Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Chronology of recent communication between PBCEC, DEP and EPA

[What follows is a long series of communications, primarily between panagioti tsolkas of the PBCEC and Jack Long of the DEP, leading up to the scheduled Nov. 30 meeting. Extraneous portions of the emails have been cut for readability, but the email text remains wholly intact.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------
INITIAL EMAIL FOLLOWING OCT 23 RALLY:

From: PBC EnviroCoalition [mailto:pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 11:24 AM
To: miedema.ron@epa.gov; Miedema.Ron@epamail.epa.gov
Subject: To EPA region 4 and FDEP, re: scheduled climate change meeting in
EPA office last Friday

Mr. Mediema (and whom else it may concern),

As I imagine you have heard by now, the noon meeting we had scheduled on Friday morning, Oct 23, was obstructed by West Palm Beach law enforcement. Our groups was not able to pass into the building until after 1pm, and even then only 2 were given permission to pass, while all others were threatened with arrest for their interest in dialogue with Federal and State agency representatives.

I was also informed later that FDEP employees were instructed to avoid communication with our group, despite multiple cordial, formal efforts in the weeks leading up to Oct 23 to coordinate communication with them. We are disappointed yet, not deterred. We, the people involved with the '350' mobilization of October 24, 2009, are requesting a follow up joint meeting with staff of EPA and DEP next month, on November 30, at 12 noon.

I know that your offices have collaborated in the past, such as in the Project XL, and we ask that you can do so again for the purpose of beginning to communicate directly with the public regarding the monitoring and regulation of carbon emissions and, in particular, the impacts of coming climate change on the wetlands and coastlines of Florida.

The primary subject we are looking to address is WHEN the State of Florida will begin monitoring and regulating impacts from industrial carbon emission. Tools and legal opinions are in place at a State and Federal level to begin this now. Instead environmental permitting continues in a business-as-usual fashion, without even monitoring industrial levels of CO2.

We hope you will accommodate this request for a meeting by opening a conference room to address this urgent question, which is becoming a source of great frustration for many environmentally concerned residents in Florida. Please reply to notify us of your decision on this request.

If we do not receive a response to this request, we will assume that you are not interested in addressing our concerns and frustrations in a public manner.

In this case, we will choose to conduct this public meeting in your absence, in either the office of the DEP or the EPA, depending on which agency's conference room will be available to us with the least interference in the agencies' daily operations. We feel that it is within our right, under the United States and Florida Constitutions, to make a reasonable request to seek redress for grievances from the government. We feel this includes making a statement that the appropriate agencies will hear, inside their public offices.

This risk posed by climate change is imminent. According to the best science available to the public, the action we take (or fail to take) today will impact people, property and the planet for generations. Pressuring agencies with enforcement capacity is the only option available to us in order to remedy this imminent threat. If we fail to take bold action to initiate strong, quick protections which reduce carbon emissions drastically (over 80% of 1990 levels), we feel we are all liable for a criminal negligence which could devastate the health and environment of future generations.

sincerely,
Panagioti Tsolkas
Co-Chair of Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition
s/panagioti tsolkas

-----------------------------
CCed:
Richard Harvey, EPA, Director of South Florida OFFICE
Jack Long, Director of FDEP southeast regional office
Dan Liftman, aid to Congressman Alcee Hastings
Barry Silver, PBCEC co-chair, attorney
Bobette Wolesensky, Greenpeace, lead organizer
Ed Tichner, Reef Rescue
Bonnie Redding, PBC Green Party
Everglades Earth First!
Paul Quinlan, Palm Beach Post


---------------------------------------------------------------
DEP RESPONSE:

from Long, Jack
to PBC EnviroCoalition
cc "Aldama Harmon, Gloria" ,
"Yon, Mary Jean" ,
"Kahn, Joseph" ,
miedema.ron@epa.gov,
"Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Anderson, Lennon"
date Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 9:20 AM
subject RE: To EPA region 4 and FDEP, re: scheduled climate change meeting in EPA

Mr. Tsolkas:

I would be pleased to meet with a delegation of the PBC Environmental Coalition at the end of November.

Please call Ms. Gloria Aldama-Harmon around mid-November in order to discuss the details. We are undergoing renovations at our Offices, so we may be somewhat limited in the number of Folks we can accommodate.

