TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole launched a new system for e-mail notification of permit applications for the public. The Permitting Application Subscription Service, or PASS, allows the public to receive e-mail alerts when permit applications are submitted to DEP. The announcement, made during Sunshine Week, observed March 16-22, 2008, furthers the state’s commitment to open government and quality of life.

“Services like PASS are just one more way we are working to create a more open, transparent government for the people of Florida,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “Our goal is to increase access to government for all Floridians, and I am glad DEP is improving services for residents, business owners, and professionals in the field.”

PASS allows any interested party to access information about environmental permit applications received by the agency in any area of Florida. Users provide an e-mail address and identify locations of interest as well as activities of interest, and then will receive e-mail notification with more information when permit applications are received at DEP that match the specifications chosen by the member of the public. Subscribers will receive an e-mail identifying application information such as project ID, location name and ID, and permit application number as well as contact information for the appropriate permitting office.

“While many industries and individuals are already familiar with our regulatory permitting system at DEP, this new notification service will be enormously useful to all businesses, citizens, and professionals,” said DEP Secretary Sole. “This innovation is a step forward for our teams involved, and I am grateful to them for building and maintaining this new public service that supports open government at its best.”

As part of DEP Secretary Sole’s efforts to improve customer service, PASS offers a number of choices to allow users to personalize their subscriptions. PASS allows subscribers to create and modify multiple profiles for the same e-mail address, and provides several ways to specify geographical area of interest. For example, users can select all activities inside chosen counties, within a specified distance of an address such as a home, or within a specified distance from a given point on the map such as vacant land. In addition, subscribers can request electronic notification for 11 different permit groups representing 125 different types of permits that DEP facilitates under state regulatory law.

Earlier this year, DEP launched an online survey to collect public input and identify areas of improvement within the agency. The survey is available on the main page of the department’s Web site, www.dep.state.fl.us, and a link to the survey is included in all external e-mails from all agency staff. DEP Secretary Mike Sole also appointed an ombudsman for the agency last year, who oversees DEP’s Office of Public Services. Last year, to support Governor Crist’s open-government efforts and the Open Government Bill of Rights, a DEP team created an “open government” Web page to provide instant access to the answers for frequently asked questions with tailored contact information. For more information on the Office of Public Services or to request public records, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ps/default.htm.

To access PASS, visit http://pass.dep.state.fl.us. For more information about DEP, visit www.dep.state.fl.us.

For more information about Governor Crist’s Office of Open Government, please visit www.flgov.com/og_home .

St. Augustine – The Department (DEP) today welcomed its 100th designated property into the Florida Green Lodging Program. The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Hampton Inn, and Castillo Real Resort and Hotel, owned by Elite Hospitality, Inc., are the 98^th, 99^th and 100^th properties in the state to become designated members. The voluntary state initiative provides the lodging industry with technical assistance, encouraging hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving “green” practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

“With tourism as Florida’s leading economic engine, I applaud all of the 100 properties that have committed to be outstanding stewards of our state’s natural resources over the last four years,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “Our economy is inextricably linked to our environment, and I am grateful to our corporate partners for leading by example as we work to adopt cost-saving green practices that decrease energy use and conserve natural resources.”

To become a designated member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, hotels must implement a variety of green practices. These practices include, but are not limited to, water conservation measures through low flow plumbing fixtures and a linen reuse program, and energy efficiency achieved by installing ENERGY STAR® appliances and programmable thermostats. The waste reduction criteria are met by providing the opportunity to recycle, purchasing items in bulk, purchasing recycled materials and by recycling ink and toner cartridges. All designated members of the Florida Green Lodging Program must also use green cleaners and high efficiency air filters, and clean air handler units frequently.

“With more than 100 participants in the Florida Green Lodging Program, travelers can now find designated properties of all sizes in every region of the state on DEP’s Web site,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “This milestone is a great triumph for the state of Florida and we are excited to continue this amazing momentum as we work to designate the more than 325 applicants the program has received.”

On July 13, 2007, at his Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change, Governor Crist signed three executive orders initiating state energy-use policies, including one that requires state agencies and departments to hold meetings and conferences only at hotels with Florida Green Lodging Program designation whenever possible. The Summit was a bold first step to explore groundbreaking technologies and strategies that will place our state at the forefront of the growing world-wide movement to reduce greenhouse gases.

“Elite Hospitality is committed to exceeding the stay expectations of our guests, while preserving the natural beauty of Florida’s environment,” said Manoj Bhoola, President and Chief Operating Officer, Elite Hospitality, Inc.

Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. As reward for designation, Florida is recommending designated properties in the Florida Green Lodging Program to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities.

With the addition of the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Hampton Inn, and Castillo Real Resort and Hotel, the program has more than 100 designated properties across the state and more than 325 applicants. Designated properties by region in Florida include:

• 12 designated properties in Northwest Florida;

• 12 designated properties in Northeast Florida;

• 52 properties in Central Florida;

• 11 designated properties in Southwest Florida;

• 6 designated properties in Southeast Florida; and

• 18 designated properties in South Florida.

Using DEP’s Florida Green Lodging Program Web site – www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging - visitors can not only find designated properties by region but they can also link directly to the property’s official Web site to make reservations. In addition, the DEP site contains photos and detailed information about each of the designated facilities and after their stay visitors can offer feedback on the designated property they visited. To implement a few of the green practices at while traveling or at home visitors can view DEP’s “green tips” on the Web site as well. Tips include the cost savings for changing a traditional incandescent light bulb to compact florescent light bulb, lowering gas consumption and using programmable thermostats.

For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently awarded $85,496 in grant funding to the Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation District to help control stormwater runoff. The project will capture and clean urban runoff before entering the Lake Lafayette watershed in Tallahassee, as well as provide stormwater education and outreach opportunities in the community.

"Upgrading stormwater systems to provide treatment to remove pollutants in urban neighborhoods built before the state required stormwater treatment is one of the best ways to restore Florida's rivers, lakes and streams,” said DEP Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration Director Jerry Brooks. “DEP's grants promote innovative solutions, including cutting-edge technologies, which will help prevent pollution in the future."

The project involves the construction of a small stormwater treatment facility at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee and will serve as a “live” stormwater lab, used to educate students and the community about best management practices for urban stormwater runoff. Retention and detention ponds will be constructed, along with several rain gardens, for the treatment of incoming pollutants. The facility will be maintained and monitored by the faculty and students of the school, serving as a teaching and learning tool.

Nonpoint source pollution is the largest single cause of impairment to Florida’s waters because it can originate from a variety of sources such as our homes, yards, streets and farms. As rainfall falls on a watershed, it washes contaminants from the land, erodes sediments and unloads them into rivers, lakes, the underground water table, wetlands and coastal areas.

Each year DEP provides about $7 million in Nonpoint Source Pollution grants, using funds provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act, to implement projects or programs that will help reduce nonpoint sources of pollution flowing to rivers, lakes and estuaries. Funds are used to restore water bodies and make them safe for drinking, swimming, boating, fishing and shellfish consumption. All projects must include at least a 40 percent non-federal match and be cost effective in reducing pollutant loads.

Projects selected for funding are determined by a competitive selection process and may include: demonstration and evaluation of Best Management Practices, public education programs on nonpoint source management, nonpoint pollution reduction in priority watersheds, ground water protection from nonpoint sources, development of constructed wetlands, streambank restoration, improved management of onsite sewage systems, and monitoring to provide water quality data.

Since the approval of Section 319 of the Clean Water Act in 1987, DEP has awarded more than $102 million to protect and restore Florida’s waters through this grant program. For more information about efforts to control nonpoint source pollution or how to propose a project for funding, please visit www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/index.htm.

TALLAHASSEE – Highlighting March 2008 as Seagrass Awareness Month, Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are supporting public awareness of seagrasses as they relate to Florida’s marine environment, the commercial and recreational fishing industry and the economy. As recognized in the Governor’s proclamation, “awareness of the problems facing this vital natural resource will help to create an understanding of the ways seagrass damage can impact both the economic and ecological value of marine resources.”

“Florida is home to some of the largest seagrass meadows in the world, supporting hundreds of species of fish, sea turtles, manatees and other wildlife at various stages of their development,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole. “Preserving these underwater grasses is critical to the prosperity of Florida’s marine life, water quality and each citizen’s quality of life.”

One of the most productive communities on earth, seagrasses are flowering underwater grasses found in estuaries, lagoons and shallow, open shelves off Florida's coast. Florida is home to seven species of seagrasses, located throughout the state. A critical marine habitat, seagrasses provide a nursery ground for marine life and maintain water quality and clarity by stabilizing bottom sediments and filtering nutrients from stormwater run-off.

