The Post Volume 11, Issue 2

New Everglades Radio Network (ERN) Segments Are Up and Running

The Everglades Radio Network (ERN) was the first FM version of a highway advisory radio station in Florida, designed to educate and inform Florida’s residents and visitors about the expansive Everglades ecosystem. The network’s original programming highlights the natural wonders and environmental challenges facing the restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, as well as profiles individuals and organizations associated with the region.

Serving as a vital link to more than 18,000 motorists daily, ERN also enhances highway and public safety by airing emergency weather bulletins, travel advisories and Amber Alerts along Alligator Alley, the reversible hurricane evacuation route linking Southwest and Southeast Florida. The ERN began broadcasting from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2003. The magazine-style continuous broadcast from WFLP-LP or WFLU-LP (FM 98.7 or 107.9) features details about the Everglades ecosystem, its wildlife and habitat, along with a history of the Everglades and the natural and man-made forces affecting its future.

The ERN segments are also available over the Internet at www.evergladesradionetwork.org. The website links to the live streaming broadcast or individual segments in MP3 format, which are available to be downloaded for educational purposes. There are eight new segments to enjoy:

Kissimmee River Restoration and Paddling Trail Highlights with South Florida Water Management District’s Executive Director Carol Wehle and Office of Greenways and Trails’ Doug Alderson in ERN Block 3, Segment 12
Spotlight on DEP’s Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve with Gary Lytton in ERN Block 1, Segment 10B
3. Updated segment of the restoration of Picayune Strand in ERN Block 6, Segment 3
Highlights of the Everglades Trail in ERN Block 3, Segment 6
The Value of Everglades Restoration in ERN Block 1, Segment 10A
Highlights of the C111 Spreader Canal Restoration Project in ERN Block 2, Segment 6
New Recycling Tips in ERN Block 1, Segment 1B and ERN Block 3, Segment 1B
New “Everglades in a Minute” series in ERN Block 2, Segment 2; ERN Block 3 , Segment 3; ERN Block 4, Segment 2 and ERN Block 5, Segment 2

Click the title of each segment to learn more about this magnificent south Florida wonder, or click the play button at the top of the page to tune into the LIVE broadcast.

Governor Rick Scott Names Herschel Vinyard as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection

On January 3, in his continued focus on protecting the natural resources of Florida, while creating the best possible mechanisms for job creation in the state, Governor Rick Scott appointed Herschel Vinyard as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate and the Florida Cabinet.

Vinyard, who also served as a member of Scott’s Economic Development Transition Team, has a deep background in environmental compliance and innovation, having practiced environmental law for nearly a decade, while more recently serving as director of business operation for BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards. This mix of legal expertise and service with a major Florida employer positions Vinyard to uniquely understand the need for strong environmental protection while ensuring that government and business find new ways to partner in growing the Florida economy.

“Herschel is a man of deep environmental knowledge and practical business experience. He has a love for our great state’s natural resources and a passion for job creation. He will effectively balance those interests for the benefit of all Floridians. We are fortunate to have recruited Herschel from the private sector into government service,” Scott said.

As an example of Vinyard’s focus on environmental responsibility and effective business practices, he provided counsel to BAE Systems in their recent, successful efforts to remove its treated wastewater outfall from the St. Johns River. That wastewater is now being used for irrigation purposes and eliminates a discharge to one of Florida’s most significant water bodies.

In addition, Vinyard led his company’s three-year effort to obtain state approval for a sovereign submerged lands lease. His experience in this complex regulatory proceeding provided Vinyard with new insights on the challenges businesses face in the permitting process and the need to provide a more efficient and streamlined mechanism to meet environmental requirements.

“Good environmental practices make good business sense. Not only can such stewardship better protect the resources around us, they often save money and lead to new innovation....more