May I suggest that you invite an EPA representative to attend that meeting. I think that would be useful, in terms of giving your delegation the federal perspective.

Thank you.

Jack Long


The Department of Environmental

Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and

improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of

service you received. Copy the url below to a web browser to complete the DEP

survey: http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Jack.Long@dep.state.fl.us Thank you in advance for completing the survey.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLLOW UP EMAIL FROM PBCEC:

from PBC EnviroCoalition
to "Aldama Harmon, Gloria"
cc "Long, Jack" ,
"Yon, Mary Jean" ,
"Kahn, Joseph" ,
miedema.ron@epa.gov,
"Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Anderson, Lennon"
harvey.richard@epa.gov,

date Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 12:19 AM
subject Gloria Aldama-Harmon.. Re: To EPA region 4 and FDEP, re: scheduled climate change meeting in EPA office last Friday

Hello Ms. Aldama-Harmon,
I was encouraged by Jack Long to communicate with you for beginning to plan a public meeting regarding the monitoring and regulation of carbon emissions.

We will be planning this meeting for Monday, November 30, at 12 noon in the DEP/EPA office building. I was also encouraged by Jack to invite participation from EPA representatives. I have not yet heard back from their regional office. Perhaps you are in communication with their staff?

We would like to know what the carrying capacity is for available conference rooms (as per fire code), so that we may determine how many representatives and participants we can safely invite into the meeting.

I look forward to working with you and others in your staff towards making this important event a success. Email is my preferred means of communication. Hopefully this works for you as well.

Sincerely,
Panagioti Tsolkas
Co-Chair, PBCEC

----------------------------------------------------
2 DEP RESPONSES:

from Long, Jack
to PBC EnviroCoalition
cc "Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Aldama Harmon, Gloria" ,
"Yon, Mary Jean" ,
"Gaskin, Carla A." ,
"Morrison, Dana" ,
"Kahn, Joseph"
date Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 3:27 PM
subject Nov. 30, 2009 Meeting With A Delegation From The PBC EnviroCoalition (Not a "Public Meeting")

Mr. Tsolkas:

1. Thank you for your October 31, 2009 e-mail to my Assistant, Ms. Gloria Aldama- Harmon.

2. In my October 27, 2009 e-mail to you, I advised you that I would be willing to meet with a “delegation” from the PBC EnviroCoalition at the end of November.

3. In the first paragraph of your aforesaid e-mail, you make reference to a “public meeting”. Please be advised that there will not be a “public meeting”.

4. Our Public Meeting Room will be under construction during portions of the months of November and December. In any event, our Public Meeting Room shall not be made available to the PBC EnviroCoalition.

5. I will use my Conference Room to meet for one (1) hour with a delegation of not more than eight (8) Members of the PBC EnviroCoalition.

6. This shall be a private meeting with an eight-person-delegation (or fewer, if you so choose) of your Members. No media representatives shall be invited. (Just so that there is no misunderstanding, if you were to arrive with any members of the media, the meeting shall be cancelled.)

7. Please send Ms. Aldama-Harmon a list of the topics you would like to discuss, and we shall establish an Agenda for the one-hour meeting.

8. Please communicate with Ms. Aldama-Harmon as to the time of the proposed meeting, obtaining Visitor Passes for your delegation, etc.


Thank you.


Jack Long

District Director
Department of Environmental Protection
Southeast District Office
West Palm Beach, Florida
www.dep.state.fl.us/southeast

Florida’s Water - Ours to Protect: Check out the latest information on Florida Water Issues at http://www.protectingourwater.org/ presented by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

AND TWO (FOLLOWING A RELATED PHONE CONVERSATION):

from Long, Jack
to PBC EnviroCoalition
cc "Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Aldama Harmon, Gloria" ,
"Gaskin, Carla A." ,
"Morrison, Dana" ,
"Kahn, Joseph"
date Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 11:16 AM
subject RE: Nov. 30, 2009 Meeting With A Delegation From The PBC EnviroCoalition (Not a "Public Meeting")


Mr. Tsolkas,

With respect to this morning’s telephone conversation, let me reiterate that there will not be a “public meeting”. Please re-read my November 4, 2009 e-mail to you (it is set forth immediately below this e-mail).

