June 2000

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  News

28-June-00

Huge Step Toward Restoration
Everglades Bill Heads Toward Senate
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) applauded today's Senate Environment and Public Works Committee vote for legislation to restore the Everglades. "Senate Committee Chairman Robert Smith (R-NH) said it would happen and it did. One day after its introduction, S-2797, the Everglades Restoration Act, has moved out of committee toward a vote by the full Senate," said Michael Bauer, Director of NWF's Everglades Project Office.  S-2797 authorizes $7.8 billion to be spent on Everglades restoration over a 20 year period. Once a healthy eight-million acre "river of grass," the Everglades has been reduced to half its original size by a century of agricultural growth, urban sprawl and unwise water management.  "The 17-1 bipartisan vote in favor of restoration mirrors America's concern for and dedication to preserving this natural treasure," said Bauer. "We applaud Senator Smith for his leadership and his commitment to saving America's 'River of Grass,' and thank Florida Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack for their efforts. Though not perfect, the bill clearly sets the stage for serious long-term work to save and restore this threatened national treasure."  The full Senate is expected to take up the restoration bill shortly after reconvening July 10. "The clock is ticking for the Everglades," added Bauer. "It's now or never. The American people should let their Senators know that we're not going to allow this unique wilderness area to die."
Copyright  © 2000 National Wildlife Federation  All rights reserved.


28-June-00

NWF Praises Everglades Bill
Statement by Michael Bauer, Director, NWF Everglades Project Office
"The legislation introduced today by Senator Robert Smith is a bold and critical step toward the restoration of the Everglades. Though not perfect, it clearly sets the stage for long-term serious work to save and restore this threatened national treasure.  "The National Wildlife Federation applauds Senator Smith for his leadership and his commitment to saving America's 'River of Grass.' We are looking forward to working with him to remedy some of our continuing concerns with the legislation, most notably the need for provisions to ensure that the natural system receives the water needed for rehabilitation. Once such provisions for the restoration of the natural system are in place, we would wholeheartedly support this legislation.  "The time to restore the Everglades is now. This vast community of wildlife and critical source of water for Florida, can't wait any longer. This legislation is a bi-partisan starting point from which the Congress and the Administration can work to conserve a critical natural system on which both people and wildlife depend. It's a tremendous opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its commitment to conserve and protect an irreplaceable national treasure. The ball is now in their court."
Copyright  © 2000 National Wildlife Federation  All rights reserved.


14-June-00

ARM Foundation, Florida Environmental Institute, Everglades Restoration & Preservation in Perpetuity Comment on Everglades Strategic Plan
We recommend that the Secretary of the Interior exercise leadership by mandating immediately, the use of accepted commercial and govt system standards, to outline overall system development of an Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Strategic Plan acceptable to Congress.

10-June-00

Sugar growers in trouble - Firms likely to default on loans,
Production up - prices down
No one can say how much exposure taxpayers face from a widespread default on sugar loans. Florida's producers along the southern rim of Lake Okeechobee have more than 470,000 tons of raw sugar under loan. A default on the entire amount would force the U.S. Commodity Credit Corp. to swallow about $169 million in sugar, but some portion of that tonnage has either been sold or is committed to buyers.
Copyright © 2000 The Miami Herald. All rights reserved.


05-June-00

Everglades plan: Expensive experiment
The $7.8 billion restoration plan is the creation of dozens of agencies, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District. It's already won support from Gov. Jeb Bush, the state legislature, the White House and key members of Congress from both parties.  But the ecological disaster was more than a century in the making. Reversing it won't be quick.
Copyright © 2000 The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved.


02-June-00

Flexibility on Nature Is Needed, Bush Says
Gov. George W. Bush criticized the Clinton-Gore administration today for an approach to land conservation that he said involved too much federal muscle and too little local flexibility. Instead, he proposed using federal resources and incentives to coax state governments and private citizens into greater conservation efforts.
Copyright © 2000  New York Times on the Web  All rights reserved.


01-June-00

Congress to Prepare Everglades Restoration Bill
Long-awaited Congressional action on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) begins in June when both the Senate Environment Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee take up versions of the bill.
Copyright © 2000 Everglades Conservation Network  All rights reserved.

8.5 Square Mile Area Public Hearing - June 6, 2000
Copyright © 2000 Everglades Conservation Network  All rights reserved.

  Press Releases

28-June-00

NWF Praises Everglades Bill
Statement by Michael Bauer, Director, NWF Everglades Project Office
"The legislation introduced today by Senator Robert Smith is a bold and critical step toward the restoration of the Everglades. Though not perfect, it clearly sets the stage for long-term serious work to save and restore this threatened national treasure.  "The National Wildlife Federation applauds Senator Smith for his leadership and his commitment to saving America's 'River of Grass.' We are looking forward to working with him to remedy some of our continuing concerns with the legislation, most notably the need for provisions to ensure that the natural system receives the water needed for rehabilitation. Once such provisions for the restoration of the natural system are in place, we would wholeheartedly support this legislation.  "The time to restore the Everglades is now. This vast community of wildlife and critical source of water for Florida, can't wait any longer. This legislation is a bi-partisan starting point from which the Congress and the Administration can work to conserve a critical natural system on which both people and wildlife depend. It's a tremendous opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its commitment to conserve and protect an irreplaceable national treasure. The ball is now in their court."
Copyright  © 2000 National Wildlife Federation  All rights reserved.

