Below is draft of letter being sent to Florida cabinet who will
decide Jan.
25 whether to buy the Kirby mines. Please write to them to let them
know how
you feel. Below the letter are their addresses and their cabinet aides
fax
numbers. Letters should arrive before the cabinet aide meeting on Jan.
19.
Please write as this is an expecially important issue for our club.
Dear Gov. Bush and cabinet members,
This letter is to inform you of Sierra Clubs position re the purchase
of the
Ichetucknee trace mines, also referred to collectively as the Kirby
mines in
Columbia County. As Sierra has been a long term member of the Ichetucknee
Springs Working group , we have strongly endorsed the purchase of this
mine.
We have to wonder, however, what other mines are putting this system
at risk.
We also have to wonder what purchasing this mine and then replacing
it with
an even bigger one, within two miles of the Springs, will accomplish
The fact that these mines need to be purchased is a prime example of
how
inadequate the mining regulations are in this state. As no hydrogeologic
studies are required by the state prior to granting a permit to mine
limerock, we have no idea as to what threats other mines pose to our
Florida
waterways and acquifer.
We also have problems with the price that has been discussed for the
purchase. The initial price suggested by DEP of 5 million dollars seems
much
more reasonable.
When Secretary Struhs announced to us that the department had reached
an
agreement with the Anderson Company over the issuance of an air permit
and
that now the company would be much more environmentally sensitive,
we were
skeptical. The fact that the company has linked this mine purchase,
at such
an exorbitant price, to the issuance of the air permit makes us even
more
skeptical. We challenge them to prove to us that their intentions have
sincerely changed by unlinking the two.
In summary, the Sierra Club continues in its support of purchase of
this mine
but strongly urges it be unlinked to the issuance of an air permit
to
Suwannee American cement plant. The club also thinks the price is exorbitant.
We also strongly urge you to direct DEP to bring back recommendations
for
controlling limerock mining adequately so that we do not have to use
precious
land preservation dollars to buy a mine again.
Yours truly,
Kathleen Cantwell, MD
Conservation chair
Suwannee-St.Johns Sierra club
The Honorable Katherine Harris, Secretary of State
Department of State
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
(850) 414-5500
Office of Cabinet Affairs (850) 414-5534
fax 850- 922-5763
The Honorable Bob Butterworth, Attorney General
Department of Legal Affairs
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
(850) 487-1963
Office of Cabinet Affairs (850) 487-1963
fax 850-487-2564
The Honorable Robert F. Milligan, Comptroller
Department of Banking and Finance
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0350
(850) 487-0370
Office of Cabinet Affairs (850) 410-9780
fax 850-410-9027
The Honorable Bill Nelson, Commissioner & Treasurer
Department of Insurance
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0300
850-922-3106
Office of Cabinet Affairs (850) 413-2824
fax 850- 488-7265
The Honorable Bob Crawford, Commissioner
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0810
(850) 488-3022
Office of Cabinet Affairs (850) 488-9786
fAX 850-414-9778
The Honorable Tom Gallagher, Commissioner
Department of Education
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
(850) 487-1785
Office of Cabinet Affairs (850) 488-0080
fax 850-488-1492
Gov. Bush fax 850-488-9578