And, I have not received an e-mail from you in response to my aforesaid e-mail. In terms of logistics, please see # 7 and 8 of my aforesaid e-mail.

Thank you.
Jack


-----------------------------------------------------
PBCEC RESPONSE:

from PBC EnviroCoalition
to "Long, Jack"
date Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 1:46 PM
subject Re: Nov. 30, 2009 Meeting With A Delegation From The PBC EnviroCoalition (Not a "Public Meeting")

Mr. Long,
Thank you for clarifying this. I'm glad we made contact, as i did not see your previous email in my inbox.

The date our group is planning for is November 30, after 12 noon (I would like to propose 1pm-2pm).

I will communicate with Ms. Aldama-Harmon to confirm time, establish an agenda and secure visitor passes for those attending our one hour 'private meeting'.

As you suggested earlier, there should also be an EPA representative present. I would like to ask you to extend a personal invitation to have an EPA representative join us, either in person or by phone.

Sincerely,
Panagioti Tsolkas

----------------------------------------------------
DEP RESPONDS:

from Long, Jack
to PBC EnviroCoalition
cc "Aldama Harmon, Gloria" ,
"Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Gaskin, Carla A." ,
"Morrison, Dana" ,
"Kahn, Joseph"
date Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 1:57 PM
subject RE: Nov. 30, 2009 Meeting With A Delegation From The PBC EnviroCoalition (Not a "Public Meeting")

Mr. Tsolkas,

Thank you for your message. Ms. Aldama-Harmon will wait for your call.

I will let you deal with inviting a Representative from EPA. You told me that you have the necessary numbers, and I believe that you met with EPA Representatives the last time you were here.

Thank you.

Jack Long

-------------------------------------------
PBCEC to DEP:

from PBC EnviroCoalition
to Gloria.Aldama.Harmon@dep.state.fl.us
cc harvey.richard@epa.gov,
miedema.ron@epa.gov
date Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 5:09 PM
subject Re: Nov. 30, 2009 Meeting With A Delegation from the PBC Environmental Coalition on Carbon Emissions & Climate Justice

Gloria, I tried calling around 4pm, but you were out. Here is the list of names we will be trying to narrow down over the weekend, our preference, of course, is to have all who have expressed interest be able to attend:

I will call you on monday to confirm.

1. Panagioti Tsolkas
2. Barry Silver
3. Ana Rodriguez
4. Bobette Wolesensky
5. Bobby C. Billie, Independant Traditional Seminole Nation (he has
informed me that he is requesting two additional people from his
group, i do not have their names yet)
6. Staci-lee Sherwood
7. Alfred Lark
8. John Barlow
9. Dan Liftman

There are several other individuals, many either long time community
leaders or young students who have have expressed interest:
10. Alexandria Larson
11. Rosa Durando
12. Tess Bath
13. Evy Grachow
14. Christian Minaya
15. Kyle Krakow
16. Marty Sullivan
17.Diane Sullivan
18. Ed Tichnor
19. (PBCC student)


--------------------------------------
DEP RESPONDS:

from Long, Jack
to PBC EnviroCoalition
cc "Anderson, Lennon" ,
"Aldama Harmon, Gloria" ,
"Morrison, Dana" ,
"Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Offord, Bruce" ,
"Hoefert, Lee"
date Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 12:10 PM
subject AGENDA & PROCEDURES // November 30, 2009 Meeting Re Greenhouse Gas Emissions


Mr. Tsolkas,

Gloria sent me a copy of your November 20, 2009 e-mail.

Let me try to make this clear: Eight people, and only eight people. In other works, you and seven other people. No more than a total of eight persons will be permitted to enter our Offices.

You and your seven Colleagues should arrive at 11:40 a.m., at which time you will be met and escorted to our Reception Area for identification badges. The Meeting will take place in my Conference Room from 12 p.m. (noon) until 1:00 p.m.

