Open Letter to the People of Florida [from FL Gov Jeb Bush, re: Everglades Restoration]

www.myflorida.com ^ | May 2003 | FL Gov Jeb Bush

[summer]

Open Letter to the People of Florida

Water in more than 90 percent of the Everglades is already meeting the stringent water quality standard proposed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Florida Legislature and I are committed to making that 100 percent.

Work is already underway to achieve that goal. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in the construction of 44,000 acres of man-made marshes that filter pollution from water entering the Everglades. These treatment marshes, along with improved farming practices, prevented more than 1300 tons of phosphorus from water entering the River of Grass. By 2006, optimization of these “green” technologies will reduce phosphorus levels entering the Everglades by more than 90 percent from a decade ago.

Reauthorization of the 1994 Everglades Forever Act strengthens our commitment to achieving the water quality. The amended law upholds the integrity of the science-based water quality standard, maintains the current compliance deadline, and gives us the plan, the enforceable schedule and the money to get the job done – without raising taxes and without federal funding.

I am confident we are on the right track to restoring the Everglades. The goal is clear. Our plan is defined. Our commitment is strong and unwavering.

Thank you for your support.

Governor Jeb Bush

[summer]

Not long ago, Gov Bush was the subject of an editorial in the NYT, written by the NYT editors, in which they raised questions about the future of the Everglades and Gov Bush's much publicized committment to restoring this River of Grass.

Gov Bush responded with a letter to the editor, published in the NYT, but questions in the media continue because a new piece of Everglades legislation is now pending before Gov Bush.

This pending legislation seeks to extend the length of time for the clean-up, an issue the Dems have pounced on in an effort to claim Gov Bush is not sincere in his alleged committment to the Everglades, should he decide to sign the legislation. Gov Bush is still considering it and has not yet made a decision as of this date, according to published news reports. He is gathering information, as explained in the press release, below.

While he considers the possible ramifications of signing this legislation, he is consulting with a number of experts and has made the entire process as transparent as possible so the public can keep up with the actual facts.

Since Gov Bush has taken the time to create a new web site for the public re: the Everglades clean-up, I have taken the time to post it here for all to see. To view the site, click here.

The above, new web site was first announced in this recent press release:

Governor Bush Reaches Out to Legal, Technical Experts on Everglades -- Unveils website, invites nation to get informed with the facts

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 13 2003

Contact:
Alia Faraj
(850) 488-5394 or
Deena Wells
(850) 245-2112

TALLAHASSEE -- Governor Jeb Bush is reaching out to legal advisors, technical experts and the public about efforts to restore America's Everglades. Today, Governor Bush unveiled a new website inviting the nation to learn more about the largest environmental restoration of its kind. Providing extensive and up to date information on Everglades restoration, water quality, legislation, funding and scientific research, the Department of Environmental Protection website outlines Florida's progress to restore the famed River of Grass at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/evergladesforever.

“This is a complex issue that has been clouded by a lot of misinformation. Florida's commitment to Everglades cleanup should not be questioned. It remains steadfast,” said Governor Bush. “This is an invitation to personally review Florida's report card on this monumental undertaking and to stay informed about the facts of the Everglades restoration.”

Seeking external legal advice, Governor Bush selected two attorneys to review the Everglades Forever Act. Governor Bush has asked F. Henry Habicht, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Environment and Technology Foundation, and Parker D. Thomson, managing partner of the Miami Office of Hogan and Hartson L.L.P., to conduct an impartial evaluation of current legislation to amend the Everglades Forever Act.

“I have asked two respected legal experts to evaluate the legislation currently under consideration, to compare it to the original act passed nearly a decade ago and to assess its impact on federal agreements,” said Governor Bush. “With their exceptional experience, I am confident they will provide a fair, unbiased and balanced assessment of the facts.”

F. Henry Habicht served as the Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1989 to 1993. He also served as Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice under the Reagan Administration where he directed the Environment and Natural Resources Division. He holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia and an A.B. from Princeton University.

A Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate, Parker D. Thomson is an accomplished litigator. He has regularly represented private and public clients, including the State of Florida, in the U.S Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court and various state and federal courts throughout Florida. Mr. Thomson successfully resolved litigation to preserve public ownership of Florida's Fisheating Creek and represented Florida's environment in the Peace River and Coastal Petroleum cases. In 1989, Mr. Thomson was recognized by 1000 Friends of Florida for his work safeguarding the state’s public trust in its land and waters.

The special counsel will also assess the effect of the proposed legislation on the 1992 court-approved settlement agreement between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, South Florida Water Management District and the federal government. The agreement establishes acceptable phosphorus concentration levels and directs clean up of water flowing over federal lands, which include Everglades National Park and the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

In a separate briefing on Florida's compliance with the federal agreement, Governor Bush will meet with members of the Technical Oversight Committee, which was established under the federal settlement to oversee water quality monitoring, phosphorus management and scientific research related to clean up activities guided by the federal settlement.

“As I said in my letter to Judge Hoeveler, Florida will not deviate from the path of progress memorialized and made binding by the court,” said Governor Bush. “Under my watch, Florida will finish the job of fulfilling the requirements of the settlement agreement.”

[summer]

Gov Bush also recently went to Washington, DC to consult with people on what possibwle impact, if any, this pending legislation, if signed, would have on federal monies earmarked for FL. I will post an article about this.

[summer]

Gov Bush also recently went to Washington, DC to consult with people on what possible impact, if any, this pending legislation, if signed, would have on federal monies earmarked for FL. I will post an article about this legislation and his trip on this thread.

