Everglades partners and Florida Congressman join us in raising concerns over the potential impact of the proposed Southland Rock Mine.
On Tuesday, we stood before the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners to raise a critical question: Are they willing to shoulder the liability of approving a project that could impact Everglades Restoration, prior to that project being fully vetted?
The Southland rock mine project, slated for a vote on May 22nd, is located within about a thousand feet of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir—the crown jewel of Everglades restoration and the most vital project in reducing harmful discharges to our coasts.
Backed by Big Sugar, the project has been proposed under the guise of a beneficial “water resource project,” but fundamentally, it’s a proposal to mine hundreds of millions of dollars of limestone aggregate on 8,600 acres in the heart of the natural Everglades flow path.
Why the rush when so much risk?
The controversial proposal has been scurrying through the approvals process for the past few months, but the thing is, the project hasn’t been fully evaluated by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), a requirement of the Palm Beach County Comprehensive Plan.
And with the proposed mine site within a stone’s throw of the EAA Reservoir, if the commissioners approve this mine without a full analysis, they’re essentially greenlighting decades of blasting and excavation next to the very project meant to protect our estuaries and drinking water.
Why are we letting Big Sugar’s interests dictate a project that could jeopardize the EAA Reservoir and our water? The reservoir is a $4 billion taxpayer-funded project meant to protect our beaches, estuaries, and drinking water for millions of Floridians. Why take that gamble without knowing the full impact of decades of blasting right next door?
Our Message to the PBC Commissioners
During the meeting, our Co-founder Capt. Chris Wittman urged the commissioners to delay the vote until the water management district could complete their analysis and risk assessments. The EAA Reservoir wasn’t designed under the assumption it would need to withstand decades of nearby blasting and excavation.
So, approving this project—particularly through such a hurried process—would mean taking on significant liability for any damage that could occur as a result.
“The real question here is, if this commission votes to move forward and give the go-ahead for those mining practices prior to the analysis and risk assessment by the Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, who will shoulder the responsibility?” Wittman asked. “Who will carry the liability, should a $4 billion project begin to leak and become unusable?”
Are the Palm Beach County Commissioners willing to take on that sort of extreme liability?
Shared concerns
We aren’t the only ones with these concerns. Several other partner organizations also voiced their similar objections during the meeting, including a letter from the Everglades Coalition—an alliance of nearly 60 organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring America’s Everglades.
Also, on the very same day, Congressman Brian Mast, a Representative from Florida’s 21st District, sent a letter to Major General Jason Kelly of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who oversees the federal arm of Everglades Restoration, including construction of the EAA Reservoir.
Congressman Mast echoed our concerns, urging the Army Corps to assess the potential impacts of the rock mine project on Everglades restoration.
Mast’s letter highlighted the substantial federal investment in the EAA Reservoir and questioned whether decades of blasting and excavation next door could jeopardize the integrity of a project meant to protect our waters.
“Given the proximity to the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and other Everglades restoration infrastructure, into which the federal government has invested hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, I believe it is critical that the Army Corps ensure that this proposed project will not put that work at risk,” Mast wrote.
He specifically asked the Army Corps to provide a comprehensive impact report detailing how the blasting could affect the reservoir, requesting information on things like Peak Particle Velocity from the anticipated blasting.
What’s next?
Are we really willing to put a project that protects our water and coastlines at risk just to rush through a decision that benefits private special interests?? Is Palm Beach County ready to accept the responsibility of their decision should they move to approve the project?
We’ll find out soon. The vote with the full Board of Palm Beach County Commissioners is still scheduled for May 22nd, and we’re going to keep showing up, raising our voices, and fighting to protect the progress on our movement.
Stay tuned and stay engaged—this fight isn’t over yet and we’re going to need your voice soon.
Everglades partners and Florida Congressman join us in raising concerns over the potential impact of the proposed Southland Rock Mine.
On Tuesday, we stood before the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners to raise a critical question: Are they willing to shoulder the liability of approving a project that could impact Everglades Restoration, prior to that project being fully vetted?
The Southland rock mine project, slated for a vote on May 22nd, is located within about a thousand feet of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir—the crown jewel of Everglades restoration and the most vital project in reducing harmful discharges to our coasts.
Backed by Big Sugar, the project has been proposed under the guise of a beneficial “water resource project,” but fundamentally, it’s a proposal to mine hundreds of millions of dollars of limestone aggregate on 8,600 acres in the heart of the natural Everglades flow path.
Why the rush when so much risk?
The controversial proposal has been scurrying through the approvals process for the past few months, but the thing is, the project hasn’t been fully evaluated by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), a requirement of the Palm Beach County Comprehensive Plan.
And with the proposed mine site within a stone’s throw of the EAA Reservoir, if the commissioners approve this mine without a full analysis, they’re essentially greenlighting decades of blasting and excavation next to the very project meant to protect our estuaries and drinking water.
Why are we letting Big Sugar’s interests dictate a project that could jeopardize the EAA Reservoir and our water? The reservoir is a $4 billion taxpayer-funded project meant to protect our beaches, estuaries, and drinking water for millions of Floridians. Why take that gamble without knowing the full impact of decades of blasting right next door?
Our Message to the PBC Commissioners
During the meeting, our Co-founder Capt. Chris Wittman urged the commissioners to delay the vote until the water management district could complete their analysis and risk assessments. The EAA Reservoir wasn’t designed under the assumption it would need to withstand decades of nearby blasting and excavation.
So, approving this project—particularly through such a hurried process—would mean taking on significant liability for any damage that could occur as a result.
“The real question here is, if this commission votes to move forward and give the go-ahead for those mining practices prior to the analysis and risk assessment by the Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, who will shoulder the responsibility?” Wittman asked. “Who will carry the liability, should a $4 billion project begin to leak and become unusable?”
Are the Palm Beach County Commissioners willing to take on that sort of extreme liability?
Shared concerns
We aren’t the only ones with these concerns. Several other partner organizations also voiced their similar objections during the meeting, including a letter from the Everglades Coalition—an alliance of nearly 60 organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring America’s Everglades.
Also, on the very same day, Congressman Brian Mast, a Representative from Florida’s 21st District, sent a letter to Major General Jason Kelly of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who oversees the federal arm of Everglades Restoration, including construction of the EAA Reservoir.
Congressman Mast echoed our concerns, urging the Army Corps to assess the potential impacts of the rock mine project on Everglades restoration.
Mast’s letter highlighted the substantial federal investment in the EAA Reservoir and questioned whether decades of blasting and excavation next door could jeopardize the integrity of a project meant to protect our waters.
“Given the proximity to the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and other Everglades restoration infrastructure, into which the federal government has invested hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, I believe it is critical that the Army Corps ensure that this proposed project will not put that work at risk,” Mast wrote.
He specifically asked the Army Corps to provide a comprehensive impact report detailing how the blasting could affect the reservoir, requesting information on things like Peak Particle Velocity from the anticipated blasting.
What’s next?
Are we really willing to put a project that protects our water and coastlines at risk just to rush through a decision that benefits private special interests?? Is Palm Beach County ready to accept the responsibility of their decision should they move to approve the project?
We’ll find out soon. The vote with the full Board of Palm Beach County Commissioners is still scheduled for May 22nd, and we’re going to keep showing up, raising our voices, and fighting to protect the progress on our movement.
Stay tuned and stay engaged—this fight isn’t over yet and we’re going to need your voice soon.