Many of Florida’s aquatic preserves help protect this vital natural resource. For example, the Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Aquatic preserve program in Charlotte County monitors seagrass health at 52 stations located on 160,000 acres. Another example is a monitoring project at Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve, which spans more than 945,000 acres, evaluating current conditions and identifying management needs of this vital resource. Additionally, preservation efforts at Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties are helping to save Johnson’s seagrass, a threatened seagrass that exists only in southeast Florida.

In 2006, seagrass communities in Florida supported an estimated harvest of $71.4 million for six seagrass-dependant commercial species of fish and shellfish. The state’s multi-million dollar fishing industry depends on healthy seagrasses to protect young fish and shellfish, coral reefs and other marine life, including sea turtles, manatees and wading birds. Recreational divers, snorkelers and fishing enthusiasts from around the world visit underwater Florida to experience the state’s world-class marine resources.

While affecting habitat, boating in seagrass beds can also damage vessel engines, hulls and propellers. Groundings that damage seagrass habitats are crimes subject to both federal and state fines. These fines help fund habitat restoration and long-term monitoring activities.

The following tips provide seagrass-friendly practices for boaters:

• Know the waters where you plan to boat.

• Use current nautical charts of the area.

• Use marked channels where they exist and stay in deep water.

• When in doubt about the depth, slow down and idle. Make sure the bow of the boat is down and the motor is trimmed or tilted up.

• Know the tides. The greatest range of tides occurs during a full-moon and new-moon. Use extra caution when boating on a low tide.

• If you do run into a seagrass flat, stop immediately and tilt your engine.

For more information on Florida’s seagrasses, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/. To view the Governor’s proclamation for Seagrass Awareness Month, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/awareness/Gov_2008_Seagrass_Proc.pdf.

ROCKLEDGE – The Department (DEP) rewarded Rockledge High School students today for pledging to purchase recycled products and participate in recycling efforts this year as part of the America Recycles Day contest. To encourage environmental citizenship, DEP hosted the K-12 Recycling Pledge Card Contest to recognize an elementary, middle and high school classroom for outstanding environmental commitment. More than 14,000 people have pledged to recycle in 2008.

“DEP is proud of and encouraged by the efforts of the Rockledge High School students,” said DEP Central District Director Vivian Garfein. “Recycling programs such as America Recycles Day help students realize they can make a difference, and have a direct impact in protecting our environment.”

DEP Central District employees visited Rockledge High School to award the winning classroom with a refurbished computer for their pledge of environmental stewardship. Rockledge High submitted 606 recycling pledges from classmates, friends and family, the largest number of pledge cards of any high school class in the state.

“We have been recycling here at Rockledge High School for the past several years,” said Jackie Insalaco, Science Teacher at Rockledge High. “We recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard and phonebooks. The program has become very successful; recycling is part of the student and faculty culture here at Rockledge High School.”

In addition to refurbished computers from Creative Recycling Systems, Inc. for the winning classrooms, each school will receive a $50 check from Recycle Florida Today. All pledges received are entered into a statewide America Recycles Day drawing with winners eligible for a $100 gift certificate.

America Recycles Day is celebrated each November and encourages Americans to protect the nation’s natural resources and take personal action as environmental stewards. In 2006, more than 112,000 Americans took the America Recycles Day pledge to prevent and reduce waste. In 2005, more than nine million tons of municipal solid waste was recycled in Florida, including 578,000 tons of newspaper, 165,000 tons of glass, 44,000 tons of aluminum cans and 51,000 tons of plastic bottles.

For more information about recycling, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling/.

CEDAR KEY – The Department (DEP), together with the Clean Boating Partnership, recognized Cedar Key Marina as a designated member of the Florida Clean Marina Program. The facility is the 149th in the state to become a member of the Florida Clean Marina Program.

“Clean water is vital to Florida’s environment and economy. Clean Marinas and Clean Boatyards such as the City of Cedar Key lead the way in protecting this precious resource,” said DEP Northeast District Assistant Director Bill Green. “Receiving designation as a Clean Marina verifies that marinas are taking the necessary steps to protect our waterways.”

Florida Clean Marina Program facilities are required to meet a variety of best management practices to receive designation. These practices include, but are not limited to, properly storing and disposing of used oil, using fertilizers and pesticides according to directions and using cleaning methods that prevent the release of pollutants. In addition to implementing best management practices, the City of Cedar Key Marina has implemented a “safety island” with fire extinguishers and booming material, has stenciled storm drains and uses native plants in their landscaping. The marina also displays maps of the channel which helps boaters to stay within the channel boundaries rather than potentially harming seagrass outside of the channel.

