The Amy H Remley Foundation  
   
     
 

The Amy H Remley Foundation

News Items


November 30, 2013

On environment, shortsightedness costs Florida big.

Scott Maxwell, Taking Names.

Let's say you're looking for a dental plan, and I offer you two choices.
You can either pay $25 a month for preventive care.
Or you can visit just once a year – and pay $1,000 to have the dentist fix everything in your mouth that went wrong.

Unless you're a shortsighted sucker, you're going to take the first deal, right?
Basic math shows you save a boatload of money. Plus, you avoid problems in the first place.
Unfortunately, you live in Florida – where shortsightedness rules. Especially when it comes to the environment.

click here to read more.


October 9, 2013

Fuel Cell Today analysis, October 9, 2013.

The Fuel Cell Industry Review 2013.

click here to read more.


September 25, 2013

Fuel Cell Today analysis, September 25, 2013.

The Potential for Fuel Cell Prime Power in Japan.

Bloom Energy was recently quoted by Bloomberg as saying the Japanese market for distributed prime power was primed “to adopt more power supply devices that can withstand disasters and complement services provided by utilities”; the article claimed this was a direct result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

click here to read more.


August 1, 2013

Duke Energy to cancel proposed Levy County nuclear plant

Tampa Bay Times.

As it turns out, they were all wrong.

Progress Energy insisted its proposed nuclear power plant in Levy County would provide low-cost energy for generations.

The Legislature promised again and again that a new law forcing customers to pay in advance for the Levy project would get the plant built faster and cheaper, even as the delays piled up and the price soared.

On Thursday, the big talk ended...

click here to read more.


May 22, 2013

Fuel Cell Today analysis, May 22, 2013.

Electrolysers for Renewable Energy Efficiency.

click here to read more.


March 13, 2013.

Beyond Electricity: Using Renewables Effectively.

Mention ‘renewable energy’ in general discussion, particularly in Europe, and people tend to think of the familiar poster children: wind and solar power. This reflects the main thrust of efforts to cut carbon, which is directed at cleaning up the electricity supply. Discussions around wind farms, nuclear power and the alternatives are so productive of dispute that it might be disconcerting for some proponents to realise that even if the electricity supply were completely decarbonised tomorrow, it would be substantially less than half the battle won – closer to a fifth, as it happens.

click here to read more.


September 24, 2012

Sewer Systems Legal Filing.

The first amended complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief was filed as amended on September 24, 2012.

click here to read the Legal Filing, Case No. 2012 CA 1479 A.


February 1, 2012

Fuel Cell Today update, February 1, 2012.

click here to read more.


January 13, 2012

Sewer Agenda.

By Norman Hopkins
published on page A13 of the Citrus County Chronicle, Friday 13 January 2012.

In all honesty, I did not know whether to criticize the reporter's placing of a lawyer's comment in prime position in her article or to praise her for not being so gullible as to report the "anecdote" he related to the commissioners. Of course, as the anecdote alleged, a chemical dye trace compound is not in any way analogous to the human waste which a septic system is designed to process and reduce its toxicity levels to environmentally acceptable ones...

click here to read more.


December 23, 2011

Scientist: Water account overdrawn.

By Chris Van Ormer, Staff Writer, Citrus County Chronicle Online

Extraction limits needed to protect precious resource for future sustainability in Florida.

click here to read more.


Novemver 14, 2011

Submission to the Citrus County Commissioner, 14 November, 2011.

This Foundation, following a City Council meeting on 13 June, 2011, was requested by a group of egregiously distressed property owners to conduct research and ascertain the facts leading to the assessments they had received from the County. (Dozens of County residents had appealed to the City Council against the City's sewer assessment charges to no avail - they had no vote in the City's game!)

click here to read more.


October 25, 2011

Letter dated 19 October 2011 entered into the Public Record at a meeting of the Citrus County BOCC.

The text of a letter sent to Citrus County on 19 October 2011 was entered to the Public Record at a meeting of the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners on 25 October, 2011

click here to read more.


October 9, 2011

Submission to the Citrus County Director of Water Resources for discussion on Wednesday 12 October, 2011.

I learned at the meeting held on 26 July, 2011, that there were two principal sources of stress, anxiety and anger manifest there by the County's constituent freeholders affected by the Interlocal Agreement between the County and the City dated August 11,2009.

  • The most egregious concerned the City of Crystal River being enriched by at least $1,452,200.00 at the freeholders' expense without just cause.