The Agenda is as follows:

November 30, 2009

Meeting Between Southeast District Director Jack Long and

Eight Representatives of the PBC EnviroCoalition

12:00 p.m. Opening Remarks by Jack Long

12:10 p.m. Remarks by first Representative of PBC EnviroCoalition

12:20 p.m. Remarks by second Representative of PBC EnviroCoalition

12:30 p.m. Questions by Representatives of the PBC EnviroCoalition

1:00 p.m. Adjourn the Meeting
______________________

Thank you.
Jack Long

------------------------------------
DEP FOLLOWS UP:

from Aldama Harmon, Gloria
to pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com
cc "Claridge, Kevin" ,
"Morrison, Dana" ,
"Long, Jack" ,
"Buckley, Michael"
date Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 5:03 PM
subject Meeting with DEP Director Jack Long Nov. 30th


Mr. Tsolkas.

Mr. Long wants a description of what you have planned for the November 30 meeting. In our phone conversation you mentioned the word “rally” and we need to know what you mean by that.

I have been instructed by Mr. long to tell you that if this matter is not cleared up to his satisfaction by noon Wednesday (November 25), the meeting on the 30th will be cancelled.

Gloria Aldama Harmon
Administrative Assistant
FDEP Southeast District
Director's Office
561-681-6661
561-681-6755 Fax

--------------------------------------------------
PBCEC RESPONDS, TWICE:

from PBC EnviroCoalition
to "Aldama Harmon, Gloria"
cc Miedema.Ron@epamail.epa.gov
date Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 7:31 PM
subject Re: Meeting with DEP Director Jack Long Nov. 30th

Ms Aldama Harmon,
The group that is being excluded from the meeting will be gathered out front of the building in anticipation of hearing the update from inside. Is this cause to cancel the meeting? What is the concern you are looking to address.

Below is the list we currently have attending the meeting. I am waiting to hear back from a representative of PBCC's Community Earth student club who may switch out with one of the 8 below.

Barry Silver, former FL State Legislature, PBCEC Co-Chair
Alfred Lark, Riviera Beach Civic Assoc.
Jon Barlow, Dept. of Health, Pollution Prevention Coalition
Dan Liftman, Aide to U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings
Bobby C. Billie, Independant Traditional Seminole Nation
Staci-lee Sherwood, Loggerhead Marinlife Center
Panagioti Tsolkas, PBCEC Co-Chair
Bobette Wolesensky, Greenpeace lead organizer

We will look to gain insight from Mr. Long's presentation of his knowledge of a timeline on CO2 monitoring and greenhouse gas regulation. Following that, as Mr. Long has established in his agenda, each person present will take several minutes to express their positions and questions and we will look to Mr. Long to guide us toward an agreement on the need for immediate action.

The only explicable reason for cancelling the established meeting would be to express an utter disdain for the freedom of speech and assembly.

I have spoken with Ron Miedema of the regional EPA office; he is interested in assisting our meeting with gaining insight from the Federal regulatory perspective. We are working to coordinate a call-in from the Air Division in Atlanta during our scheduled meeting. I have CCed Ron here as well, to keep him in the loop. (please correct me if i am wrong, Ron)

Cancelling this meeting would be a great disappointment to people who are supposed to be putting our faith in you to do the right thing. There has been enough back-pedaling in Florida on the subject of climate change already. Please don't add this to the list.


-Panagioti Tsolkas
co-chair, PBCEC

BARRY SILVER'S RESPONSE:

from barryboca@aol.com
to pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com,
Gloria.Aldama.Harmon@dep.state.fl.us
cc Miedema.Ron@epamail.epa.gov,
bwolesensky@comcast.net
date Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 9:41 PM
subject Re: Meeting with DEP Director Jack Long Nov. 30th


Hello Ms. Harmon and Mr. Miedema: You have asked Panagioti what he has planned for the meeting on November 30. He has gone to great lengths to explain exactly what he would like to discuss, who will be in attendance, and his goals for the meeting. I have attended thousands of meetings, and rarely have I attended a meeting where more preparation and details have been provided prior to the meeting as Panagioti has already provided to you, and yet you ask for more information. Regarding the use of the word rally, we are hoping that after the meeting, we will be able to report back to those who were not permitted to enter, that the DEP and the EPA will begin to take seriously their role and obligation to monitor and regulate greenhouse gases, and once we learn of these efforts, we intend to rally our friends and allies to support the DEP and the EPA in taking such vitally needed action in combatting the serious problem of global warming. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Panagioti. Best Regards, Barry

