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Industrial expansion exempted from DRI process in aquatic preserves

user icon Macbeth | Mar 12, 2009 | there are 6 comments 6

Isn't industrial development in Florida supposed to be watched closely?  Isn't that particularly important on our coasts?  What about in an area of the Gulf coast that is surrounded by aquatic preserves, wetlands, protected marshlands, conservation areas, archaeological protected areas and state parks and that constitutes one of the few really pristine areas of the southern Gulf Coast?  They have some very powerful politicians behind it including Senator Bennett who just passed his own bill out of "his" Senate committee on Community Affairs--unanimously.

Five bills, SB 0424, SB 0856, SB 0932, HB 1021  and HB 0441 all have language in them that would exempt expanding port industrial facilities from the DRI process.  The people behind the change are the folks at Port Manatee, and they want it because, while located in an area surrounded by aquatic preserves, wetlands, conservation lands and state parks, they would never be able to expand their port with DRI process oversight.  This language is being hidden in the Senate and House Transportation bills as well as the standalone language being sponsored by the Senator (Bennett) and House member representing the Port Manatee area. The only thing they need for the exemption is to show that their industrial or commercial expansion is port-related.  

The bills alll amend s. 163.3178 which lists the exemptions from the DRI process and adds the following language to that statute:

...and facilities determined by the Department of Community Affairs and the applicable general-purpose government to be port-related industrial or commercial projects that are located within or within 3 miles of a port master plan area and that rely upon the use of port and intermodal transportation facilities.

tags wetlands, aquatic preserves, industry, exemptions, DRI, growth management (all tags)


Industrial expansion exempted from DRI process in aquatic preserves | 6 Comments | Post a Comment
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EXEMPTION OF INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION FROM DRI

PLEASE NO!  SO MUCH OF OUR HABITAT DESTRUCTION HAS COME ABOUT FROM THESE "EMEGENCY" EXEMPTIONS.  WE NEED TO LEARN TO COHABITATE WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT. ELI WHITE

user icon drelijr | Mar 12, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

"port-related" can mean any industry..

or any activity that buys or sells from the port or makes money from its proximity.  

user icon Macbeth | Mar 13, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

Thanks for posting

MacBeth,
Thanks so much for sharing your concerns and information on this issue with CIVIC members.   Members can review the proposed legislation, as well as legislative analysis of the bills, by visiting www.myfloridahouse.gov and typing the listed bill numbers into the "Bill Finder" search box on the left column.  

Anyone who wants to email their legislators on this issue can visit our simple online tool at www.civicconcern.org/action/officials.

Please continue to keep us posted here on the Forum.

user icon CIVIC Concern | Mar 16, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

Lighten Up!

Go to myflorida.com. Click on Government. Click on Legislature. Click on House or Senate. Enter bill number on the left. The bill will come up. Scroll down to staff analysis and you will get an even-handed view of the bill. Then...make your decision..
Thank you.

user icon Ynot | Apr 29, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

if legislature names bill, it is a lie

I do not trust anything that anyone in this legislature says about any bill.  I have found that they lie about everything about their bills, especially the reason for it and the effect.  And , if the bill is defeated, they just sneak it in another way.  I'll bet they all have plans to leave the state after they get their payoffs for ruining our environment.

user icon peanut | May 04, 2011 | rated none by 0 others

answer

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user icon PayneFern | Dec 30, 2011 | rated none by 0 others

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