From: Gwen Pallante Straub, Vice-President, Environmental Council of
Volusia & Flagler Counties
Issues and Views at the EC, July l0, 2002 (no meeting May or June)
1. Clean Power Act.
S- 5556, introduced into Congress by Senators Jeffords
and Lieberman, addresses four destructive power plant emissions. It would
for the first time put a cap on the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2),
the main heat trapping gas that causes global warming, and would also place
limits on health-damaging nitrogen oxide, mercury, and sulfur dioxide,
encouraging development of alternative fuels. Eight counties in Florida
(Manatee, Broward, Alachua, Sarasota, Palm Beach, Dade, Brevard, and Leon)
have passed resolutions supporting the Clean Power Act, and examples of
these resolutions can be found on the Florida Climate Alliance website:
www .floridaclimatealliance.net Florida is already experiencing the impacts
of global warming with rising sea levels and extended periods of drought
and rain. Cleaning up pollution from old power plants, especially CO2 is
crucial to the health and economic well being of Florida and its residents.
With 800 miles of beaches and a tourist-dependent economy, we in Florida
have more to lose from global warming than any other state. We encourage
the CC to contact Joe Siry, State Director of Florida Climate Alliance,
and Director of Rollins College Department of Environmental Management,
to join the Florida Counties that have supported the Clean Power Act.
2. Tomoka River
In April the EC requested from FDEP Secretary David
Struhs results of the latest water samples in the Tomoka River at 11 the
St. which is now impacted by the 1-95 interchange and the new Auto Mall.
This location is the headwaters of the Tomoka and for years was 2nd or
3n1 highest on Florida's Biotic Index. Samples had been taken regularly,
but the reply from Eric Livingston, Chief, Bureau of Watershed Management,
informed us that the Department does not have the resources to conduct
special monitoring projects. We will inform the Department that the last
administration was able to find the resources. Odd isn't it that with more
development there is less concern for a river with Outstanding Florida
Water status, that so many worked so hard to achieve. The strategy by which
current administrations disempower their environmental agencies is to slash
their budgets. Livingston answered our concern that siltation is now entering
the Tomoka River from a poorly designed interchange at 1-95, as well as
from the Auto Mall, by advising us to contact Volusia County Public Works
Department requesting it conduct a site inspection to insure the proper
use of erosion and sediment controls. The state is now passing the buck
to local governments for enforcing its environmental regulations. Unfortunately
Volusia County drastically cut its Environmental Management budget too.
3. Aquaculture
Volusia County's clam farming industry is relatively
innocuous to the marine environment. The plan to expand fish farming to
include snapper, grouper and shrimp, however, will inevitably result in
pollution of coastal waters, fish escaping into the wild, weakening wild
fish populations. The County should research the known damaging impacts
of farming these species and decide if the economic benefit is worth the
harm to the environment.
4. Daytona Beach Ocean Sampling
Of the monthly ocean samples taken in Daytona Beach,
6.2% exceed allowable coliform bacteria levels, according to the City ofDaytona
water quality report. No explanation or course of action is given in the
report.
5. Ocala National Forest
The US Forest Service is planting long leaf pine
in the Ocala Forest in parts of Lake, Marion, and Putnam Counties where
the southern pine beetle has wrought devastation. The plan also calls for
removal of exotic vegetation. We support it. In addition, we would like
to see the Forest Service exclude off-road motorized vehicles from the
Ocala Forest for recreation or commercial purposes. The US Forest Service
is renewing the Navy's permit to test live ammunition at the Pine Castle
bombing range in the Ocala Forest. We strongly oppose.
6. Demineralization Plant at Sanford
The Water Management District is treating Lake Monroe
water to a purification process that brings it to drinking water standards.
This concentrate management project is turning out good quality water at
an extremely high price. Policy makers will go to any lengths to ensure
ever more people will migrate to our beleaguered state! To stop overpumping
and harming the Floridan aquifer and its connected wetlands and springs,
we must now exploit another source of potable water, the St Johns River
system. How ironic that to save one precious resource, we will pay dearly
for another that will allow overpopulation to destroy Florida. God help
us.
7. Turtles
Environmentalists are angered that the County applied
for the turtle monitoring permit south of the Inlet -and that FFWCC granted
it. Our concern is that no data will come from the area south of the Inlet
which might prove uncomfortable for the County.
8. Wal-Mart on SR 44
The County Council's 7-0 vote against the superstore
locating here is immensely gratifying to environmentalists and a community
which gave its heart and soul to defeat this defilement. The sad thing
is that County DRC staff had to recommend it because it met the code. Why
was this land upzoned from residential to commercial? Why was it changed
again to allow giant retail? Why did the County not bring its Overlay Zone
in cofDpliance with New Smyrna's, which allows only small retail establishments?
We hope the County will re-examine all zoning that impacts watersheds and
re-zone guided by the function of the land. If Wal-Mart sues the County,
Corridor 44 Civic Association and the EC can ask to be a party to the suit.
Interesting bedfellows !
In Seminole County the Commission refused to allow
Wal-Mart to upzone on land it wanted for a super center. The retail monster
ended up enlarging its store in Sanford on 17/92 near Lake Mary Blvd. The
existing store was made into a super center. No shopping center space was
left vacant. No raw land was developed; no urban sprawl encouraged. Win
Win.
9. Flagler County Beaches
We received no answer from FDOT to our letter about
the harm of dropping rocks on Flagler County beaches to halt erosion. The
letter will be forwarded to FFWCC.
10. NRC
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should be replaced
with an unbiased watchdog agency that is not an advocate for the industry
it is regulating.
11. New County Tree Ordinance
We are pleased to see tree replacement increased
to 15% of the cross sectional area of the trunks removed, inspection required
before a permit is issued, limits put on clearing subdivisions, Historic
Trees protected in the buildable area of residential construction, better
standards for protecting trees during construction, and replacement required
if trees are removed and no application for a building permit occurs within
1 year. We are disappointed the residential owner-occupied exemption includes
Historic and Specimen Trees, the 3 year agricultural qualification is not
increased at least to 5, and developers are not required to plant trees
in right- of-ways and parks if on-site space is limited, instead of paying
into a tree trust account.