Rabbi Barry Silver
Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor
1200 South Rogers Circle
Suite 8
Boca Raton, Fl. 33487
(561) 483-6900


-------------------------------------------
EPA CHIMES IN:

from Miedema.Ron@epamail.epa.gov
to barryboca@aol.com,
Terry.Carl@epamail.epa.gov,
Kemker.Carol@epamail.epa.gov
cc bwolesensky@comcast.net,
Gloria.Aldama.Harmon@dep.state.fl.us,
pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com
date Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 6:57 AM
subject Re: Meeting with DEP Director Jack Long Nov. 30th


Carol and Carl, The Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition has a meeting scheduled with the West Palm Beach office of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on November 30 to discuss C02 issues. They would like an EPA representative to call into the meeting to provide a federal perspective on the issue. I would hope you could make someone from the Air Division available to answer their questions I would do it myself but that is not a subject I am knowledgeable on to represent EPA.

Gloria, Would you please furnish Carol and Carl, at the email address above, the call in number and time of the meeting should someone from EPA be available for the meeting.

That so all, Ron Miedema EPA - SFO

------------------------------------------------
EPA AGAIN:

from Miedema.Ron@epamail.epa.gov
to PBC EnviroCoalition
date Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 7:13 AM
subject Re: Meeting with DEP Director Jack Long Nov. 30th

I just got verification that EPA will participate in the meeting via conference call Ron Miedema EPA-SFO

---------------------------------
DEP RESPONDS:

from Long, Jack
to barryboca@aol.com,
PBC EnviroCoalition
date Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 3:53 PM
subject PBC EnviroCoalition Meeting / "Rally" - November 30, 2009 // REVISED AGENDA

Messrs. Tsolkas and Silver:


1. Thank you for your November 23, 2009 e-mails.

2. Ms. Carol Kemker (Deputy Division Director of EPA’s Air, Pesticide & Toxics Management Division) and I will meet with eight (8) Representatives of the PBC EnviroCoalation in my Conference Room on November 30, 2009 at 12:00 noon. The Meeting shall last for one-hour-and-fifteen-minutes. (Ms. Kemker and some of her Staff will participate by telephone.)

3. The purpose of the Meeting is to discuss Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

4. This shall be a private Meeting with the aforesaid eight-person-delegation (or fewer, if you so choose) of your Members. No media representatives shall be invited. (So that there is no misunderstanding here, if you were to arrive with any members of the media, the Meeting shall be cancelled.)

5. There shall be security both outside of, and inside our Offices.

6. Your eight-person-delegation should arrive at our Offices at 11:40 a.m., at which time you will be met and escorted to our Reception Area for identification badges. Once all of the badges have been distributed, your eight-person-delegation shall be escorted as a group to my Conference Room.

7. At the conclusion of the meeting, your eight-person-delegation shall be escorted to the front door of our Office Building.

8. In light of Ms. Kemker’s availability, I have set forth the following Revised Agenda:

Revised Agenda

November 30, 2009

Meeting Between Ms. Carol Kemker (EPA) and Mr. Jack Long (FDEP), and Eight Representatives of the PBC EnviroCoalition

Subject: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

12:00 p.m. Opening Remarks by Ms. Carol Kemker (EPA)

12:20 p.m. Opening Remarks by Mr. Jack Long (FDEP)

12:30 p.m. Remarks by first Representative of PBC EnviroCoalition

12:40 p.m. Remarks by second Representative of PBC EnviroCoalition

12:50 p.m. Questions by Representatives of the PBC EnviroCoalition

1:15 p.m. Adjourn the Meeting

Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to our Meeting.


Jack Long

The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of service you received. Simply click on this link to the DEP Customer Survey. Thank you in advance for completing the survey.

------------------------------------------------------------------
PBCEC RESPONDS:

from barryboca@aol.com
to Jack.Long@dep.state.fl.us,
pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com,
bwolesensky@gmail.com,
bwolesensky@comcast.net
date Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 4:43 AM
subject Re: PBC EnviroCoalition Meeting / "Rally" - November 30, 2009 // REVISED AGENDA

Hello Mr. Long:

Thanks for your reply to our request for a meeting. I will discuss the ground rules you have laid out with the others, but I have a few preliminary questions that I hope you may be able to answer.

