Florida's DEP: Injecting Waste Under Our Feet

Excerpts from a PBCEC letter to Cathleen McCarty of the DEP's Underground Injection Control program,

The UIC is a dangerous program. It is an embarrassment to science and a threat to public health. I can only hope that I'm telling you something you already know.

I receive the UIC notices, and I am utterly disgusted with the amount of permits approved through this agency. Waste water should be treated above ground, where it can be responsibly managed and returned into the aquifer through a healthy and natural process, which can also provide possible restored habitat for wildlife. If the waste is too dangerous for this sort of treatment, then its creation should not have been permitted in the first place. This is common sense. Only extreme corruption and greed can argue otherwise.

Sadly, there is far too many permits deserving challenge for our group to keep up with. It seems perhaps only a karmic justice can stop this curse.

The following is an excerpt from a report entitled: Injection Wells: The Poison Beneath Us, by Abrahm Lustgarten, for ProPublica, published on this Summer's Solstice (June 21, 2012)

It features Florida's failures in waste water injection, among dozens of other examples. Please share this information with others in your office:

"...When sewage flowed from 20 Class 1 wells near Miami into the Upper Floridan aquifer, it challenged some of scientists' fundamental assumptions about the injection system.

The wells — which had helped fuel the growth of South Florida by eliminating the need for expensive water treatment plants — had passed rigorous EPA and state evaluation throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Inspections showed they were structurally sound. As Class 1 wells, they were subject to some of the most frequent tests and closest scrutiny.

Yet they failed.

The wells' designers would have calculated what is typically called the "zone of influence" — the space that waste injected into the wells was expected to fill. This was based on estimates of how much fluid would be injected and under what pressure.

In drawings, the zone of influence typically looks like a Hershey's kiss, an evenly dispersed plume spreading in a predictable circular fashion away from the bottom of the well. Above the zone, most drawings depict uniform formations of rock not unlike a layer cake.

Based on modeling and analysis by some of the most sophisticated engineering consultants in the country, Florida officials, with the EPA's assent, concluded that waste injected into the Miami-area wells would be forever trapped far below the South Florida peninsula.

But as Miami poured nearly half a billion gallons of partly treated sewage into the ground each day from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s, hydrogeologists learned that the earth — and the flow of fluids through it — wasn't as uniform as the models depicted. Florida's injection wells, for example, had been drilled into rock that was far more porous and fractured than scientists previously understood.

"Geology is never what you think it is," said Ronald Reese, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey in Florida who has studied the well failures there. "There are always surprises..."

Read the whole report here: http://www.propublica.org/article/injection-wells-the-poison-beneath-us

Why we support the "No Build" option on FDOT's 710 Expansion plans

A view of the JW Corbett's hydric pine ecosystem

Letter of Public Comment
Re: FDOT's 710 Expansion plans

Sent to Patrick Glass, FDOT
patrick.glass@dot.state.fl.us
Dated 9/20/2012

Of the alternate options presented on this road expansion plan, the Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition supports FDOT in pursing the "No Build" option. While we support increased public transit, and "shared-use" plans that improve bicycle and pedestrian transit, we do not see those things justifying this expansion. In fact, we suggest the FDOT spend the public money it saves in not pursuing this expansion to make those improvements where they are most needed (not where developer and industrial and political interests dictate, as this corridor plan seems to be doing.)

The following are some of our concerns:

IMPACT TO WILDLIFE HABITAT

Constructing this road expansion involves over 570 acres of wildlife habitat negatively impacted, or completely destroyed, based on FDOT's own documents:
http://www.sr710.com/pbmc/PDF/SR710%20Habitat%20Occurences.pdf

-Freshwater marsh was the most prevalent habitat in the corridor, totaling 185.14 acres.
-There were approximately 105 acres of hydric pine flatwoods in the study limits.
-There were approximately 97 acres of wetland scrub in the study limits.
-A total of 84.84 acres of wet prairie were delineated within the SR 710 delineation corridor.
-Mosaics of wet prairie containing either sparse cypress or small stands of cypress often neighbored the areas delineated as cypress forests: 42.77 acres
-Roadside or railroad fringe areas that also contained slash pine were classified as wetland scrub with pine: approximately 33 acres of this habitat type.
-The total acreage of cypress within the study limits was 26.27 acres

All of these habitat provide food and shelter for wildlife species, many of which are currently listed as Threaten, Endangered or Species of Special Concern.

Encroachment into this habitat for road construction will also result in an increase of roadkill incidents for many species.

