$1.2 Billions dollars to the State?!

I easily signed up to receive email Press Release's for the State of Florida and this one came in just yesterday and found it to be a positive one. 

$1.2 billion dollars sounds like a lot of money to deal with so it was good to see what the budget was going to be with this money and where it would be distributed. 

Biggest budget plan will go towards restoring waterways and water supply at 269.5 million, and the smallest budget here will go towards State Park Improvements  I think Governor Rick Scott made a good outline on what would be best for the State knowing that at this point ensuring our waterways and water supply are at it's best.

*Not my personal material*

GOVERNOR SCOTT'S BUDGET RECOMMENDS $1.2 BILLION TO PROTECT AND RESTORE FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENT

~Funding for Everglades, springs and land conservation~

TALLAHASSEE – Today, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. applauds Governor Rick Scott’s environmental priorities within his Florida Families First FY2013/2014 budget. The $1.2 billion budget will include support for restoration projects in the Everglades, springs water quality improvements and the purchase of conservation land. The budget places a priority on projects that protect and renew our waterbodies in line with the Department’s emphasis on getting the water right.

“By requesting more than a billion dollars to continue our pursuit of robust environmental protection, Governor Scott clearly understands that the future of Florida depends on its natural resources,” said Secretary Vinyard. “This funding will restore water quality in the Everglades, rejuvenate our springs and provide a clean environment for all Floridians.”

Proposed budget items include:

$60 million to fund the Governor’s Everglades Water Quality Plan and continuing funding for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.Governor Scott has doubled the amount of money spent on Everglades Restoration in FY2012/2013. Scott’s leadership turned this historic undertaking into a reality. The plan builds upon a $1.8 billion investment in Everglades water quality improvements. The budget includes design, engineering and construction of flood control projects to enhance water quality and ensure a reliable water supply for southern Floridians and the numerous species that thrive in the area.         

$269.5 million for restoring waterways and water supply. This will ensure the future supply by improving on the water quality regulations for springs, lakes, rivers and estuaries. The FY2013/2014 budget commits an increase of $6.5 million for springs restoration. Additionally, the budget will support the practical application of the water quality criteria by endorsing wastewater treatment facility construction, drinking water facility construction, and water quality planning. Under Governor Scott’s leadership, the department doubled the amount of money spent in the previous three fiscal years on the state’s springs and developed more water quality criteria last year than in any year in the last decade.

$75 million for Florida Forever. The budget recommends $50 million in budget authority from the proceeds of the sale of surplus state lands. Governor Scott identified an additional $25 million from General Revenue for the purchase of conservation lands needed for springs protection, military buffering or water resource protection. This investment helps ensure Floridians can enjoy our natural treasures.

$25 million for beach erosion control. This new commitment will help restore and maintain Florida’s sandy beaches that provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors each year. The local governments responsible for the state’s most valuable and recognizable natural resource will benefit from state assistance for beach and dune restoration, beach nourishment, inlet sand bypassing and regional sediment management.

$19 million for state park improvements. This money will provide an opportunity to enhance the amenities throughout Florida’s vast state park system. Governor Scott proposed an increase of $6 million to the FY2012/2013 budget to continue Florida’s tradition of the nation’s best park systems.

For additional details on the Governor’s recommended Florida Families First FY2013/2014 budget, visit www.floridafamiliesfirst.com.

Silver Springs Attraction Made Into State Park

This past month in January I was able to visit the Silver Springs Attraction with a couple friends that were visit from out of the country. They were amazed at the natural beauty that was found just 20 minutes from my home. For them is was nice coming from a big and very busy city to a nice park that just showed off the areas natural beauty. We were able to even ride the famous glass bottom boat. 

I find that having park like this connected to the Silver River State Park is phenomenal in the sense that it is a natural preserved place. This article that was realized this past week was a great read in knowing that now the Silver Spring Attraction has become park of the Florida State Parks, which allows the FPEP to step and take action in keeping our spring and river waters clean!

*Not my personal material*

[Obtained from website: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/FLDEP-686207]

Making Silver Springs Attraction a state park allows the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to continue its water quality work in the springs basin.

"TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, today approved the modification of a lease agreement between Palace Entertainment and the state of Florida, allowing the property to become part of Florida's state park system on Oct. 1.

Palace Entertainment's lease to manage the Silver Springs Attraction ran until Dec. 31, 2029. Through negotiations with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the state has secured $4 million in work by Palace Entertainment in order to restore the property to its natural condition, as originally intended by the Board of Trustees. Palace Entertainment will continue to manage the property until Sept. 30 and during that time the Silver Springs Attraction will be open.

"We are pleased that the Governor and Cabinet have decided to approve this agreement so that the Department can return the property closer to its natural state, involve the community in recreation opportunity decisions and continue our efforts of improving water quality in Silver Springs, one of Florida's most iconic treasures," said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr.

The Department will begin implementing the Interim Facilities and Operations Planthat was presented to the public Jan. 14 by the Florida Park Service. The long term unit management plan, which is required by Florida Statutes, is anticipated to be completed by September 2014.

“Florida’s 171 state parks, trails and historic sites are pleased to welcome the Silver Springs property into our family of resource-based recreation areas and historic and cultural sites,” said Donald Forgione, DEP’s Florida Park Service Director. “We look forward to working with Palace Entertainment during the transition and to opening the gates on Oct. 1 as a state park.”

Turning the property into a state park is another step the Department has taken to restore Silver Springs. Also Wednesday, the Department's Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration held the first meeting to finalize a basin management action plan for Silver Springs -- the first such restoration plan to reduce nitrates affecting the springs. Department research and monitoring led to designating Silver Springs and the Upper Silver River as impaired for nitrate, a form of nitrogen that causes excessive algae growth in the spring system. 

Last November, the Department finalized the total maximum daily load or, in this case, the maximum acceptable concentration of nitrate, at 0.35 milligrams per liter. This is the same restoration target that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has adopted for springs — based on the Department’s data — and that has been upheld in both state and federal courts. Meeting the restoration target will protect aquatic life and bring the system back into balance.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection expanded its efforts to restore Silver Springs last July, committing more than $1 million to water quality improvement projects.

The Department, Marion County and the St. Johns River Water Management Districthave identified the first project to benefit from this funding, committing $300,000, $300,000 and $100,000, respectively, toward the project. The project will eliminate a wastewater discharge from the Silver Springs Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is within 1.5 miles of the main boil of Silver Springs. It will redirect wastewater to the Silver Springs Shores Wastewater Treatment Plant, which provides higher level treatment and is 10 miles from the head spring. 

In a subsequent phase of the project, a series of small “package” wastewater treatment plants also will be connected to the central facility, which will provide better treatment and reduce pollution. Implementation of these actions collectively will eliminate more than two tons of nitrogen currently going into the Silver Springs system every year."

Where Can I Start to Help?

To start off this blog I want to give a bit of back round of what environmental justice is according to www.epa.gov and also just give you guys a few places to browse to know where you can start to help!

"Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work." - www.epa.gov

Environmental justice is very important for every individual to just keep in mind. By recognizing what we can to do to help our communities, we can better protect our environment and ourselves in our everyday lives. 

I was also able to log on and check out what other sites were supporting environmental justice and I found the Natural Resource Defense Council ( NRDC) and I was so intrigued about what I as an individual am able to do. 

I clicked on a section called ACT NOW and it took me to another page that showed me ways that I would be able to help now by simply filling out my information and sending a pre-written message to the needed correspondents. 

I will go more in depth about personal issues that really touch me personally but I just wanted to inform you guys what websites I've decided to connect with and share with my family and friends. 

Stay involved,

Melanie 

Introduction

Hello readers! This blog will be dedicated for my Environmental Science class for Spring 2013. It will be geared towards environmentaljustice and innovative energy. Also I will be posting some of my interesting labs that I will be doing also with my Environmental Science Lab course.

I have always been a very environmentally conscious person but within the past year I have been much informed about what is going on. I was very excited to do this blog because I have been an avid blogger for the past several years and this was just one more very fun part of this class.



Thank you for your time and I'm looking forward to this project with this class!



Feel free to read, and stop by again.


Cheers,

Melanie