[Lunatic Fringe]

This is impossible.. Republicans get their kicks from abusing the environment!

[summer]

Here's a link to the article I described in my above post:

Gov Bush Heads To Washington To Discuss Everglades -- AP, May 14, 2003
This article mentions both Dem and GOP leaders opposed to the legislation, which Gov Bush is stil considering siging.

I think Gov Bush is doing his best to study all sides of the issue, while trying to keep the public informed of the facts.

[summer]

Here's the article I described in my above post, which mentions both Dems and GOP :

Gov Bush Heads To Washington To Discuss Everglades -- AP, May 14, 2003

Gov. Bush heads to Washington to discuss Everglades

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

By DAVID ROYSE, Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Jeb Bush will go to Washington Wednesday to talk with members of Congress about a state bill that critics say would thwart state-federal efforts to clean up the Everglades.

The measure, awaiting his signature, changes standards and deadlines for cleaning the River of Grass, letting restoration take years longer than originally planned.

Environmentalists argue that that violates a consent agreement between the federal and state governments and endangers federal spending on the project — half the estimated $8 billion cost.

Several members of Florida's congressional delegation have said Bush should veto the bill to assure Congress that the state is committed to its part of the original deal.

A federal judge in Miami has also expressed such concern about the bill's effects that he said he will appoint a special master to oversee deadlines for the cleanup that were required by the 1992 consent agreement and subsequent legislation that put the terms of that agreement into state law.

The judge also has said that he will not let the bill, if signed into law, alter the agreement.

Bush said Tuesday he believes the bill passed by the Legislature last month complies with the agreement. He said the cleanup is far ahead of schedule, that the ecosystem is much better off than it was just a few years ago.

Still, Bush said he didn't want to ignore the concerns about the bill.

"It's important to make sure that we are in compliance with a federal consent decree. We're committed to be in compliance," Bush said Tuesday. "I would not want to defy a federal judge on something that we've been working on achieving and we're in total agreement with the importance of complying with the consent decree."

Bush said he believes that since most of the Everglades already easily meets a strict standard for how clean the ecosystem must be — including all of the federally-owned parts of the Everglades — the state is meeting the requirements of the consent agreement.

But several members of Congress, including key Republican budget writers, are not convinced the state isn't as committed to the cleanup as originally agreed.

Florida Sen. Bob Graham, a Democratic presidential candidate, has consistently warned that the bill endangered federal money. He wrote to the governor's brother, President Bush, this week asking him to announce full support for Everglades restoration funding.

Gov. Bush planned to meet with congressional budget writers and members of the Florida delegation to try and assure them of the state's commitment.

In addition to Graham, the bill has been criticized by House Appropriations Chairman Bill "C.W." Young and fellow Florida Republicans E. Clay Shaw Jr. and Porter Goss.

[summer]

LOL...I think it is to Gov Bush's credit that he is reaching out to various experts on this matter, and trying to learn as much as he can prior to signing or rejecting any new legislation on the Everglades. This is always a major political issue in FL, and the 2004 election for his brother is not far away. Whatever Gov Bush decides to do after gathering all the facts, will, I believe, be in the best interest of continuing his committment to this restoration project.

[Tacis]

Gov. Bush should also wise up about all the oil just offshore Tampa. The oil can easily be drilled. Sure, even low profile rigs don't look beautiful, especially in the setting sun. But, the oil wealth will pay for a lot of oublic programs and will certainly help national interests. The Florida elitists and Gov. Bush should think of others and tap the pool of oil in the Gulf, just off the west coast of Florida.

[summer]

If and when there is drilling off the FL shoreline, you will not see it from the beach, because of leglislation intended to keep it out of view from toursits, and I think that legislation was smart. In time, I think we may have drilling in FL, but that is solely my own personal opinion. But, when and if we do, like I said: no one is going to see it from the beach.

[summer]

I meant: tourists

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Tourism is Florida's largest cash crop and I see no reason to jeapordize this by drilling off shore. Let's begin with drilling in ANWR.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Mister Baredog]

The oil can easily be drilled. Sure, even low profile rigs don't look beautiful, especially in the setting sun.

No rigs would be visible, didn't they demand some 200 mile limit? Now that IS nuts. People get wacky over this stuff, at least until gas prices go up, they some reality snaps back into focus. Sounds like Jeb is doing a fine job, makes me jealous, I live in LaLa land with a criminal named Davis for Gov.

[summer]

Well, the leases exist, but as of now, there are no plans as far as I know to drill offshore in FL.

BTW, I happened to meet, by chance, someone who is head of a local Sirra Club chapter on Earth Day last month. When I asked her what she thought of Gov Bush, she gave him a big thumbs up, and immediately cited the following reason: He kept the drilling out of FL.

[summer]

Yes, you are right on all counts - they made a limit on the miles from the beach to any future drilling rigs. And, Gov Bush really is doing a great job here. I will post a special thread for you. :)

[summer]

Yes, you are right on all counts - they made a limit on the miles from the beach to any future drilling rigs. And, Gov Bush really is doing a great job here. I will post a special thread for you. :)

[summer]

FYI -- Governor can do no wrong with Florida voters [Miami Herald: New Poll on Jeb's approval rating]
-- May 2003

[summer]

PS I heard on CNN that Davis has the LOWEST approval rating of any CA gov in history. Good grief!

[farmfriend]

ping

[summer]

Note, AAABEST and I have had positive communications as of late, and I hope for the best for his cause. Perhaps there is some relevant info on this new web site that will be of help and interest to him and you. :)