  Campaign 2000

George W. Bush presidential campaign website

• georgewbush.com

Al Gore presidential campaign website

•  gore2000.org

2000 Presidential Profiles

•  League of Conservation Voters

•  George W. Bush Environmental Updates
•  Al Gore Environmental Updates
•  Alan Keyes Environmental Updates

  Litigation


  Legislation

  New Bills

•  Congress to Prepare Everglades Restoration Bill
Copyright © 2000 Everglades Conservation Network  All rights reserved.  Posted 01-Jun-00

•  H.R. 2372 to be voted on 
H.R. 2372, Rep. Canady's [R-FL] "Private Property Rights Implementation Act" (TAKINGS BILL) will be MARKED-UP and VOTED on by the Full HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 and is likely to come to the Floor of the full House of Representatives the following week.

•  Search Thomas 

28-June-00

Huge Step Toward Restoration
Everglades Bill Heads Toward Senate
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) applauded today's Senate Environment and Public Works Committee vote for legislation to restore the Everglades. "Senate Committee Chairman Robert Smith (R-NH) said it would happen and it did. One day after its introduction, S-2797, the Everglades Restoration Act, has moved out of committee toward a vote by the full Senate," said Michael Bauer, Director of NWF's Everglades Project Office.  S-2797 authorizes $7.8 billion to be spent on Everglades restoration over a 20 year period. Once a healthy eight-million acre "river of grass," the Everglades has been reduced to half its original size by a century of agricultural growth, urban sprawl and unwise water management.  "The 17-1 bipartisan vote in favor of restoration mirrors America's concern for and dedication to preserving this natural treasure," said Bauer. "We applaud Senator Smith for his leadership and his commitment to saving America's 'River of Grass,' and thank Florida Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack for their efforts. Though not perfect, the bill clearly sets the stage for serious long-term work to save and restore this threatened national treasure."  The full Senate is expected to take up the restoration bill shortly after reconvening July 10. "The clock is ticking for the Everglades," added Bauer. "It's now or never. The American people should let their Senators know that we're not going to allow this unique wilderness area to die."
Copyright  © 2000 National Wildlife Federation  All rights reserved

28-June-00

NWF Praises Everglades Bill
Statement by Michael Bauer, Director, NWF Everglades Project Office
"The legislation introduced today by Senator Robert Smith is a bold and critical step toward the restoration of the Everglades. Though not perfect, it clearly sets the stage for long-term serious work to save and restore this threatened national treasure.  "The National Wildlife Federation applauds Senator Smith for his leadership and his commitment to saving America's 'River of Grass.' We are looking forward to working with him to remedy some of our continuing concerns with the legislation, most notably the need for provisions to ensure that the natural system receives the water needed for rehabilitation. Once such provisions for the restoration of the natural system are in place, we would wholeheartedly support this legislation.  "The time to restore the Everglades is now. This vast community of wildlife and critical source of water for Florida, can't wait any longer. This legislation is a bi-partisan starting point from which the Congress and the Administration can work to conserve a critical natural system on which both people and wildlife depend. It's a tremendous opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its commitment to conserve and protect an irreplaceable national treasure. The ball is now in their court."
Copyright  © 2000 National Wildlife Federation  All rights reserved.

  Congressional Testimony

•  Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment

01-Mar-00
•  Hearings & Testimony: Restoration of the Everglades and South Florida Ecosystem 

WITNESSES

PANEL I

Representative E. Clay Shaw, Jr.
Representative Carrie P. Meek
Representative Peter Deutsch
Representative Porter J. Goss
Representative Mark Foley

PANEL II

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Honorable Joseph W. Westphal, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Civil Works)
Washington, D.C.
Accompanied by: Mr. Michael L. Davis
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army
for Policy and Legislation
Washington, D.C.

U.S. Department of the Interior
Ms. Mary E. Doyle
Counselor to the Secretary
Washington, D.C.

PANEL III

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Honorable David B. Struhs
Secretary
Tallahassee, Florida

South Florida Water Management District
Mr. Michael Collins
Governing Board Chairman
West Palm Beach, Florida

Miccosukee Tribe
Mr. Billy Cypress
Chairman
Miami, Florida

PANEL IV

U.S. Sugar Corporation
Mr. Malcolm S. (Bubba) Wade
Senior Vice President
Clewiston, Florida

The United States Property Owners & Friends of the
8.5 Square Mile Area, Inc.
Ms. Ibel Aguilera
Director
Miami, Florida

Audubon of Florida
Dr. Stuart D. Strahl
President & CEO
Miami, Florida

 

  Regulations


  Case Law


  Law Review Articles


  Reports


  Research


  Conferences, Hearings 

•  June 6, 2000 - 8.5 Square Mile Area Public Hearing
Copyright © 2000 Everglades Conservation Network  All rights reserved.

•  June 2, 2000 -  SFWMD E.A.C Meeting Report
Resolutions/Votes
DRAFT proposed by e-mail 6/5/00 on Strategic Plan item; Final Vote 7/7/00
The first stated goal and objective of the programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Everglades restoration was to increase the total spatial extent of natural areas. The Strategic Plan draft of July 1, 2000 has rearranged the originally stated goals of the PEIS and diminished emphasis on the first stated goal.  Therefore we urge another draft of the Strategic Plan that will:

  Links

2000 Presidential Profiles

•  League of Conservation Voters

•  George W. Bush Environmental Updates
•  Al Gore Environmental Updates
•  Alan Keyes Environmental Updates
 

Credit:
Everglades photograph courtesy Philip Greenspun

 

Revised:  05/25/03