  • The next most egregious was their feeling of having been thrown to the City "wolves" by their Board of County Commissioners. (A profound distrust of the Interlocal Agreement engendered by its process).

  • It would follow, based upon the facts recited at A. and B. below, that the said Interlocal Agreement evidences infringement upon the property rights of the affected freeholders causing unjust gain to accrue to the parties acting as a cabal. (See items B.1,3, and 4).

The facts are:

click here to read more.


September 23, 2011

Response to the Governor's Office 23 September, 2011.

I accepted an invitation on June 13, 2011 to help a group of Citrus County freeholders affected by the expansion of sewer systems into areas of Citrus County. One of those freeholders has sent to me a copy of your letter dated September 1, 2011, addressed to a Ms. Edna Mattos (whom I have never met nor spoken with). (The Foundation of which I am a director assists the teaching of high school and College students in Environmental Science and educates the general public. It conducts research into a wide range of issues, although not usually as acutely focused as such a specific sewer project.) I am writing to you as the research we have done may be helpful to you....

click here to read more.


August 14, 2011

The future of our fresh water is in our hands.

Printed on page C1 of the Citrus County Chronicle.

The Crystal River/ Kings Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) – Final Approved Plan of July 10, 2000, on page 46, records a total spring flow into Kings Bay of 975 cfs or 630 million gallons a day (mgd). The same SWIM report describes how residence times of nutrients increase as flow rates decrease in drought conditions magnifying their impact upon biota of all kinds growing in the waters...

click here to read more.


July 28, 2011

Manatee Safety: Speed Zones in Kings Bay

Call for support for Manatee safety.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5215/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7682

The proposal (FWS-R4-ES-2010-0079) made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be found at:

http://www.fws.gov/policy/frsystem/opendocs.cfm


July 20, 2011

Fuel Cell Today Fortnightly Newsletter

With the battery-powered Nissan LEAF named Car of the Year 2011 and sales in the US and Japan already being counted in the thousands, supporters of fuel cell vehicles may be forgiven for feeling that a 2015 commercialisation date is a long way off...

click here to read more.


June 14, 2011

States Help Keep U.S. in Worldwide Fuel Cell Race

by Jennifer Gangi

A report just released: State of the States: Fuel Cells in America 2011 - it contains useful resources and information. Florida is selected as an up and coming state.

"Supportive state policies are helping foster fuel cell installations, company relocations and growth to help keep the U.S. at the forefront of fuel cell commercialization, despite competition from countries such as Japan, Korea, and Germany," says Jennifer Gangi, program director for Fuel Cells 2000 and one of the authors of the report. "Continued federal and state support is crucial to moving the emerging fuel cell industry into full-fledged commercialization for a wide variety of applications and power needs."

"State of the States: Fuel Cells in America 2011" features a foreword by Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy, details on all the fuel cell activity in the Top 5, the Up and Coming states, and the rest of the U.S. in each state listing, as well as more fuel cell resources in the Appendices. Download the report for free from: http://www.fuelcells.org/statereport.html.


May 9, 2011

RESTORE KINGS BAY… NOW

Special to the Chronicle
Michael G. Czerwinski, P.G., P.W.S.

IMAGINE for a moment a pristine, coastal, spring fed waterbody, with CRYSTAL clear water, white sandy or rocky bottom, and long strips of tape grass beds that appear to be waving in the breeze and the water literally bubbles with oxygen…

click here to read more.


March 20, 2011

Thorium Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy has a rival technology to build a safer, cleaner, and ultimately cheaper network of reactors based on thorium.

click here to read more.


February 24, 2011

Senate Bill 200

Citrus County Chronicle

Senator Mike Fasano was quoted in the Citrus County Chronicle of Thursday February 24, 2011, regarding state Senate Bill 200, as follows:

He [Sen. Fasano] also said he is the primary sponsor of Florida Senate Bill 200 to repeal provisions relating to cost recovery for siting, design, licensing and construction of new nuclear and integrated gasification combined cycle power plants...

click here to read more.


December 30, 2010

Levy County proposed nuclear facility

by Norman Hopkins

As of yesterday, Wednesday 29 December, 2008, in a ruling that could potentially affect every proposed nuclear facility in the country, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) has ordered Progress Energy Florida (PEF) to produce modeling data regarding the ecological impact of their proposed nuclear power plant in rural Levy County.

Progress Energy and the NRC relied on these models to determine the environmental impact of constructing a nuclear facility and to justify claims of minimal environmental impacts. The data from these models must be independently reviewed, or the results cannot be verified.

