Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Peter SchorschMay 17, 2017

Updated May 17 — Valenstein was the only person selected to be interviewed for the job, according to remarks at Wednesday’s Cabinet aides meeting. That means he is a virtual lock for the position. Shut out by the decision is interim secretary Ryan Matthews. The interview will take place at next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The original story is […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 16, 2017

Big business is not automatically bad business. The Tampa Bay Times learned a hard lesson about assumptions and the truth this week after publishing the opinions of two retired scientists who accused Mosaic Co. and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection of ignoring warnings of a growing sinkhole on Mosaic property. While the allegations fed […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 10, 2017

Following a report from the Tampa Bay Times’ Craig Pittman regarding the sinkhole that opened up on Mosaic Fertilizer’s property in late 2016, the company sent out a scathing rebuke to media alleging Pittman “continues to provide a platform for false information.” In the report, Pittman interviewed Don Rice, a former hydrologist from the U.S. Geological Survey, who alleges the […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 25, 2017

This week, the Mosaic Company is asking Manatee County commissioners to approve a zoning change that will allow the Polk County-based firm to expand its Wingate Mine property by more than 3,600 acres. The request by the world’s largest manufacturer of phosphate-based fertilizers is garnering support from several of Mosaic’s residential neighbors, as well as […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 24, 2017

His job as Florida House Speaker requires Richard Corcoran to make some tough calls, but this one had to be easy for a man whose stated mission is to clean up the way Tallahassee operates. While some politicians talk with a swagger (here’s looking at you, Marco Rubio) but don’t want the ball when the […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

A South Florida lawmaker is trying again to establish pilot programs in coastal communities to outlaw plastic shopping bags. State Rep. David Richardson, a Miami Beach Democrat, filed his bill (HB 93) on Tuesday. Similar legislation has been filed in recent years. Richardson’s bill would let municipalities with pilot programs “enact an ordinance for the regulation […]

Associated PressDecember 3, 2016

The surface of Orange Lake is often as smooth as a mirror, disrupted only by the occasional boater’s wake or a duck skidding to a watery landing. But the calm is deceptive. The lake is polluted and, despite attempts to fix it, there isn’t much to show for the effort. The popular fishing and recreational […]

Staff ReportsOctober 24, 2016

Florida regulators announced a consent order Monday with Mosaic Fertilizer LLC over a Polk County sinkhole that released 215 million of toxic, radioactive water into groundwater supplies. The deal provides for substantial fines if the company fails to meet its promises of remediation. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection “will hold Mosaic accountable for repairing the […]

Staff ReportsOctober 12, 2016

Sewage systems overflowed across Florida because of Hurricane Matthew, and Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Department of Environmental Protection to find out how to prevent it from happening again. “Florida is famous for our pristine environment, world-class beaches, and award-winning state parks,” Scott said Wednesday in a press release. “We must do all we […]

Tag: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Noah Valenstein hired as DEP’s new secretary

Noah Valenstein set to become next DEP head

Faulty sinkhole reporting becomes hard lesson on rushing to judgment

Mosaic pushes back hard against Tampa Bay Times over sinkhole reporting

Bradenton Herald, neighbors give thumbs up to Mosaic Wingate Mine expansion

Richard Corcoran walks the walk, denies extra $13M for DEP water war

Ban the bag, South Florida lawmaker says

Slow progress despite efforts to fix Orange Lake pollution

State reaches remediation deal with Mosaic over sinkhole spill

Rick Scott orders inquiry into storm-related sewage spills