The PBCEC is currently in the process of collecting independent data on this matter, as we worry that any data collected through the permitting process will be insufficient, as we have found time and time again. And the recent "streamlining" of public policy and environmental permitting will certainly not help--the appropriate state agencies were already underfunded to adequately protect listed species prior to these cuts.

Moving forward with any alternative options besides "No Build" could likely subject the state to lawsuits for violating its own laws on habitat protection.

RECREATION

This loss of habitat results in negative impacts to recreational use, as much of the above listed acreage occurs on public land used for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird-watching, and other activities. A loss of wildlife and habitat impacts the recreation opportunities that these lands exist to provide to the public.

This information is further verified in your Habitat maps: http://www.sr710.com/pbmc/habitat_maps.htm

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

On top of the impacts losted above, there are another 5 "segments" to this road, which are being permitted in sections to avoid a unified review of permits and associated impacts, as illustrated here http://www.sr710.com/index2.htm

Other parts of this project in various segments to the north and the south have already been contested for a variety of reasons including: historical significance; imminent domain takings of private property; and "environmental justice" issues (as defined in the Environmental Justice Act, regulated federally under NEPA), such as negative impacts to historically-marginalized Black communities in Riviera Beach.

CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION

According to FDOT doc: http://www.sr710.com/pbmc/css.htm

"The revised study area includes The Port of Palm Beach to the City of Okeechobee in District 1. In addition, the expanded study adds considerations for... , the inland port, analysis of the global economy, economic competitiveness on a global, national and regional level including: Trade between North America, Europe, India, China."

This document is talking specifically about increasing cheap exports from environmentally-exploited countries (with less labor, health, and environmental regulations) coming through the Panama Canal into the Port of Palm Beach. This is an ethical issue of great concern which negatively impacts people around the world, including our own country.

For the reasons stated, as well as others to be presented later in the process, we will fight this road.
We will be joining with other residents, organizations and attorneys who share our concerns, and have their own. We will not stop until the plan is cancelled.

Sincerely,
Panagioti Tsolkas
PBCEC, Co-Chair
(561) 249-2071

Sent on 9/20/2012 to:
SR 710 PD&E Study
Attention: Patrick R. Glass, P.E.
Florida Department of Transportation
3400 West Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309-3421
patrick.glass@dot.state.fl.us

"Defend this Forest" Documentary Trailor Released!

Serving as a microcosm for what's happening to the entire planet, this film tells the story of a dedicated group of activists striving to fend off the destruction of a 700-acre forest to make way for a biotech park.  The first round of permits were issured to make way for Scripps' biotech research park, and for construction of surrounding housing and retail development in the watershed of the Northeast Everglades bioregion.  On Valentine's Day, 2011, member of Everglades Earth First! began what became a six-week tree sit with a huge banner visible, "DEFEND THIS FOREST".  The banner, visible to thousands of commuters daily along I-95, became the symbol of a resistance that would inspire a new era in environmental action in the state of Florida.

To learn a more in depth account of scripps, watch this
brief video  from Everglades Earth First!

Mourning the Loss of a Fallen Warrior

 Endangered Florida Scrub Jay atop Ellen's hat

 

Ellen Peterson, 87, of Estero, Florida passed away on October 14th, 2011. She was a fierce advocate for wilderness devoting over 4 decades of her life to environmental protection. She served on many boards and advisory committees such as: the Agency for Bay Management, the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Save Our Creeks, the Responsible Growth Management Coalition, The Everglades Committee, the Environmental Peace and Education Center and the Sierra Club's Calusa Group. Ellen founded the Calusa group over 30 years ago and remained the chairperson until her death.

Along with others, Ellen was personally responsible for saving one of the most beautiful places in all of Florida, Fisheating Creek. She has stood as a guardian of Florida’s waterways.

Ellen fought to save the Florida panther, heritage trees, and many other listed and endangered species. She succeeded in obtaining outstanding Florida waterways designations for many of our local rivers and streams, providing them higher levels of protection. With the help of several environmental groups, Ellen fought and won the battle to stop a coal-fired power plant from going into Glades County.

She protested and picketed against nuclear plants and was arrested for civil disobedience. She created a presentation to save the Imperial River and was successful in preventing the Water Management District from eliminating the oxbows, an action which could have destroyed much of the river, such as killing off fish hatcheries during flood events. 

