Florida DEP

ROCK MINE UPDATE: DeSantis vows Southland project won’t hurt EAA reservoir

October 23, 2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Martin County Tuesday to talk about python hunting, but briefly addressed the proposed Southland “Water Resource Project” (rock mine) in response to a reporter’s question. “Our Department of Environmental Protection is not going to allow…

Legal challenge filed to halt Big Sugar’s rock mine

August 13, 2025

The Florida DEP planned to issue an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) for the first phase of the Southland Water Resource Project project this week; but on Monday the Everglades Law Center filed a legal challenge to halt the project, acting…

Change at the top at FDEP – and that could spell trouble

November 14, 2024

You might have seen the news last week that Florida DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton was stepping down; he’ll be replaced by Alexis Lambert, chief of staff of the state’s division of bond finance since 2018. There’s speculation that Hamilton’s departure…

‘Parksgate’ fiasco demands an investigation

September 5, 2024

By now you may know the name of James Gaddis, the Florida DEP whistleblower who leaked the plan to “develop” Florida’s state parks. Gaddis, as you probably also know, was fired by FDEP for revealing the plan, which Gov. Ron…

Update: D-Day for FL state parks pushed back, no meetings Tuesday Aug. 27

August 23, 2024

Update: As of 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has POSTPONED all public meetings around the state on its “Great Outdoors Initiative” and hopes to reschedule them the week of Sept. 2 at larger venues,…

Want to challenge an environmental decision in Florida? It could cost you

December 14, 2023

With weeks to go before the Florida Legislative session even begins, a solid contender for “Worst Bill of the Year” has entered the fray. And you know that’s going to be a crowded field. Gaze upon House Bill 789 and…

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