote River drove this process from the start.

Finally, to all those folks calling, writing letters, attending andspeaking at hearingsthis is

what its all about. Thanks toall.

Cathy Harrelson, Conservation

and Coastal Chair

Suncoast Group

Photo credit: Reinier Munguia

Wal-Mart victory

--continued from page 1

Expanding communitypartnerships

Sierra Club Floridas task force on Expanding Community

Partnerships requests assistance in developing a partneringguide to help groups build both membership and groupcapacity and effectiveness. Do you have success stories

that you would like to share about partnering withenvironmental, civic, religious, or business organizations?

We are looking for suggestions you may have about

other potential partners in your groups area, and tips foridentifying partners and establishing relationships. Weare also brainstorming about obstacles that groups may

need to overcome to improve their partnering skills . Inputfrom general members is welcome, so please announce

our project at an upcoming meeting or post to your groupnewsletter. Of course, if you know any members who would

like to be a part of our committee, please let us know.

Debbie Matthews, Miami Group.Email: [email protected]

Joe Murphy, Gulf Restoration Network

Email: [email protected]

Lazaro Isada, Clean Energy


Craig Diamond, Steering Committee




Water Reservations to protect fish and wildlife are beingestablished by the South Florida Water Management District.

If the Reservations truly manage water for wildlife beforeallocating any for new development, it will be good news for

the entire ecosystem from the Orlando area to the Everglades.Healthy wildlife habitat should mean better water quality and

a more natural water flow cycle.

The District is close to adopting the rule establishing a

Reservation for Picayune Strand and Fakahatchee Estuary. AnyReservation will be subject to revision, so activists in south

Florida will want to monitor this process closely. The firstpublic workshop for a Kissimmee Basin Reservation was heldin December. An overview of this latter Reservation follows.

As the lack of water has become more apparent and water

restrictions have become a way of life in Central Florida, thefear has surfaced that local governments on both sides of

the Kissimmee Basin would apply for and be granted waterallocationswater which would then fuel more development,and deprive the Kissimmee River of a flow adequate enough to

sustain the restoration. However, there is a substantial first-use which must be met before utilities can tap into Kissimmee

water.

Florida Statutes state, The Governing Board [watermanagement districts] or the department, by regulation, mayreserve from use by permit applicants, water in such locations

and quantities, and for such seasons of the year, as in its

judgment may be required for the protection offish andwildlife or the public health and safety.

A Reservation should prevent newuses from accessing waterreserved for the protection of fish and wildlife. Protectionmeans ensuring a healthy and sustainable native fish and

wildlife communitya community that can remain healthy andviable through natural cycles of drought, flood, and population

variation. The Basin extends from the Upper KissimmeeChain of Lakes (the Orlando area) to S-65E (basically where

the Kissimmee pours into Lake Okeechobee). It is nowenvisioned there will be seven lake management areas and therestored river and floodplain. The eight areas will be managed

somewhat separately because certain areas may have differentspecies which have different needs.

Science must drive this entire project or the Rule will not

stand against the legal challenges which will surely come, sinceeverybody wants cheap water. Intense study has been doneusing 40 years of water records, to establish how much water

is available. The biologists have identified the species andhabitat with well-defined linkages to hydrology, addressing

which species need water at what levels, and when for nestingand foraging. Only the water that is not needed for wildlife at a

given time will be available for utility allocation.

The establishment of the Reservation Rule is on a fast track.

At the first public workshop in December it was obvious a lotof scientific work had already been done and that staff was not

going to study it to death, because there is an intense senseof urgency to protect the resource. There will be a scientificpeer review of data, analysis and assumptions in March, and

the Governing Board will be asked to approve publishing the

final draft rule in June.

Sierrans need to focus on at least these points at this time:

This process will require close monitoring, becausea Reservation will be subject to periodic review andrevision in the light of changed conditionsand

obviously there will be political pressure to providemore water for consumption.

No allocation for consumption should be made

unless the permit applicant has established the most

rigorous water conservation measures.The Reservation Rule should insure sufficient waterflow to maintain the restored Kissimmee.

