Volume V Issue I March 2010

Is Cleaner Water in Florida’s Future?

Inside this issue: Florida is in the middle of a clean water

Courtesy of Dr. Gerry Pinto

crisis. After years of delay and
Wetlands Near inaction, it is clearer than ever to
MR-GO Again 2 Floridians that the current policies the
Threatened state of Florida has to keep our waters
clean are simply not working. This was
powerfully exemplified by the “D+”
Citizens Speak grade that the state of Florida received
Out Against 2 from the Gulf Restoration Network’s
Kemper Coal “Clean Up Your Act! Gulf States
Report Card” last year. Florida’s lakes,
rivers, streams, springs, and estuaries
Aveda Earth are dying a slow death from
3 overwhelming amounts of nitrogen and Algal Bloom in Florida Community
Month
phosphorus pollution. The current
situation cannot continue. clean, healthy waters. Our state’s recreational
Protection for and commercial fishing industries depend on
Mississippi’s After years of inaction on the part of the Florida clean water. Our way of life as Floridians,
4
Outstanding Department of Environmental Protection, a focused on using our lakes and rivers as well as
Waters coalition of Florida conservation groups sued our beaches, depends on clean water. Algal
the U.S. EPA to force them to step in to protect blooms, red tides, beach closures, fish kills, and
Florida waters. Now U.S. EPA is considering unsafe drinking water all are the results of
proposed draft rules with specific numeric unchecked and poorly regulated nitrogen and
standards and benchmarks to protect our phosphorus pollution. This pollution comes
rivers, springs, and estuaries from algal blooms from agricultural and development runoff, as
and the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that well as sewage treatment plants, and impacts
cause them. almost every waterbody in Florida, and in
particular Florida’s springs.
What is at stake in this effort? Florida’s tourism
industry is directly dependant on Florida having Continued on page 4

From Floodplain to Prison

Over fifteen acres of pristine high quality during Hurricane Katrina. This is not the ideal
wetlands on the coast of Mississippi could place to house prisoners, or really build much
become the next sacrifice to misused HUD low at all. FEMA rejected the spot for an
income housing grants. In Hancock County, emergency response building and the Army
one of three coastal counties in Mississippi, the Corps’ Mississippi Coastal Improvement Plan
Board of Supervisors wants to build a new (MSCIP) has the area slated for environmental
prison with these funds, and the site they have restoration. However, that did not stop
chosen truly boggles the mind! another branch of the Army Corp, the
Regulatory Division, from issuing a permit to
The proposed site, which is located in a coastal destroy these same wetlands! This is a prime
flood zone, took on 20 feet of flood water Continued on page 3
 Page 2 W a ve M ak e r’ s N ew s

Wetlands Near MR-GO Again Threatened

Since 2007, a company called Newport
Environmental has been attempting to develop
over 50 acres of wetlands that stand between
New Orleans and the Mississippi River Gulf
Outlet. Originally, they wanted to build a
landfill there, we fought that project and it was
withdrawn. But as we know, bad projects
rarely die. So, last year they proposed to
destroy the same 57 acres to build an
industrial park! Needless to say we don’t like
this project much better, as it would destroy
these wetlands and in the process remove
important functions, such as storm water
storage, water filtration, and wildlife habitat.

To add insult to injury Newport would be destroying wetlands in the very same area where the Corps of Engineers, the
state, and local communities are planning wetland restoration projects. This is why we, along with the Tulane
Environmental Law Clinic, and other environmental organizations and concerned citizens attended a public hearing in
February in New Orleans to speak out against this destructive proposal. If the state of Louisiana truly wants to save our
coast, it needs to get serious about not permitting projects that destroy wetlands and directly conflict with Louisiana’s
Master Plan. These inconsistencies must stop! We need more wetlands, not less, between the Gulf and Louisiana’s
populated areas. 

Citizens Speak Out Against Kemper Coal Project

On February 5th, the Mississippi Public Service Commission dawn on Friday morning to hop on a bus, ride to Jackson,
met to discuss the cost and benefits of building a massive, and tell the PSC commissioners exactly that.
dirty and expensive new lignite coal power plant and mine in
Kemper County. For months, concerned citizens and groups This proposed coal burning plant and mine will destroy or
– like the Mississippi Sierra Club, Mississippi for Affordable harm roughly 6,000 acres of wetlands, disturb over 40 miles
Energy, and, of course, GRN – have been speaking out on of streams, release toxic chemicals like mercury into
how the costs of this project to human health, the economy, waterways, and leave nearby communities vulnerable to
and the environment far outweigh any potential benefits. catastrophes akin to the recent coal ash spills in
And many of these same concerned citizens woke up before Tennessee. And Mississippi Power is asking the PSC to let
them charge its ratepayers upwards of $2.4 billion dollars for
this privilege before the plant is even built!

At the hearing, GRN’s Casey DeMoss Roberts and Raleigh

Hoke both spoke out against the project along with many
other concerned citizens from across the state. The
testimony ranged from coastal residents concerned about
rising power bills, to property owners whose land will be
torn asunder by the massive mine. In contrast, many of the
individuals that spoke in favor were there to represent
industries, or government entities, that stood to directly
profit from the project. Although the Commission is not set
to make its final decision until early May, it was clear from
the hearing that citizens from across the state want to hear a
resounding NO from the Commission! 
Opponents of Kemper Coal Project Outside of Hearing
Volume V Issue I Page 3

From Floodplains to Prison (continued from page 1)

example of the lack of communication and coordination

Courtesy of USACE
between different departments and bureaucratic fiefdoms
within government agencies like the Army Corps.

As one GRN member who lives next door to the area

brought to our attention, the site is already prone to
flooding. The filling of these valuable wetlands will only
exacerbate the problem. One acre of wetlands can absorb
up to 10,000 gallons of water. The loss of these wetlands
means that another 150,000 gallons of water will have
nowhere to go.

Since the 2005 hurricane season, GRN has become more

and more alarmed by the rapid destruction of wetlands
throughout the Gulf Coast. We actively worked with the
Army Corps to develop an effective and environmentally MSCIP map with the proposed site marked with a red X.
sound plan to restore coastal Mississippi, and the Coastal
Improvement Plan that came out of this process fulfills many of these essential goals. Unfortunately, as long as
developers, government entities like Hancock County, and other branches of the Army Corps ignore the plan, it
remains just words on paper. That’s why GRN continues to watchdog bad projects like this and push for true
accountability when it comes to restoring our coast. 

Support GRN: Update Your Style with Aveda

Thinking about changing your look? Need a haircut
or a new color? April is Earth Month at your local
Aveda salon. You can support GRN’s fight for
healthy waters and get a new look too! Since 2006,
Aveda salons across the southeast and their
distributors, The Salon People and the Neill
Corporation, have raised over $1 million for GRN
from their Earth Month events. We’re proud to
partner with a company that walks the walk to
protect our environment.

Walkers on the steps of Florida’s state capitol in Tallahassee

The GRN extends a heartfelt thanks to all of the

hardworking Aveda salon staff and their clients for
everything they do to make Earth Month a
success. Their contributions will support our work
to keep our waterways clean by protecting wetlands
and keeping pollution such as sewage and fertilizer
runoff out of our waters. 
“Cut-a-thon” at AvantGarde Salon in Destin, FL
 UNITED FOR A HEALTHY GULF
Marching Towards Protection for MS’s Outstanding Waters
Mississippi's rivers, lakes and streams are among the most beautiful and outstanding waters in the
nation. Thousands of people every year, from Mississippi and around the world, come to enjoy this
amazing natural bounty. Unfortunately, Mississippi's most beautiful and unique waters have not been
given the best possible protection available - being listed as an "Outstanding National Resource Water."
Outstanding status benefits everyone, from protecting drinking water to irrigation uses, not to mention
the wildlife and fish that live in the waters.

For years, GRN and others have been pushing Mississippi to protect its most beautiful, and pristine
New Orleans Office rivers, creeks and streams by designating them as Outstanding waters. Unfortunately, up until January,
338 Baronne St., Ste. 200 the state did not even have a process for citizens to nominate their favorite waterbodies! Thankfully,
New Orleans, LA 70112 things are beginning to change for the better.
Phone: 504-525-1528
Mississippi recently considered changes to its rules
Florida Office for protecting state waters which would allow for
34413 Orchid Parkway individuals or organizations to nominate Outstanding
Ridge Manor, FL 33523
Phone: 352-583-0870
waters in their communities. Although these rules
were a positive step in the right direction, the state’s
Texas Office proposed nomination process was clearly too
PO Box 563 complicated and cumbersome for regular Mississippi
Liberty, TX 77575 citizens to get involved in the process. In response,
Phone: 713-906-3940 GRN and our partners and allies joined together to
push the state to adopt a process that would truly
Email: [email protected]
allow the public to get involved in protecting waters
in their communities.
Courtesy of Roger Smith
Despite the wave of letters, emails and public
comments supporting an easier nomination process, the Mississippi Department of Environmental
www.healthygulf.org Quality (MDEQ) did not budge an inch. In fact, they completely ignored the public’s comments and
released the rules without a single change! This is yet another example of the state of Mississippi favoring
the whims of big, polluting industries over the will of concerned citizens and the health of rivers and
creeks in the state. In response to this outrageous breach of the public trust, GRN and our allies
GRN Healthy Waters registered our complaints with MDEQ officials and will continue to push for a streamlined process for
Program Staff nominating Outstanding waters.

Florida: Joe Murphy

Nonetheless, the fact that the state has finally moved to develop a nomination process is a step in the
352-583-0870 or
[email protected] right direction, and we commend MDEQ for this action. In the coming weeks, MDEQ will be releasing
more detailed instructions on the nomination process. As the details of this process unfold, we will be
Mississippi: working with community partners, and members and activists like you, to protect the health of
Casey DeMoss Roberts Mississippi’s most outstanding waters and the families, communities, and wildlife which rely on them. If
504-525-1528 x 205 or you would like to help nominate a waterbody in your community, please contact Raleigh Hoke at (504)
[email protected] 525-1528, ext. 204 or by email at [email protected]. 
Raleigh Hoke
504-525-1528 x 204 or Is Cleaner Water in Florida’s Future? (continued from page 1)
[email protected] While the U.S. EPA process is not perfect, it is a great step in the right direction to ensure that, after
almost 40 years since its passage, the Clean Water Act may mean something in Florida when it comes to
Louisiana: Matt Rota nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.
504-525-1528 x 206 or
[email protected] Gulf Restoration Network played a critical and essential role recently in turning out concerned citizen to
a series of public hearings on the new EPA water quality goals and standards. Working with our partners
Texas: including the Sierra Club, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, Clean Water Network of Florida, St. Johns
Ellis Pickett Riverkeeper, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and others, we organized Floridians across the state
713-906-3940 or to attend these hearings and be a voice for clean water. Due to the large amount of interest at these
[email protected] hearings, EPA has added more hearings in Florida during the week of April 12, and has extended the
comment deadline to April 28.

Our work continues on as we encourage Floridians who swim, paddle, fish, hunt, snorkel, dive, sail, or
surf to contact the EPA and urge them to move forward with meaningful water quality protections in
Florida. Future generations of Floridians deserve no less.