Via the Everglades Foundation on the 5th –
The Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg today issued the following statement hailing this afternoon’s approval by the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee of revised Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), which sets forth a science-based process to identifying land needed for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.
“Revisions to Senate Bill 10 have removed opponents’ objections to this bill and we believe this legislation is not only positioned for ultimate passage, but also for delivering positive impact on the restoration of America’s Everglades.
“Under revisions to the legislation by Senator Bradley and Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Jack Latvala, the legislation provides for science to decide which lands, public and private, will be used for the reservoir project. We thank them both for their tireless efforts.
“Further, refinements to the legislation also include a package of economic development measures to benefit the Glades communities, where unemployment is a major concern. The legislation will give job preferences to local agricultural workers to work on the project, while also including jobs training and infrastructure improvements.
“As the largest organization devoted to the restoration of America’s Everglades, we thank Senate President Joe Negron for his unwavering dedication to restoring the Everglades and reducing harmful pollution east and west by storing, cleaning and sending water south to the Florida Keys.”
It’s a start.
