Update - 6 February 2002

The first workshop for the new mining regulations in Levy County was held yesterday.  There was a good turnout, but the mining and agricultural interests paid their employees to be present.  The "for" group was about 50/50 of about 300.

Nothing was decided.  The opposition was vocal and hostile.  There are going to be some changes made to the sand mining and the definition of "small scale" mining (two of the commissioners thought that 1000 cubic feet of dirt wasn't that much so they asked to make it a higher threshold to "small scale".

Mr. White was represented at the meeting by his accountant.  Two other mining companies were represented.  Most of the opposition came from farmers who resented the restrictions on their land use.  They did not ask the building department to change the distance prohibitions but they were discussed at length.

The next workshop will be held on March 5th at 6:30 pm.  at the Levy County Courthouse in Bronson.  I hope we can get more folks to the meeting so we will outnumber the miners.  

NEW FROM Tallahassee.  Sentator Rod Smith (Gainesville) has proposed a bill (yesterday) that would make and "industry free" zone around all of the state parks in Florida.  I am not sure what it will do, but please write or e-mail your senator in support of this legislation.  It would stop a pit at Manatee Springs as well as some other practices that negatively effect many of our state parks (Wakulla Springs and Orange City Blue specifically).

Annette Long - 6 Feb 2002