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In this issue: Headline News Helpful Numbers: Office of the Secretary Communications Regional Offices: Northwest -- Pensacola |
The Department of
Environmental Protection announced a major initiative this month to
restore and protect Florida’s world famous beaches.
The plan accelerates permitting and funding of projects that
renourish beaches, which attract millions of tourists to our state every
year. “The Department of
Environmental Protection is working with federal and local governments to
reverse the damaging effects of erosion on Florida’s beaches,” said
Secretary David B. Struhs. “Protecting
Florida’s natural resources is essential to maintaining our quality of
life as well as sustaining our tourist-based economy, which relies on a
healthy environment. In the
short-term, expediting projects will create jobs and pump money into
Florida’s economy.” Over the last three years, nearly a quarter of a billion dollars was spent on beach renourishment, including $80 million from state government, $73 million in federal assistance and more than $90 million in local matching funds. Florida has 825 miles of sandy beaches. Over the last five years, almost 55 miles have been restored, while over 150 miles remain designated as critically eroded. To facilitate the
expedited process, the Office of Beaches and Coastal Systems is merging
with the Bureau of Submerged Lands and Environmental Resources to form a
new bureau under the Division of Water Resource Management.
Effective January 1, 2002, Mike Sole, who currently serves as
Assistant Director for the Division of Waste Management, will head the new
office. A 12-year veteran of
the Department, Sole is most known for successfully reorganizing and
streamlining the underground storage tank program. “We need to open the
lines of communication with our federal partners as well as with local
governments,” said Sole. “I
am confident that by working together we can streamline the complicated
permitting process and improve coordination to better respond to beach
erosion in our coastal communities.” Al
Devereaux, director of the Office of Beaches and Coastal Systems is
retiring at the end of the year. |
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Project
Greenshores: A Pensacola Success Story Pensacola,
November 16 – The Department
of Environmental Protection launched Project Greenshores, a $6 million
public-private partnership to improve water quality and revitalize marine
life by restoring salt marshes, seagrass beds and oyster reefs in
Pensacola Bay. DEP together
with local governments and the private sector have provided $1.3 million
in funding and services, with the remainder coming from state and federal
grants. “The
project restores and protects our natural resources, as well as our
quality of life and economy which depend on a healthy environment,” said
Mary Jean Yon, Director of DEP’s Northwest District.
“Community and private sector involvement is the key to the
success of this massive project. By
continuing to work together, we will achieve greater environmental
protection for all Panhandle communities.” The
oyster reefs will be created by dumping 8,000 tons of limestone rock off
the shoreline, followed by tons of oyster shells donated by local
restaurants and food vendors. Between
the shore and the newly created reef, nearly 20 acres of seagrass and
other vegetation will be planted to create salt marshes.
The oyster shells and seagrass will filter pollution from
stormwater runoff that drains into the bay and the restored aquatic
habitat will serve as a nursery for shrimp, crabs, redfish and speckled
trout. Volunteers
are encouraged to participate in the project.
For more information, please contact Sava Varazo at 850-595-8300,
ext. 1194. Back
to Normal for Amelia River Estuary – Thanks to Clean-Up Effort Amelia
Island, November 5 – A
public-private partnership between the Department of Environmental
Protection and international forest products company Rayonier has resulted
in the extraordinary recovery of the Amelia River Estuary. The clean-up effort decreased the level of ammonia in the
Amelia River, which has allowed a critical part of the food chain to once
again flourish. “This
remarkable achievement should be added to the list of Florida’s
environmental success stories,” said DEP Secretary David B. Struhs while
touring the mill. “It’s a
story that will resonate nationwide – both throughout this industry and
others.” After
DEP studies in the late 1990s concluded ammonia discharged from its
Fernandina Beach pulp mill was the likely cause of a biological imbalance
in the estuary, Rayonier voluntarily invested $1.3 million in improvements
at the mill to reduce the use and discharge of the chemical. The elevated
ammonia level was suspected of causing a decrease in Phytoplankton, a
microscopic algae and source of food for small fish.
