Palm Seashore County’s commissioners on Thursday night time voted 6-0 to approve a controversial rock mining undertaking within the Everglades Agricultural Space, south of Lake Okeechobee.
Generally known as The Southland Water Useful resource Venture, the mine was proposed by the contracting agency Phillips & Jordan and could be dug on farmland presently used U.S. Sugar Company and Okeelanta Company.
County approval was sought to mine limestone for greater than 30 years on the 8,600-acre website, which is presently farmland and sits about 15 miles southwest of Belle Glade.
The undertaking nonetheless must be reviewed by the South Florida Water Administration District and the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers, the 2 businesses accountable for Everglades restoration and water administration in South Florida.
Proponents of the mine counsel that the ensuing quarry will perform as water storage for almost 40 billion gallons of Lake Okeechobee overflow.
However the plan has stirred appreciable concern amongst conservation teams, together with Audubon Florida, the Sierra Membership and Captains for Clear Water.
Opponents of the undertaking are involved that the mine, which will probably be constructed about 1,000 toes from the Everglades Agricultural Space (EAA) Reservoir, places that reservoir in danger. In addition they stated the county mustn’t approve a undertaking that has not but been property vetted by the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers or the South Florida Water Administration District.
The $4 billion EAA Reservoir and current stormwater remedy areas clear water earlier than it flows south into the Everglades ecosystem.
Matt Eidson, vp at Phillips & Jordan, stated the plan would add storage incrementally, as completely different cells of the mine have been accomplished. All advised, the whole undertaking wouldn’t be accomplished for 30 years.
Opponents stated the additional storage is meaningless except the water may be cleaned in STAs, or stormwater remedy areas.
Eidson stated no water for the mine’s processing facility or crushing facility would co-mingle with the reservoir water, which can circulation into the Miami Canal.
He stated that the canal would carry it to storm water remedy areas earlier than it flows into the Everglades ecosystem.
Throughout the public remark interval of the fee assembly, Christopher McVoy, a former hydrologist for SFWMD, stated that there are presently not sufficient STAs to wash the water the quarry would maintain.
The EAA Reservoir, which broke floor in 2023, is taken into account by many, together with Gov. Ron DeSantis, to be the “crown jewel” of the long-awaited Everglades restoration efforts, and is designed to retailer water coming off of Lake Okeechobee, as an alternative of sending it to the east and west coast of the state.
Lake Okeechobee water has sparked poisonous algae blooms within the Fort Myers space on the west coast and the Stuart space on the east coast. Moreover, the polluted contemporary water has killed off seagrass beds within the Indian River Lagoon.
Nutrient air pollution from freshwater runoff can also gas poisonous crimson tide, which happens naturally.
A lot of the priority centered on a letter from SFWMD that said the undertaking would “doubtless” be capable of change into a useful reservoir that will support Everglades restoration. The letter was written earlier than the district launched into a seven-step vetting course of for the rock mine.
Mike Vacation, a fishing information whose enterprise is affected by polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee, noticed the worth in additional water storage, however requested the fee to both deny or delay this undertaking. “Why not simply delay it, and get these approvals” from SFWMD and Military Corps, he stated. “You’re our commissioners and we rely on you. You’re those who’re supposed to guard us from initiatives like this.”
A number of individuals expressed concern that approving the rock mine would set a precedent for different landowners within the EAA to create extra rock mines.
Others in attendance supported the undertaking. Joe Kyles, mayor of South Bay, and Steve Wilson, mayor of Belle Glade, two communities throughout the Everglades Agricultural Space, each expressed help for the undertaking as a result of they felt it might supply jobs and financial alternatives whereas additionally creating extra water storage.
Nevida Holms, who works to help communities within the EAA space, stated the undertaking was a sensible answer. As for many who opposed it, she stated, “A handful of paid activists need to inform us what’s greatest for us.”
The South Florida Water Administration District will maintain a listening to on the undertaking at 1 p.m. Could 29.
The Palm Seashore County Fee can have annual evaluations of the undertaking to evaluate whether it is adhering to county guidelines.
Earlier than the vote, Mayor Maria Marino stated that the vote was a primary step in a really lengthy course of that will finally contain approval from SFWMD. “If I have been the South Florida Water Administration District, I might not be taking a look at this if it didn’t have the approval of the county,” she stated. “Why spend all these sources if the county is just not going to approve it?”
Initially Printed: