DEP Proposes New Rules For Financial Assurance

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection in December proposed new rules to ensure that operators of phosphogypsum stacks can pay for closing their facilities. While the initial proposal anticipated that financial assurances be limited to external mechanisms such as bonds, insurance or letters of credit, legislation passed during a 2003 special session called for financial assurances based on audited financial statements.

"Generally we expect companies to use the financial assurance mechanism because the other mechanisms will cost them money," said Phil Coram, chief of DEP's Bureau of Mine Reclamation. "The legislature established the financial test as a viable mechanism, so we will do our best to ensure that the test is enough to provide adequate assurance."

The rules were rewritten after Mulberry Corporation abandoned its Piney Point plant near Port Manatee. The company had passed more lenient financial assurance requirements and estimated costs of closing the stacks at $24 million. Actual costs for closing the plant are estimated at $150 million, most of which has been paid through the industry&'s severance tax.

To review the proposed rules, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/water/mines/docs/62-673_FinalWorkshopVersionLined.pdf

Florida Moves Forward With Energy Initiatives

Florida is setting national benchmarks for clean-energy initiatives, including the first-ever purchase of eight hydrogen powered buses expected to hit Central Florida roads in 2006 and three new hybrid buses now serving HARTline riders in Tampa.

The hydrogen buses are the world&'s first commercially available hydrogen vehicles. With near-zero emissions, the engine is up to 25% more fuel-efficient than a typical gasoline engine. The 12-passenger buses will have ranges of about 150 miles.

Tampa's hybrid buses inaugurated service in early January. Like hybrid autos, they combine a traditional combustion engine with batteries that recharge as they drive, increasing gas mileage by 20 to 30% and reducing emissions. The $500,000 buses were purchased with funds from the federal government and will rotate routes across the county.

For more information on the state's energy initiatives, a new website created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection outlines Florida's ‘next generation' energy initiatives in hydrogen, solar, clean transportation and biomass, and provides energy conservation tools for businesses, communities and residents. The site is located at www.floridaenergy.org.

Red Tide Alliance Unveils New Detection System

A new system designed to automatically detect red tide in Charlotte Harbor has been unveiled by the Red Tide Alliance, a collaborative effort of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), Mote Marine Laboratory and the grassroots citizens group, Solutions To Avoid Red Tide (START). The new system is part of a larger effort to examine the nutrient sources that help feed red tide blooms throughout Southwest Florida.

The "BreveBuster," developed at Mote, measures the light absorption properties of water samples to test for the presence of red tide. A BreveBuster on a channel marker at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor allows scientists to continually monitor for red tide. Mote also is planning to build an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with a BreveBuster.

Additionally "Marvin," FWRI's new high-tech water quality monitoring platform, will be moored at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River to monitor water samples for nutrients and other water quality parameters to give scientists insights about how man-made and natural nutrients impact the growth and development of red tide.

Tampa Bay is getting better You can help

Buy a Tampa Bay Estuary tag and help keep Tampa Bay on the road to recovery. They're available year-round in your local tax collector's office or request a Tampa Bay Estuary tag with your annual renewal.

The cost is $27 for the first year and $17 after that - with $15 going directly to projects that benefit the estuary, including the publication of Bay Soundings.

Port Manatee, Planning Council Take Top Honors

Tampa Bay Business Journal has recognized Port Manatee as its International Business of the Year and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council as "Government Agency of the Year."

"Port Manatee has made its mark on the growing global maritime community and continues to develop and expand each year," said Jane von Hahmann, the newly elected chairman of the Manatee County Port Authority. "To be recognized as an international business leader among other major organizations from the Tampa Bay area is a tremendous honor."

Accomplishments cited by the judges include waterborne revenues increasing to a record $8.3 million in FY 2004, and cargo tonnage growing to a record 8.3 million tons. The port and its ancillary business have a total annual economic impact of $2.6 billion.

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council was named government agency of the year.

The planning council provides local governments in a four-county region with diverse programs that help manage growth and development and coordinate emergency preparedness. The council also coordinates the publication of Bay Soundings.

Water CHAMP Saves Hotels Water & Money

Seventeen Pinellas County hotels participating in a Water CHAMP conservation campaign saved 16 million gallons of water worth $128,000 last year, the first ever audited figures to be compiled in a hotel-based water conservation program.

";We knew there would be savings, but these are actual figures compiled by Pinellas County Utilities," said Melissa Roe, Water CHAMP coordinator for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. "From the hotel's perspective, the dollar savings have a ripple effect of three to five times in labor savings and replacement costs for linens and towels."

Participating hotels were given cards and brochures to post in rooms asking guests to indicate whether they required clean towels and sheets or would prefer to save water and reuse those linens. A separate survey indicated that the vast majority of guests were pleased to stay in a Water CHAMP property.

Since the program began, Water CHAMP has expanded into Hillsborough, Citrus, Manatee, Sarasota and Pasco counties and now includes 129 hotels with more than 16,000 rooms. For more information, visit the district's Web site at www.swfwmd.state.fl.us or call Melissa Roe at 800-423-1476, ext. 4708.

Education Center Debuts at Crystal Springs

An education center open to students across the Tampa Bay region has opened at the 525-acre Crystal Springs Preserve in Pasco County. The Living Laboratory includes fully equipped indoor research facilities as well as outdoor programs, highlighted by Crystal Springs and surrounding ecosystems.

"We're open to students from kindergarten to college and offer custom programming to meet the needs of teachers who use our site for restoration plantings," notes Karen Pate, preserve director. "And because we're philanthropically funded, all our programs are offered free of charge."

The imported beach sand and diving board at a once-popular swimming hole have been replaced with native plants and wildlife, adds Robert Thomas, president of Two Rivers Ranch. "There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Crystal Springs is a wonderful and special place. Our challenge has been to find a way to share the spring without jeopardizing the natural systems it supports. Crystal Springs Preserve is the answer."

For more information, or to schedule a classroom visit to Crystal Springs, visit www.crystalspringspreserve.com.