

Jerry Phillips, JD, Director
P.O. Box 14463
Tallahassee, FL 32317
phone: (850) 877-8097
jphillips@peer.org/flpeer@peer.org
Barry Sulkin, Technical Consultant
4443 Pecan Valley Road
Nashville, TN 37218
phone: (615) 255-2079
sulkin@hughes.net
From the southern Appalachian mountains to the beautiful sandy beaches of Florida, to the rich, diverse ecosystems of the Gulf Coast, the Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States supports a wide range of industries, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and recreation. But the fragile environment in these areas is weakening and under attack, an attack often advanced by government agencies and powerful interest groups. Our challenge is to right the ship to ensure that the area’s precious ecosystems are preserved for generations to come.
One area of focus for PEER is in Florida, where we are actively engaged in helping state and local employees do their jobs. These employees often find that they are marginalized, even blackballed, if they try to abide by the very laws that they are sworn to uphold. PEER’s work is focused on protecting these employees and shining a light on the government’s failure to do its job.
Unfortunately, an eroding of environmental and public health protections is common not only in Florida, but throughout the entire region, and at all levels of government. If these trends are not changed, the destruction of the region’s fragile environment and its natural resources- will continue, ultimately causing a continued die-off of wildlife, more polluted waters, poorer health outcomes, and a weaker economy.
NEWS FROM FLORIDA
Florida Panther Deaths Set Another Record in 2015
70% Killed in Collisions; Nearly One-Quarter Females of Kitten-Bearing Age
Florida Manatees Get Scrooged for the Holidays
Chamber of Commerce Pressures Delay of Manatee “Swim-With” Safeguards
New Manatee Safeguards Need to Be Strengthened
Inadequate Enforcement Unless Refuge Adopts Video Monitoring System
Everglades Python Hunt Would Set Terrible Precedent
Publicity Stunt Not Expected to Reduce Exotic Snake Population in National Park
Florida Environmental Enforcement – How Low Can It Go?
Slight Uptick in 2014 Continues Precipitous Across-the-Board Enforcement Decline
Manatee Harassment Rampant on Refuges
“Out-of-Hand” Disturbances, Enforcement Overwhelmed, Visitor Education Failing
Scott’s Climate Change Gag Order Claims a Victim
DEP Employee Reprimanded, Suspended and Ordered to Get Mental Exam
New Manatee Protection Lawsuit in the Works
End of “Swim-With” Programs, Plus Expansion of Habitat and Sanctuaries Sought
Record Florida Panther Mortality in 2014
50% Increase over Prior Year; More Than a Third Females of Kitten-Bearing Age
Accountability & the Park Service – Like Oil and Water
Canaveral Seashore Probe Finds Fraud, Nepotism & Mismanagement but No Action
Florida Pollution Fines Collected Fell by Half Last Year
Failure to Collect Starves Eco-Programs, Shifting Costs from Polluter to Taxpayer
Major Florida Wastewater Violators Go Unpunished
Many Million Gallon/Day Dischargers Remain in Noncompliance for Years
Florida Polluters Get off Scott-Free
Eco-Penalty Assessments Drop to All-Time Low: More Than Third Not Fined at All
Florida Pollution Enforcement Plummets to Record Low
Latest Enforcement Statistics Belie Scott Campaign Pledge to Get Tough on Polluters
New Park Director Faces First Test on Gulf Islands Road
Plan to Armor Road Requires Director to Set Aside Conservation Rules
Scott Environmental Success Claims Cut out of Whole Cloth
Astronomic 96% Compliance Boast False but Statistics Highlight Rising Dysfunction
Massive Beach Replenishments Killing Florida Reefs
State Drops Reef Protections on Beach Projects; Call for Federal Intervention
Record Manatee Deaths in 2013 on Surging Red Tides
Fatalities More than Double; Red Tide Deaths Equal Combined 8 Year-Total
Florida Pollution Enforcement in Paralysis
Cases and Fines Nosedive to Record Low Levels; Penalties Collected Fall 70%
EPA Drops Conflict-Of-Interest Probe of Top Florida Officials
EPA Let Vinyard Run out the Clock on Complaint without Determining Violation