Follow the progress by going towww.sfwmd.gov. Click onWhat we do > Water Supply > Rule Development, click on the

Water Reservations tab and then the KISS/UCOL tab.

Frances Howell-Coleman, Ancient Islands Group

Managing w ater fo r fi shManaging w ater fo r fi shand w i ld l i fe FIRSTand w i ld l i fe FIRST

Please give to Florida fund appeal

You should have recently received our annual fundappeal letter, or wil l receive it soon. This is our once-a-

year plea for funds. Every penny you donate stays righthere in Florida to help defend our states irreplaceablenatural resources and our rights to clean air and water.

Florida Sierra Club makes every dollar count becausewe rely mainly on volunteerspeople like you who

give time and energy because you care. But we still needmoney to support our public outreach and education,

lobbying and advocacy, and legal action when necessary.

Please donate based on your ability to pay. We

understand these are difficult times for many members,

so we appreciate your consideration. Like othernonprofits, Sierra Club Florida resources are shrinkingrapidly, and weve significantly cut spending. Yet special

interests are trying to use these hard times as an excuseto weaken Floridas environmental protections. We

cantand wontlet them do it!

Send your contributions to: Sierra Club Florida, P.O.

Box 28353, Kenneth City, FL 33709. No amount is toosmall. Please note: Contributions are not tax-deductible.

They support our effective, citizen-based advocacy andlobbying.


12/12

Sierra Club FloridaThe PelicanP.O. Box 575Tallahassee FL 32302-0575

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDTALLAHASSEE FL

Modern Mailers Permit 236

Moving?Send current mailing label andnew address to:

Sierra ClubPO Box 52968

Boulder CO 80322-2968

Allow 4-6 weeks for processing

Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet

Cleaning Up Tampa Bay Waterways, the Easy Way!The campaign to make the Tampa Bay regions waterways

cleaner and healthier without raising taxes is underway.The Sierra Club Red Tide Campaign is building communitycoalitions to support passing fertilizer management

ordinances by all local governments in Hillsborough andPinellas County. This grassroots initiative could serve as a

model for other areas of Florida.

For these ordinances to have a meaningful effect in the

long term, we must approach nonpoint source pollution in aregional way. After fighting for and winning strong fertilizer

management ordinances in Sarasota, Lee and Coll ier counties,we are now focused on the Tampa Bay region.

If only half of Tampa Bays residents were to comply, wewould still reduce nitrogen pollution of Tampa Bay by 84

tonsan achievement that would otherwise cost mil lionsin new tax dollars for the construction of pollution control

infrastructure. Tampa Bays estuary, rivers and lakes would al lbecome cleaner and clearer. We would reduce the likelihood

offish kills from harmful algae blooms that feed on nitrogenand phosphorus runoff, including the dangerously toxicKarenia brevis the dreaded red tide organism that creates

dead zones and drives tourism dollars from our beaches.

We are promoting a fertilizer ordinance that includes these

provisions:Ban phosphorus fertilizer application throughoutthe year (unless a soil or tissue test demonstrates a

phosphorous deficiency).Prohibit the application of any nitrogen fertilizerduring the rainy months of June to September.

Establish a limit of four pounds of nitrogen per 1000square feet of lawn/landscaping per year.

Require 50 percent slow-release nitrogen content.Establish a 10 foot fertilizer-free zone from the top

of the bank to any surface water.Create a 6-foot low-maintenance zone from anysurface water, within which the planting of Florida-

friendly and native plants is recommended.Require deflector shields on all broadcast fertilizer

spreaders.Require mandatory training of al l landscapers in best

management practices.

This approach to reducing taxes and cleaning impaired

waters works because it relies on personal responsibility toprevent pollution at its source. If you are interested in getting

involved with th is campaign, emai l Phil Compton at [email protected].

Phil Compton, Sierra Club Regional Representative

Documents

Spring 2009 Pelican Newsletter, Florida Sierra Club