Ellen herself was threatened on many occasions, and at least one attempt was made on her life. Even so she pressed forward and continued her good works. She continually fought to protect several of our local beaches and islands. With the backing of several local environmental groups, Ellen filed suit against the developers who wanted to overbuild and destroy our density-reduction ground water resource area. She was responsible for involving a scientist whom Lee County would later hire to do water quality testing. This scientist discovered that our red tides were directly linked to the releases from the Caloosahatchee River and Lake Okeechobee.  

Ellen Peterson was a fierce, protective voice for all living creatures on Earth: human, animal, and plant. She championed many social causes, such as equal rights for women and fair wages for farm workers.  She advocated for those who could not speak for themselves. Her absence is profound. She will be grieved for and missed. While the environmental community has suffered a great loss with her passing, we are inspired by her courage, her bright sense of humor, her compassion and her absolute dedication to service. Ellen is our hero!

Ellen wanted two going-away celebrations to be held: one in Estero and one at Fisheating Creek. Public invitations to these celebrations will be announced as soon as all of the arrangements have been made.   

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Happehatchee Center, P.O. Box 345 Estero, Florida 33929-0345 or Save Our Creeks, P.O. Box 135, Palmdale, Florida 33944.

Her passing was also commemorated on the Everglades Commons and News-Press of southwest Florida. And as late as last week, her strong and passionate voice was still being heard, as she called for the resignation of Florida Audubon’s Eric Draper, who recently sold out Nicodemus Slough (in the Fisheating Creek watershed) and has been running the supposed conservation organization in service of energy companies, rock miners, cattle ranchers and their political lackeys. Read her full letter and see a video of Eric Draper kissing Jeb Bush’s ass on behald of FPL.

Ellen Peterson: Florida Audubon off mission and something must change

Below is an editorial Ellen submitted regarding Eric Draper and the Florida Audobon Society:

Florida Audubon is so far from its core mission under the leadership of Executive Director Eric Draper, that either he or the organization should go.

Mr. Draper's letter supporting Lykes Brothers' plan for the conversion of Nicodemus Slough into a shallow holding tank for industrial-strength polluted water from Lake Okeechobee shows his true colors. He will sacrifice the migratory roosting site of the rare swallow-tail kites, caracara nesting sites and other habitat in the Everglades to support his power base, Lykes Brothers and other developers.

Supporting development projects regardless of the environmental cost has been a strong pattern of Mr. Draper. He and Lykes Brothers are the authors of the placement of dams in Fisheating Creek, formerly the last unimpeded waterway in South Florida. Local environmental advocates fighting development are often faced with this question from their commissioners: "Why doesn't Florida Audubon object to this?"

One can speculate: Why does Mr. Draper curry favor from large wealthy landowners? Is he going to want their continued support to make another run for agriculture commissioner? Is the Lykes Brothers-connected member of the Florida Audubon board of directors paying his salary?

What is clear is that under Draper's leadership, Florida Audubon has moved its mission from preserving and restoring natural habitats to industrializing them and calling it a victory. Draper boldly stated to the newspaper that the Nicodemus Slough project represents a "very sound investment in storing and cleaning water."

In fact, it is a step backwards for water quality, quantity and the environment.

The amount of water to be stored is so small that neither Lake Okeechobee nor the Caloosahatchee will benefit, but the loss of over 16,000 acres of wildlife habitat will be forever. The 11 billion gallons of projected storage are equal to only one day of high flow on the Caloosahatchee River during peak discharge. A new downstream point source of pollution will be created for receiving Lee County waters!
As for Lake Okeechobee, there is no plan to clean the water or return it to the lake. The amount taken from this 730 square mile lake is insignificant. Between drought and over-allocation, will there ever be enough water to store at Nicodemus Slough?

As for benefiting Fisheating Creek, there is no connection to Fisheating Creek since the Herbert Hoover Dike severed this arm of the creek from its natural flow.

Nicodemus Slough was once so important to the state of Florida that it was part of a public "Save Our Rivers" purchase from Lykes. It is currently identified as a top priority for Florida Forever funds and was a park open to the public. It was later horse-traded back to Lykes in a deal without meaningful public input.

Now the public will pay three times for this ill-advised project: first for the loss of the environment, second for initial and ongoing costs, and third, when Lykes gets the infrastructure back at the end of the 10-year lease.

Decades of ditching, diking and damming have only led us to the need for more. SFWMD should have learned from its dismal track record of failed environmental interventions. If state efforts and resources were put toward cleaning up water pollution at its source rather than sacrificing downstream environments, then real solutions to these problems could be found.

Creating unnatural impoundments got us here in the first place. Let's send SFWMD back to the drawing board and save Nicodemus Slough.