“This island city, with the help of DEP, has taken the steps towards protecting Florida’s waterways and will continue to protect and improve our surrounding water bodies and the natural environment” said City of Cedar Key Commissioner, Sue Coleson. “Our designation as a Clean Marina will provide an educational component to our visiting boaters and hopefully their commitment to our cause – Boat Clean, Boat Safe.”

The Clean Boating Partnership is a consortium of industry leaders who contribute time and input to the Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine Retailer and Clean Boater programs, which DEP administers, to protect Florida’s waterways. The partnership includes DEP, Marine Industries Association of Florida, Florida Sea Grant Program, United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

“The Clean Boating Partnership commends the City of Cedar Key Marina for its commitment to protecting Florida’s environment,” said the Partnership’s Chair John Naybor. “Becoming a designated Clean Marina is an accomplishment this facility can be proud of and we welcome them to our Clean Marina family.”

With more than one million registered motorized vessels in Florida, environmental education within marine industries is the first step towards safeguarding the state’s natural resources. By providing ‘green’ education and alternatives, the Florida Clean Marina Program helps ensure a sustainable future for the environment and the billion-dollar marine industry.

For more information about the Florida Clean Marina Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina. For more information about the marina, visit www.cedarkeymarina.net .

TALLAHASSEE – The Department (DEP) welcomed four hotels to the Florida Green Lodging Program this week. The Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando is the 109th property to be designated in the state; the Bellasera Hotel is the 105th property to be designated state; Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront is the 101st property to be designated in the state; and the Doubletree Guest Suites in Walt Disney World Resort is the 75th property to be designated in the state. The voluntary state initiative provides the lodging industry with technical assistance, encouraging hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving “green” practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

“DEP is proud to welcome these hotels to the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said DEP Director of Sustainable Initiatives Deas Bohn. “Their environmental commitment serves as an example and a challenge to other hotels to adopt innovative green practices, conserve resources and save money.”

To be a designated member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, hotels must implement a variety of green practices. These practices include, but are not limited to, water conservation measures through low flow plumbing fixtures and a linen reuse program, and energy efficiency achieved by installing ENERGY STAR® appliances and programmable thermostats. The waste reduction criteria are met by providing the opportunity to recycle, purchasing items in bulk, purchasing recycled materials and by recycling ink and toner cartridges. All designated properties must also use green cleaners and high efficiency air filters, and clean air handler units frequently.

The following are quotes from managers at the newly designated properties in the Florida Green Lodging Program:

“The Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando is very proud to be recognized as an environmentally conscientious lodging facility and we are committed to doing our part to conserve our natural resources,” said Bill Worcester, General Manager of the Doubletree. “We are honored to join the effort to implement green practices that decrease energy use and conserve our natural resources. Florida’s natural beauty can only be preserved if all businesses make ‘green’ the only way to do business.”

“Bellasera is proud to be designated a member of the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said General Manager Steven McIntire. “Even more meaningful is the fact that this effort was completely driven by our hotel’s staff members, who conscientiously took it upon themselves to put together this program of improved waste reduction, energy efficiency and clean air quality. Not only does our management team appreciate their efforts, but I know that our guests will too, as they’ll be able to adopt the same green practices here at the resort that many of them are already utilizing at home.”

"We are proud of our associates’ commitment in achieving this important designation from the Florida Green Lodging Program,” said Rene Schiegg, General Manager of the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront. “The Hilton Hotels Corporation is taking into account the triple bottom line of People, Planet and Profit as a measure of our success."

“It’s all about going green, and we carefully considered that while under renovation,” said Doubletree’s General Manager, Glen Winsor. “Today’s guest wants a hotel that is environmentally friendly and environmentally conscious. To complete the transformation and receive the Green Lodging designation is quite exciting and cause to celebrate.”

On July 13, 2007, at his Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change, Governor Crist signed three executive orders initiating state energy-use policies, including one that requires state agencies and departments to hold meetings and conferences only at hotels with Florida Green Lodging Program designation as of January 1, 2008, whenever possible. The Summit was a bold first step to explore groundbreaking technologies and strategies that will place our state at the forefront of the growing world-wide movement to reduce greenhouse gases.

Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. As reward for designation, the state is recommending designated properties in the Florida Green Lodging Program to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities. With the addition of the Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, the program has 115 designated properties and more than 325 applicants.

For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.