Oil Drilling In Florida State Waters

Added: January 2, 2011

Oil drilling in Florida state waters (three miles into the Atlantic Ocean and 10 miles into the Gulf of Mexico) is regulated by the state legislature, which can approve drilling any year. To safeguard our shores the ban needs to be in our state constitution.

A constitutional amendment petition to prohibit oil drilling in Florida State waters is now available to Florida registered voters. 700,000 signed and verified petitions are needed to place it on the November 2012 ballot.

Copies of the petition may be downloaded from the Save Our Seas, Beaches And Shores Website: www.sosbs.org. Or you may contact them by mail at:

Save Our Seas Beaches and Shores Inc.
P.O. Box 6686
Tallahassee, FL. 32314

Greater Everglades Partnership Initiative

Added: February 9, 2011

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a diverse group of public and private partners are advancing a collaborative approach to conserve wildlife and habitat across the Greater Everglades ecosystem. U.S. FWS' initial proposal is the Everglades Headwater National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. You can learn more about the details at the following Website: http://fws.gov/southeast/greatereverglades

Written comments on the proposal were accepted through March 31, 2011. Audubon of Martin County is closely following this proposal. Watch this page for updates.

Florida Forever In Peril

Added: February 25, 2011

Florida's premier land acquisition and conservation program — Florida Forever — is facing an uncertain future. Among other acquisitions, Florida Forever helped Martin County purchase the Kiplinger Nature Preserve on Kanner Highway in Stuart, site of a Bald Eagle nest monitored by Audubon of Martin County. For more information, see this editorial at TCPalm.com. Contact Governor Scott to comment.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines

Added: March 1, 2011

From a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release: "The service has announced the availability of draft, voluntary guidelines for wind turbine projects. These draft Guidelines are designed to provide developers and agency staff with a process to make the best possible decisions in selecting sites for wind energy facilities to avoid and minimize the negative effects to fish, wildlife and their habitats resulting from construction, operation and maintenance of land-based, wind energy facilities."

The key words here are "voluntary guidelines." Wind farms, like communications towers and tall buildings, pose a significant hazard to migratory birds. Florida's Atlantic coast is a prime location for wind-power installations; it's also on the flight paths of millions of migrating birds each year. Note question 4 under "Questions For Consideration in Providing Public Comment."

This FWS page has links from which you can download the draft guidelines and related information. The document identification number is FWS-R9-FHC-2011-NO13.

Submit e-mail comments to windenergy@fws.gov. Include "Wind Energy Guidelines Comments" in the subject line of the message, and your full name and return address in the body of your message. Note that the e-mail address will be closed when the public comment period closes (May 19, 2011). Alternatively, you may submit comments or recommendations by mail to:

Attention: Wind Energy Guidelines
Division of Fisheries and Habitat Conservation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop 4107
Arlington, VA 22203-1610.

For further information contact:

Christy Johnson-Hughes
Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
703-358-1922.

Individuals who are hearing-impaired or speech-impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8337 for TTY assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Deadline for comments is May 19, 2011.

• Bird-Smart Wind Power

Bill To Reauthorize The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act

Added: March 10, 2011

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, has introduced a bill (S. 538) that would reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. This bill promotes long-term conservation, education, research, monitoring, and habitat protection for more than 350 species of neotropical migratory birds that breed in North America in the summer and spend their winters in tropical climates south of our border. Senator Cardin’s legislation aims to sustain healthy populations of migratory birds that are not only beautiful to look at but help our farmers by consuming billions of harmful insect pests each year.

Countless neotropical birds pass through Martin County on their migrations. Please contact your U.S. Senator (see link above) to voice your support for this bill.

• Sen. Cardin's press release has more information.

• Track the bill.

Florida Wetland Deregulation

Added: April 1, 2011

Senate Bill 1174 and House Bill 421 create major exemptions for runoff and wetlands loss on agricultural land. Download Audubon of Florida's Fact Sheet on the bills. UPDATE: HB 421 passed the House of Representatives on May 2, 2011. Still time to head off its Senate counterpart, SB 1174.

• Learn why wetlands are important from this University of Florida site.

• Map of wetlands in Martin County.

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