Since
the clean-up effort was implemented, follow-up studies report an 85% drop
in ammonia discharged and an increase in the amount of the microscopic
plankton. For more
information, visit
the website. Jacksonville
and Florida Team Up To Preserve Land Jacksonville, November
27 – As part of the Florida Forever program, Governor Jeb Bush and
the Florida Cabinet teamed up with the City of Jacksonville to purchase
two projects with a combined total of over 35,000 acres of environmentally
sensitive land appraised at a total of $20.2 million.
After the properties are purchased, the state will reimburse the
City for 45% of the total cost of both projects, and will manage the
larger land acquisition. The City
will purchase 28,121 acres of land for $13.9 million to complete the
Pumpkin Hill Creek project, which is nearly 32,000 acres in total.
The state will manage the land to protect water quality in the St.
Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve, maintain the wildlife habitat for
several endangered species, including the Florida manatee and wood stork,
and preserve fourteen archaeological sites, including the ruins of the
early 19th century Fitzpatrick Plantation House. Another 7,000 acres will be acquired by the City for the Northeast Florida Blueways project at a cost of $6.3 million. The estuarine tidal marsh serves as a nursery for aquatic species and a prime feeding and nesting area for rare and endangered avifauna. The salt marsh, which is bordered by flatwoods and hammocks, will be managed by the City. Developed in 1999 and implemented in July, Florida Forever is a 10-year, $3 billion land and water conservation program that builds on the success of Preservation 2000. Flager
County Beach Project Nears Completion Marineland,
November 20 – DEP is wrapping
up construction of a beach project in Flagler County’s River to Sea
Preserve in the town of Marineland. The
$6 million project, which was designed and constructed by the agency’s
Office of Beaches and Coastal Systems, is being completed on time and
under budget. The
beach was expanded and now features a protective seawall covered by a new
dune, a new granite barrier, boardwalk and public facilities. The new
revetment replaces the coquina barrier that was destroyed by 12-foot waves
and high tides from Hurricane Floyd in September of 1999.
The improvements will protect the shore for the historic Marineland
of Florida, the world’s first oceanarium, as well as the research campus
for the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory. Permit
Issued for Florida’s First Seawater Desalination Plant Tampa,
November 27 – The Department
of Environmental Protection issued the final National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System permit to Tampa Bay Desal to build the largest seawater
desalination facility in the nation.
Projected to open in 2002, the $110 million plant will use an
advanced technology called reverse osmosis to filter salt and other
minerals from water in Tampa Bay to produce at least 25 million gallons of
potable water per day for people living in the drought-plagued Tampa Bay
area. The
Department announced its intent to issue the permit after extensive
environmental modeling by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and
engineers indicated the desalination and dilution processes at the plant
will prevent damaging salinity levels from harming the water resources and
natural systems of Tampa Bay. In
October, an administrative court agreed with the Department and rejected a
legal challenge by Save Our Bays, Air and Canals, who opposes construction
of the plant. In his ruling,
Judge J. Lawrence Johnston said the permit review process was “one of
the most thorough conducted by the DEP” and the permit contained
“conditions which create and provide a wide margin of environmental
protection.”
DEP
Employees Take Home 14 Davis Productivity Awards Tallahassee,
November 27 – More than 100
DEP employees were awarded a 2001 Davis Productivity Award this year.
All fourteen nominations from the Department of Environmental
Protection were recognized with a monetary award, commemorative plaque,
certificate of commendation, or letter of honorable mention.
The Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan Team received the Distinguished Work Unit
Award for developing and implementing a strategy to share the cost and
management of the project with the federal government, which saves Florida
taxpayers an estimated $86 million. Notable Work Unit
Awards went to the Electronic Access System for Inspection Information
Team for improving the environmental inspection process and the Technical
Support Request Application Team for developing software to improve
internet use. The Davis Productivity Awards honors state employees whose initiative measurably increases productivity, promotes innovation and saves tax dollars. Founded in 1989 by the Davis family of Winn Dixie, Inc., the awards program is sponsored by Florida Tax Watch, The Florida Council of 100 and the State of Florida with the continued financial support of the Davis family. Over the last 12 years, the program has recognized more than 5000 individuals, teams and agencies that together saved Florida taxpayers over $3.4 billion. This year alone the program saved the state $436 million in costs and increased revenue by $59 million. This week, DEPost looks at the people inside DEP’s Division of Water Resource Management.
Please send comments and feedback to the DEP |
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