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popular pagesLake Worth might hire lobbyist for permit push
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 01, 2007
LAKE WORTH — Fearing that a state agency will not issue a permit that would allow the dumping of millions of gallons of nutrient-laden water near a pristine coral reef, the city is seeking to hire a law firm to lobby for the permit.
Commissioners will be asked Tuesday to approve hiring Tallahassee-based Hopping Green and Sams to help "persuade" the state Department of Environmental Protection to issue the permit.
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Hopping Green and Sams specializes in public sector environmental and land-use law, according to its Web site.
Lake Worth initiated the reverse osmosis drinking water process five years ago to provide an alternative water source and relieve its coastal well fields, which are threatened by salt-water intrusion.
Scientists, divers and marine ecologists have strongly objected to city plans to dump a byproduct of the process, reverse osmosis concentrate, through the city's 92-foot deep sewage outfall pipe. The pipe extends almost to Horseshoe Reef, one of the area's premiere diving locales about a mile offshore.
While opponents say that nutrients in the concentrate will cause algae blooms that will destroy the reef, city officials have maintained the reef will not be harmed.
Mayor Jeff Clemens is not sure whether he'll support hiring a law firm to pursue the permit, which can be costly and time-consuming, he said.
Clemens and other commissioners recently met with Utility Director Samy Faried to discuss the outfall permit and other possible alternatives to getting rid of the concentrate, including very costly deep-well injection.
At that time, Clemens learned that the Department of Environmental Protection may not approve the permit, he said.
"I think they've really put Lake Worth in a difficult position," Clemens said of the department. "There was every indication that the DEP knew that this outfall would not have any impact on the environment, and they've switched positions ... and that means we have spent several millions of dollars without gaining any benefit from it."
Clemens said if the South Florida Water Management District and DEP had a cohesive plan for addressing alternative water solutions, it might prevent small municipalities from getting entangled in such controversies.
Jack Long, the DEP Southeast District director, said a final decision on the permit is expected in the next three to four weeks.
He would not elaborate on what the decision would be or what the DEP has told Lake Worth about issuing the permit.
Ed Tichenor, director of Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, which has led the fight against the permit, said he hopes the DEP has started to rethink how it manages coral reef systems.
"Coral reefs in Florida and across the world are in trouble, and you can't take chances with them anymore like we did in the past," he said.
Some have suggested the city dump the concentrate into the Lake Worth Lagoon, which has undergone massive restoration efforts, or extend the pipe farther from the reef.
None of those options has been seriously considered and would be far more expensive.
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Comments
By Drew Martin
Sep 2, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
The reefs off Lake Worth provide protection from storm surge and are the home of many of our coastal fish. To lose these reefs would hurt our tourist market and our dive business. It would also hurt the sport and commercial fishing interests. A Mangrove Estuary would provide additonal habitat to fish and baby turtles. The city does not need to waste its resources on hiring expensive lobbyists and attorneys.
By Teacher
Sep 1, 2007 5:31 PM | Link to this
Trixie,
No. You don't understand the issue. I was at all the meetings, and I had lengthy discussions with several of the scientists. The fact is that you CANNOT add additional NITRATES into waters that already have elevated levels of numerous nutrients including NITRATES. Wake up and study your science. Lake Worth has options, the trouble is they have not, nor do they intend to, study them. The use of mangroves in the lagoon is the classic example. My goodness! Third world countries use mangroves successfully. Are we saying that good old Lake Worth can't use the same technologies found in 3rd world countries? Also, Lake Worth data comes from paid scientists who stand to gain financially if the nutrient laden water is allowed to flow. I small inbreeding.... Trixie don't try to muddy the waters. Science is cleary winning this battle.
By Common sense
Sep 1, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
Trixie, after a several year battle with Delray and faced with irrefutable evidence of damage to the reef from their outfall they have agreed to shut it down. Ammonia, naturally occurring or not is poison to a coral reef. The reason Lake Worth wants to use the reef as a dump site is strictly financial. Most towns in the county have RO systems. Only Lake Worth wants to dump on the reef for profit. Give up this futile attempt and hookup to county water and while you are at it get rid of your archaic electrical utility.
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
By Citizen whoUsesWater
Sep 1, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Commissioners Should ALL BE FIRED for Hiring Lobyist to destroy the Reef for Their BRAIN DEAD Benefit.
ENOUGH BULLS....- on cleaning up polluted Florida and
the Everglades Too !!!
Skip the Business as Usual Junk !!
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