Jebthro Wants To End Fed Oversight Of Everglades (Risks Fed Funding)

[hatrack]

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Just as progress is being realized, federal funds could now be in jeopardy. Gov. Jeb Bush, who leaves office early next year, is lobbying to cease federal-court oversight that came from a 1992 settlement reached after the federal government sued the state for not abiding by its own clean-water standards. The deal produced a consent decree under which a federal judge in Miami oversees Everglades cleanup. Many say a move away from the court would take the teeth out of the plan and could frighten away congressional funding for the cleanup.

"If there's a perception that trying to bypass the consent decree, there will be a direct impact on federal funding," said John Scofield, a spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee. "We're not exactly flush with cash. We don't need a lot of excuses to cut funding, even from something as important as the Everglades." The 30-year, $10.5 billion federal-state partnership is the largest wetland-restoration effort in the world. "It's always important to keep in mind we are pushing the envelope on technology, we are pushing the envelope on science in South Florida, and that brings with it a degree of uncertainty," said the Environmental Protection Agency's Jim Giattina. "We are plowing new ground."

Fourteen years after the settlement, much has been done to restore nature and reduce phosphorous pollution that is choking wetlands life. Florida has invested $1.3 billion and committed more than $3.2 billion through 2010. The state has acquired more than 193,000 acres for restoration, including some 41,000 acres of man-made wetlands that clean water through natural marsh filters. The federal government has appropriated more than $1 billion for the project in the last decade.

A Bush spokeswoman, who would not comment on the governor's efforts, said the state has met all its legal requirements under the settlement. "Florida is committed to the unprecedented restoration project and will continue to build on the progress," Kristy Campbell said. Others say the project has been too slow and that if the state is released from court oversight, it will be a signal to Congress that Florida is seeking to drag its feet, such as in 2003 when the governor signed a law that gave water managers 10 additional years -- until 2016 -- to meet most Everglades pollution guidelines. Two federal officials in Washington who are closely involved in the project said Bush has been seeking help from the White House and the Justice and Interior departments in getting out from under court oversight. They asked not to be further identified for fear of retribution.

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-gladesrestorati06apr10,0,4214223.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

[Dead_Parrot]

1. What a rancid peice of shit. nt

[seasat]

2. The idiot has already watered down the restoration.

Instead of testing the levels of phosphate and other nutrients at the input water, they use an average. Any biologist knows that what will happen is that the cattails and other species that are not normal to the Everglades environment will suck all the phosphate out before it reaches deep into the Glades. What this means is that the cat tails will continue to displace the grass while the nutrient levels downstream of the cat tails will look good and lower the average. It's a gimmie to the rich sugar industry in S. FL.