Update 8/15/02
The permit was delayed another 6 months. We were told that they would deny on August 1, 2002 if White had not completed the study. This did not happen. The new issue/deny date is Feb 1, 2003. It is my belief that they will issue. Mr. White has been required to do some studies, but basically DEP is saying mines don't pollute so we believe they intend to issue. We talked to the Governor last Wednesday and he conferred with his big wigs at DEP. General consensus was that mines don't pollute. They didn't think is was a good idea to have a mine that close to a park or spring, but that there was no state legislation to stop it, therefore, if the mine is stopped it will have to be at a local level.
On the local level...There is new proposed mining regulation. The first hearing will be on September 17th at 6:30 pm in Bronson. If the regs are put in place, there will not be a mine at Manatee. Two of the commissioners pushed to place a two mile buffer around Manatee and Fanning Springs with an additional study done by a hydrogeologist prior to issue of a permit in the spring basin. So far the vote is 2 to 2 for and against. There is a swing vote and we don't know his opinion. I am going to try to meet with him next week. There was supposed to be another workshop, but one of the bully county commissioners said that we have wasted enough time and voted to have the hearing right away. we have been going nuts trying to get the FGS to make a stand about Manatee and buy White's property. We have also been spending a lot of time with the local politicians trying to change their minds. The Manatee/Fanning basin study is progressing and even though they said otherwise at the beginning of the process, SRWMD has found that ground flow is going toward Manatee Springs almost 6 miles north of the spring (10 months ago we were told by BOMR and SRWMD that the water flow from White's Feed Lot IS DEFINITELY going to the river--not to the spring). It appears that their study is showing different information. There is a new "protect Manatee Springs" brochure available from DEP.
Annette Long - Cheifland Florida