Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaNovember 10, 2015

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection and its employee who said he was punished for using the term “climate change” earlier this year quietly worked out a “separation settlement agreement” in May. The agreement was provided to FloridaPolitics.com on Monday after a public-records request to the department. Mainly, both sides agreed not to sue each […]

Guest AuthorOctober 30, 2015

Tuesday will be Florida Recycles Day at the Florida Capitol. It’s the third year the Florida Recycling Partnership and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have teamed up to promote recycling. Displays will be on the first floor of the Capitol from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Florida Recycling Partnership is a coalition of top […]

Associated PressSeptember 27, 2015

With a burgeoning population and aging water systems, Florida will need $16.5 billion in funding over the next 20 years just to maintain its existing drinking water infrastructure, according to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In most places across the country, the promise of clean, cheap, readily available water has been taken for […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 9, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott‘s environmental policy coordinator has been hired to run the Suwannee River Water Management District, the district announced in a press release. Noah Valenstein will take over as executive director for the Live Oak-based agency, which manages water resources in 15 counties in north central Florida. Valenstein also attended the meeting last August in which Scott listened […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 8, 2015

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Another 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 143) on Tuesday. Last session, state Sen. Dwight Bullard, a Cutler Bay Democrat, filed similar legislation that died in committee. Richardson’s bill would let […]

Phil AmmannJuly 2, 2015

BP has agreed to pay a record $18.732 billion to resolve claims by five Gulf states of violating the Clean Water Act, harming natural resources, and other economic damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As a part of the agreement announced Thursday, Florida will receive at least $3.25 billion. The overall deal has […]

Bruce RitchieJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday vetoed more than $87 million in environmental spending including $27.3 million for suspect “dispersed” water projects. Scott vetoed $461.3 million in spending from a budget of more than $78 billion. While highlighting tax cuts and spending to bring more jobs to Florida, the governor said the 2015-16 state budget provides […]

Bruce RitchieMay 26, 2015

DEP Secretary Jon Steverson says he has never fired anyone for enforcing the law. Yet his fingerprints – or at least tacit backing – are all over the ouster of top staff at the St. Johns River Water Management District. The resignations of Executive Director Hans Tanzler and four top staff members at the district, […]

Bruce RitchieMay 25, 2015

DEP Secretary Jon Steverson says he has never fired anyone for enforcing the law. Yet his fingerprints – or at least tacit backing – are all over the ouster of top staff at the St. Johns River Water Management District. The resignations of Executive Director Hans Tanzler and four top staff members at the district, […]

Bruce RitchieMay 1, 2015

U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson says he filed legislation that he says would block a federal plan to allow oil and gas exploration off Florida’s Atlantic coast. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is considering 10 permits to allow seismic testing from Delaware south to about Melbourne off the coast of Florida. There is no timeline on a […]

Tag: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

“Climate change” kerfuffle results in secret settlement with DEP

Keyna Cory: Recycling push coming to Capitol

Florida uses EPA water system grants to gird infrastructure

Rick Scott’s environmental advisor tapped as water district head

Ban the bag, South Florida lawmaker says

DEP, FWC respond to record BP settlement, applauds Gulf Coast recovery progress

Governor vetoes water projects, firefighter pay increases

Perhaps DEP’s Jon Steverson will tell Cabinet what’s going on in Palatka

Bruce Ritchie: Perhaps DEP’s Steverson will tell the Cabinet what is going on in Palatka

Bill Nelson files federal bill blocking seismic testing off Florida