The legal challenge filed by the Tropical Audubon Society, Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper and Captain Dan Kipnis to the Port of Miami Deep Dredge issue is asking all kinds of interesting questions that citizens really should have the right to know, like:
Apparently, some people in the community would rather not know.
- What kind of irreparable damage will result from two years of blasting the bay bottom and offshore coral reefs?
- How will critical wildlife areas, endangered species and the Bay’s pristine water quality be protected?
- How can Miami Dade County replace an aging, defective sewage pipe at the bottom of the bay while simultaneously blasting the bay bottom without risking a catastrophic sewage spill that will close down beaches and fisheries?
- Can the government justify the expenditure of billions in public funds in related port expansion projects when there is no guarantee the super post-Panamax ships (the largest freighters in the world) will even dock here?
Late last week, Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera filed a bill amendment to try to “speed up” the pending administrative challenge to the Port of the Miami Deep Dredge project. The measure has already passed the House and will soon be taken up by the Senate. The amendment limits the time for legal challenges to 30 days and sets other limitations that would make it harder - because of time restrictions- to challenge environmental permits. And it applies statewide.
Since it’s a priority of Governor Scott to dredge, expand and otherwise industrialize Florida ports, I guess this bill would come in handy when permits are issued to Deep Dredge the St. Johns River or blast coral reefs off Port Everglades or in Key West
It’s another in a series of measures passed by the Florida legislature in the last year to make it more difficult for citizens to protect Florida’s natural resources.
As a taxpayer and someone who’s crazy for Biscayne Bay, I want to know that this beautiful and bountiful bay is protected and preserved. Given the irreparable damage the Port of Miami Deep Dredge project will cause, shouldn’t we make sure it’s justified, it’s done properly and the so-called “mitigation” is more than sufficient to make up for the extraordinary losses to marine habitats.
I’m glad there are courageous and concerned citizens and organizations in the community and the state, willing to stand up for Florida’s natural resources. But they need our help.
If you care about Biscayne Bay and our beaches, please support the organizations leading this legal battle: Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper and Tropical Audubon Society with your donations and volunteer efforts.
(WATCH THE VIDEO AND PASS ON THE LINK http://youtu.be/w5AwlaZixKU)
12 comments:
Why are we always fighting these battles?
The guy with the hat makes some good points about the economics at about 5 minutes into the video. Thanks "Crazy."
Stuart Miller, CEO of Lennar, is on Biscayne Bay every weekend. He should step up to the plate to protect the bay! (not holding breath)
It always amazes me how a city that depends on tourism, and attracts residents (whose attachment to the community is critical for economic success) because of its natural beauty, is happy to systematically destroy it in the name of jobs. Why dont we put in some refineries while we're at it? Pave Paradise....
The Tourism bureau should be donating money for the legal funds. They and all the hotel owners on Miami Beach benefit most from a beautiful Biscayne Bay and beaches.
At least that's what why put on the brochures. I've never seen a gantry crane or cargo ship on a brochure.
The Port of Miami also wants to fill in another 18 acres of land in Biscayne Bay according to their expansion plans for hotels, retails, cruise ship theme park or whatever their consultants have dreamed up. When will it end?
The people trying to stop the deep dredge project are "naysayers, lunatics and obstructionists." Thank goodness! Biscayne Bay might be saved after all.
In the 1960's they did try to put oil refineries on Biscayne Bay - also proposed blasting the coral reefs. Initially - The Miami Herald supported it. The Chambers of Commerce supported it. The elected officials supported it. Some people spoke up and objected.
Today we have Biscayne National Park. Instead of oil refineries.
Are we really going to destroy another unique
natural treasure and bet over $2 Billion on an
"If We Build They Will Come" project? Do we even
have one contract or commitment from one of these mega shippers that they will come here?
Are we patsies for ever schemer from the Governor
to Genting and every carpet bagger developer who
wants to use our land, water and location?
What do you need Dan? Lawyers? Money? Sit ins? Marches? Let's fight this.
MONEY AND LAWYERS WOULD HELP!
Mitigation needs to be stopped period.If it cannot be built then so be it.We have destroyed Florida.I was at a meeting tonight at SFWMD where a group of idiots want to fill in the Miami Canal.They say it will help the wetlands south of 595 I hope they fail.
I think Biscayne Bay looks beautiful in this video and I hope it stirs the hearts of those bureaucrats and lobbyists and even the Army Corps of Engineers folks and the Port of Miami director to walk away from this project. Walk away, admit its all a mistake. And we can all go back to enjoying our beautiful bay.
Poets and artists should decide what to do. And a few kayakers.
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