Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolOctober 4, 2018

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Amid widespread beach closures across South Florida Thursday because of the appearance of red tide, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced it will offer $3 million in grants to help counties deal with the outbreak. Palm Beach announced the closure of all county beaches Thursday. Miami-Dade also joined in after red tide was found […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday said he directed state agencies “to mobilize all available resources to address red tide impacts in Southwest Florida’s coastal communities.” The announcement mentioned the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Red tide is a “naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Florida’s […]

Danny McAuliffeJune 19, 2018

Environmental and activist groups are criticizing the state for drafting in secrecy the details of a new permitting process to build in Florida’s wetlands. In a letter Monday addressed to Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein, environmental groups Audubon Florida and 1000 Friends of Florida alongside the League of Women Voters called for a more […]

Ryan NicolJune 7, 2018

Though multiple outlets are reporting blue-green algae sightings this week, the Water Resources Analysis Coalition (WRAC) has a message for the public. It’s not time to panic, just yet. Not all forms of algae are toxic, and it’s not yet clear whether the algae spotted by some is the same type that troubled Floridians during the bloom […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

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Peebles & Smith is now Peebles Smith & Matthews. The firm announced Monday that Ryan Matthews, who most recently served as the interim secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has joined as a principal. Peebles and Smith is a well-regarded boutique lobbying firm whose list of clients heavily tilted toward local government clients. On […]

Michael MolineMay 23, 2017

Noah Valenstein got the job as secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday, after a unanimous vote by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet. He will take the helm on June 5, with a salary of $150,000 per year, Scott said. “Noah has 15 years of environmental policy experience and I’m confident will continue […]

Michael MolineMay 17, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet will interview a single candidate for the vacant secretary slot at the Department of Environmental Regulation — Noah Valenstein, a former environmental aide to the governor. His was the only name put forward for an interview during a meeting of aides to the governor and Cabinet Wednesday morning. “The […]

Florence SnyderMarch 14, 2017

Just in time for Sunshine Week, Tampa Bay Times environmental reporter Craig Pittman reminds us how focused, how ruthless, how relentless Gov. Rick Scott’s flacks are in their taxpayer-financed efforts to keep information out of the hands of taxpayers. Florida’s Ministries of Disinformation have been around since the Chiles administration, but “paranoia about the press” […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 25, 2017

Ryan Matthews will serve as the interim Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. Gov. Rick Scott announced Matthews appointment Tuesday, just days after FloridaPolitics.com first reported DEP Secretary Jon Steverson was resigning. Steverson’s last day is Feb. 3. Matthews joined the DEP in 2015, serving as the Director of Office of Water Policy and […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2016

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham is speaking out critically about the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, after she reviewed public records regarding the massive sinkhole at Mosaic’s facility in Polk County. “Unless there are records that were not produced as required by law, the disclosures show an alarming lack of communication among state regulators about a threat to the health and safety […]

Tag: DEP
Paula Stark is hosting Buenaventura Lakes' 'first-ever' event to honor veterans.

State offers $3M to combat red tide following South Florida beach closures

Rick Scott says state will fight red tide

The fate of Florida’s wetlands could be decided behind closed doors, groups say

Water Resources Analysis Coalition tries to temper algae bloom fears

Personnel note: Peebles & Smith becomes Peebles, Smith & Matthews with hire of Ryan Matthews

Noah Valenstein hired as DEP’s new secretary

A single candidate scores interview for DEP top job: Noah Valenstein

Florence Snyder: Ain’t no Sunshine where Scott’s gone

Rick Scott taps Ryan Matthews as interim DEP chief

Gwen Graham still not satisfied after receiving DEP records about sinkhole