FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement by Department of Environmental Protection
Secretary David B. Struhs
On Governor Bush’s Signing of Everglades Funding Bill
HB 813

May 15, 2002

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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