1) Why is the press not invited?

2) Why can only two people address you, other than at a limited question period at the end?

3) Why do we get the impression that you are doing us a big favor by meeting with us, and why so many ground rules and preconditions, when I would think that an organization that is established to protect the environment, such as the DEP, would welcome with open arms those volunteers who share this goal and seek to assist in this sacred mission?

I look forward to seeing you on November 30.

Barry Silver

-------------------------------------------------------
DEP RESPONSES:

from Long, Jack
to barryboca@aol.com,
pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com
date Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 10:22 AM
subject RE: PBC EnviroCoalition Meeting / "Rally" - November 30, 2009 // REPLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS / COMMENT

Attorney Silver,

Thank you for your e-mail. The answers to your two questions, and the response to your comment are as follows:

1. This was the original understanding with Mr. Tsolkas. This is not a public meeting. It is a private meeting in my Office, to which the press is not invited.

2. This is due to time constraints.

3. Thank you for your comment. I look forward to meeting with you.

I see no need to engage in further discussions concerning the arrangements for the private meeting. If the arrangements are not satisfactory, please advise us as soon as possible so that we can cancel the arrangements which have been made for this private meeting.

The Office is closed tomorrow and Friday.

Unless we hear from you to the contrary, we assume that we will be meeting at noon on Monday, November 30, 2009, pursuant to the arrangements (and Revised Agenda) set forth in my November 24, 2009 e-mail to you and Mr. Tsolkas.

Jack Long

-----------------------------------------------------
DEP INVITES 4 MORE:

from Long, Jack
to "barryboca@aol.com" <'barryboca@aol.com'>,
pbcenvirocoalition@gmail.com
date Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 11:13 AM
subject FW: PBC EnviroCoalition Meeting / "Rally" - November 30, 2009 // REPLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS / COMMENT

Attorney Silver,

I want to follow-up on my e-mail below. The meeting is not a “public meeting” in the sense that it has not been advertised as a public meeting. When I used the words “private meeting”, I intended to convey the idea that the meeting is a meeting with the eight members of the public who were identified in an earlier e-mail from the PBC EnviroCoalition.

My Conference Room cannot comfortably accommodate many more people. However, since I have decided that I will be having only two Staffers with me, we will be able to accommodate an additional four representatives of the PBC EnviroCoalition (for a total of 12 representatives). If you would like to expand the number of representatives by 4 persons, please send me the names of such additional 4 persons prior to the time of the meeting.

Also, I want to again emphasize that I will not be able to discuss any FDEP policy issues related to Greenhouse Gases and/or Climate Control. All policy issues related to those matters will have to be addressed by our Communications Office at Headquarters. You may recall that we had this discussion outside of our Office Building at one of the EnviroCoalition’s earlier rallies. As I stated then, I direct a Regulatory Office, not a policy-making office.

Thank you.
Jack Long

----------------------------------------
DEP GIVES CONFERENCE CALL NUMBER:

from Long, Jack
to PBC EnviroCoalition ,
barryboca@aol.com
cc "Llorens, Cristina" ,
"Aldama Harmon, Gloria"
date Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 12:41 PM
subject RE: FW: PBC EnviroCoalition Meeting / "Rally" - November 30, 2009 // REPLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS / COMMENT

Mr. Tsolkas,

If others are interested in calling in, the Conference Call Number is 888-808-6959, conference code 9981325.

With respect to the last paragraph of your e-mail, it might be a good idea for you to forward the Revised Agenda to any persons who express an interest in calling in. The Meeting will proceed as outlined in the Revised Agenda.

I am leaving the Office for the rest of the day and I will not be available until Monday.

Jack Long

-----------------------------------------------

Monday, November 16, 2009

Nov 18 Press Conference and Rally at Public Hearing to increase WCEC emissions.. FPL and DEP collaborating again!

Contact: Panagioti Tsolkas, co-chair, PBC Environmental Coalition

West Palm Beach, FL--
On November 18th, 6pm DEP will hold a Public Hearing on permit modification to increase WCEC emissions at the South Florida Water Management District office on the north side of Gun Club Road, just west of Congress Avenue (across from PB County Jail). The Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition (PBCEC) will hold a rally and press conference in front of the hearing location, at 5:30pm to express their demand for action from DEP to stop fossil fuel expansion, climate change and acid rain in the Everglades.

