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PCB 07-12 Update - April 3, 2007:

This bill provides that local governments cannot enact or enforce any ordinance that would prohibit or prevent the construction or operation of a limestone mine where EITHER mining is a permissible use the comprehensive plan, OR the land is zoned for mining, OR the land is classified for mining by the property appraiser (something completely outside the local government land use determination process) AS OF MARCH 1, 2007.

Diana Grawitch, Legislative Advocate for the Fla. Assoc. of Counties testified against this language, as did FIVE Commissioners: Randy Hatch from Suwannee, Lily Rooks from Levy, Buddy Lamb from Dixie, Jeff Koons from Palm Beach, and Sally Hayman from Miami-Dade.  Each Commissioner did an incredible job of testifying as to how this bill will impact their community in a negative way.  Nevertheless, the bill passed, with four no votes (again, Kriseman, Boyd, Randolph, and Machek).

The next stop for this bill is the Policy and Budget Council. Members are listed below for your reference. PLEASE make your members on this committee well aware that this language has got to go. Here are some specific talking points to make when contacting your legislators:

PCB 07-12 Relating to Mining

  • The Department of Transportation (DOT) currently gets a significant amount of construction aggregate for building roads from a chain of mines in Miami-Dade County often referred to as the “Lake Belt.”  These mines are the subject of litigation which challenges the issuance of Army Corp of Engineer permits.  There has been speculation as to whether these mines could be shut down at least for a period of time as a result of the litigation.  This has led the DOT to examine its long-term strategy in obtaining aggregate for roads. 
     
  • PCB 07-12 preempts local governments.  It provides that no local government shall enact or enforce ordinances that would prohibit or prevent the construction or operation of limestone mines on lands that are zoned for mining as of March 1, 2007.  It also provides for an expedited permitting process through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
     
  • If local governments cannot enforce ordinances that prevent the operation of limestone mines, they will be unable to regulate local concerns such as the hours of operation, noise, traffic, and dust.  This language takes the focus off of the other greater issues surrounding the availability of aggregate.  Our port and rail infrastructure must be improved if we are to effectively import aggregate in the future.  Also, the increased use of recycled industrial materials must be considered to lessen the need for new mines.  The task force will also be an opportunity for local governments to work with the DOT, DEP, and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) on ways to better share information and improve the permitting process in a fair and deliberative way.  Preemption is unnecessary.
     
  • The DOT has repeatedly indicated that it does not consider local government preemption a component of its plan.  DOT has worked in a collaborative way with local governments to explore solutions.  This amendment is being proposed by some in the mining industry as a way to use speculation over the Lake Belt litigation as an excuse to preempt local governments.  But it is important to remember that this litigation has nothing to do with any county or municipality.  Rather, it is an environmental challenge to federal permits.

 

 

Policy and Budget Council Members

 

Ray Sansom (R)

402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300

Phone: (850) 488-1170

Counties: Okaloosa, Santa Rosa

Stan Mayfield (R)

222 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0952

Counties: Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie

Kevin Ambler (R)

Room 410, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0275

Counties: Hillsborough

 

Loranne Ausley (D)

Room 1001, Cap
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0965

Counties: Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon

Aaron Bean (R)

200 HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-6920

Counties: Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Union

Dorothy Bendross-Mendingall (D)

Room 214, The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0625

Counties: Miami-Dade

Ellyn Bogdanoff (R)

Room 323, The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0635

Counties: Broward, Palm Beach

Marty Bowen

322 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-2721

Counties: Polk

Mary Brandenburg

Room 221, The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0260

Counties: Palm Beach

Don Brown

Room 313, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-4726

Counties: Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington

Dean Cannon

422 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-2742

Counties: Orange

Joyce Cusack

316 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0580

Counties: Volusia

Charlie Dean

Room 218, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0805

Counties: Citrus. Hernando, Levy

Bill Galvano

Room 214, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-4086

Counties: Hillsborough, Manatee

Andy Gardiner

Room 303, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300

Counties: Orange

Michael Grant

Room 303, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0060

Counties: Charlotte, Lee, Sarasota

Adam Hasner

322 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-2234

Counties: Broward, Palm Beach

Will Kendrick

223 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-7870

Counties: Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Levy, Madison, Taylor, Wakulla


 

 

Dick Kravitz

Room 417, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-1304

Counties: Clay, Duval, St. Johns

Matt Meadows

Room 317, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-8234

Counties: Broward

Joe Pickens

214 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0665

Counties: Bradford, Clay, Lake, Marion, Putnam, Volusia

Ron Reagan

Room 317, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-6341

Counties: Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota

Curtis Richardson

1001 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-1798

Counties: Gadsden, Leon

David Rivera

422 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-7897

Counties: Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade

Yolly Roberson

Room 218, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-7088

Counties: Miami-Dade

Dennis Ross

Room 204, HOB
402 S Monroe St
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-2270

Counties: Polk

Ron Saunders

1402 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-9965

Counties: Miami-Dade, Monroe

John Seiler

212 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-0880

Counties: Broward

Priscilla Taylor

1401 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-8632

Counties: Palm Beach

Trey Traviesa

214 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-9910

Counties: Hillsborough

Baxter Troutman

223 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488 9465

Counties: Hardee, Highlands, Polk

Shelley Vana

1402 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-4791

Counties: Palm Beach

Juan Zapata

Room 214, HOB
402 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1300
Phone: (850) 488-9550

Counties: Miami-Dade

                       

 

 

 

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