DEP issued a notice on September 10, 2009, to modify their air permit for the controversial FPL West County Energy Center fossil fuel power plant in Loxahatchee. FPL is requesting to increase the already massive emissions associated with the project for an auxiliary boiler, adding several addition tons of hazardous emissions. The permit modification does not monitor or regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The DEP project engineer for FPL’s modification, Jeff Koerner, stated to the PBCEC that he has already reviewed over 30 similar permits this year with no monitoring or regulation of CO2. All have been approved.

In addition to CO2, PBCEC is also concerned that DEP will not be fully monitoring the pH of rain and its impact to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. According to a recent correspondnce from Dr. William Louda, PHD, who studies bio-geochemistry of the Everglades, "Each pH unit is an order of magnitude change in the number of protons (acidity). Thus, a pH change from 7.3 to 6.8 is a 5 fold increase in acidity---changing from 7.3 to 7.2 is a doubling of protons." In Dr. Louda's assessment, "a little change can bring large changes in an ecosystem----ARM [the Loxahatchee Refuge] is a very very sensitive to pH (acid rain) changes."

The meeting is also the first public announcement of a meeting that PBCEC has scheduled with DEP administrator on November 30 (N30) to find out when the agency will begin to monitor CO2 emissions. This event is coinciding with a global call to action for 'climate justice', leading up to the U.N Climate Talks in Denmark. The regional EPA staff have been invited to the N30 meeting, but have yet to reply.

xxx

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lake Worth Run-Off for Mayor: Support Laurence McNamara over Rene Varela

LAKE WORTH VOTES AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 17...

The PBCEC endorsed Javier del Sol in the first round of local elections, and we are proud to have been associated with his amazing success in running an environmental campaign (from re-using signs to recycled paper and soy-ink for handouts). He also engaged populations in Lake Worth who have had little-to-no voice in political life. Although he didn't win the votes we feel he deserved (as much of his support came from a segment of our community excluded from elections) his effort will certainly shape elections to come.

But in Lake Worth, we were extremely fortunate to have more than one great environmental candidate running for Mayor. Now that the Run-Off is upon us, we are also proud to offer our full support to Laurence McNamara, who made it into the final round with candidate Rene Varela.

Laurence was chair of the committee that wrote the Public Land/Public Vote charter amendment for the 2005 ballot, so now our public land (parks and beach in particular) cannot be sold without voter approval. This stopped 5 ten-story condos from being built in the intercoastal and an 8 story condo on Old Bridge Park. He has worked on every Lake Worth land-use campaign to prevent overdevelopment in the neighborhoods and on the beach. Laurence was vice-chair of the city's Climate Action Task Force, which made recommendations to the city on energy conservation measures. He wants to promote water conservation through cisterns for all new development and he wants to see renewable energy become a reality in Lake Worth.

Laurence McNamara is open-minded, honest, and environmentally pro-active. He also received the official endorsement of the local Sierra Club Executive Committee.

Rene Varela, on the other hand, is charismatic and talks a good talk. But he has not participated in anything substantial in the City of Lake Worth except to run for office twice. He has taken different positions on immigration depending on the audience (he has not expressed support for the Resource Center, which the local immigrant advocacy community has worked hard towards opening). He claims to be an environmentalist, but has no record of taking any position on local issues. Of special concern is Rene's professional participation in the capture of wild dolphins for profit. Varela is featured in the documentary film "Dolphin Dealer", in which he identifies pregnant wild dolphins after they are captured. The dolphin captures in the film are traumatizing and often deadly for dolphins. He works for Ocean Embassy, a company that says they help marine animals, but their work is abhorred in the US and other countries for lacking standards. Groups like Humane Society and Earth Island Institute have spoken out against Varela's business affiliations.

Rene Varela is running a campaign wholly based on image, not substance. From what we can gather, it seems Varela is being groomed for politics in Tallahassee. He is likely to be the slickest greenwasher ever. We want to make sure he does not get his start here.

To make financial donations or to help volunteer with McNamara's campaign reach Lake Worth voters, visit: http://www.laurencemcnamara.com/