Progress Energy was given 20 days to coordinate the release of the data to the Interveners who will then have their experts review it for inadequacies. The ASLB must now rule on several other motions, including an attempt by Progress to have the environmental contention thrown out and a revised contention submitted to reflect the information contained in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

click here to read more.


November 1, 2010

Why keep on flogging a dead nuclear horse?

by Norman Hopkins

Text for submission to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission with respect to NUREG-1941.

click here to read.


October 27, 2010

Approval of Progress Energy's request for customer recovery of $163.6 million.

This link to the Ocala Star and Banner in today's issue B Section, www.ocala.com/article/20101026/ARTICLES/101029758/1402/NEWS conveys the report that,

The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved Progress Energy's request for customer recovery of $163.6 million to pay for repair to its Crystal River nuclear power plant and the utility's proposed Levy County plant. The 4-0 PSC vote will mean an average $5.53 per month cost increase to Progress Energy's more than 1.6 million Florida customers beginning in 2011.

This reporting substantiates my e-mail to the NRC of Monday 10/25/2010 11:48 AM asserting that the FPSC failed to sufficiently assess the business risk taken on by PEF in so far as it unfairly impacts the customers of PEF with cost increases instead of economies as advanced to the FPSC by PEF. Thus rendering unsafe the the reliance placed upon the FPSC order in the last paragraph of item 9.2 of the Draft NUREG - 1941 document. Not only has the determination of need been placed in jeopardy by the extended recession we suffer, but the demand increase postulated by PEF to occur within the 2016 time period to be met by nuclear power (2200 MW (e)) at the Levy plant site is rendered utterly impracticable and false.

These facts demand that PEF adopt a more speedy approach, at less cost and no hazard to health nor the environment as suggested in my earlier e-mail to you following the Crystal River DEIS review meeting on 23 September, 2010.

A copy of this is being addressed to the FPSC for consideration in course of the annual review mandated by them by order reported in Docket NO. 080148-EI ORDER NO. PSC-08-0518-FOF-EI ISSUED: August 12, 2008.

October 23, 2010

Further to news item on September 23, 2010.

Follow up to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission held review meeting in Crystal River on Thursday, 23 September 2010, of the LNP DEIS documentation.

click here to read more.


September 23, 2010

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission review meeting.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission held review meeting in Crystal River on Thursday, 23 September 2010, of the LNP DEIS documentation. Mr Hopkins addressed both the afternoon and evening meetings on behalf of the Foundation, and has submitted follow up information in a PDF file as invited by the NRC to do so by 27 October, 2010.

click here to read more.


September 16, 2010

The Florida LakeWatch Newsletter Vol 50 (2010).

The Gulf Coast Oil Spill

It has been five months since the explosion and fire on an offshore oil-drilling platform Deepwater Horizon on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico. Three months later, on August the 5th, BP pressure tested their latest attempt, the static kill cement plug and determined that it was a success and that no more oil would flow into the Gulf from the Deepwater Horizon well...

A New Prospective on Phosphorus Limitation.

While many scientists at Agencies and Universities across Florida and the nation look at ways to limit the amount of phosphorus entering our waterbodies, scientists at Arizona State University (ASU) are looking at phosphorus limitation on a much broader scale...

click here to read more.


July 29, 2010

Gulf of Mexico Has Long Been Dumping Site

An article by Campbell Robertson
published in the New York Times.

HOUMA, La. – Loulan Pitre Sr. was born on the Gulf Coast in 1921, the son of an oyster-man. Nearly all his life, he worked on the water, abiding by the widely shared faith that the resources of the Gulf of Mexico were limitless.

As a young Marine staff sergeant, back home after fighting in the South Pacific, he stood on barges in the gulf and watched as surplus mines, bombs and ammunition were pushed over the side.

click here to read more.


July 19, 2010

Update on oil disaster

Linda Young, Director,
Clean Water Network of Florida.

Dear Friends of Florida's waters:

I'm sure that each of you are doing the same thing I am, which is watching the television with bated-breath in hopes that the gushing hole in the Gulf of Mexico will soon cease to flow permanently. As we have been told, that will not be the end of this nightmare, but the end of the beginning. There is a tremendous amount of information available now, but the main problem that I have on a regular basis is figuring out what is credible and what is not. The news and information spans the spectrum between pure PR spin on the one hand to wild speculation on the other. This leaves many of us confused, discouraged and/or scared. What are we supposed to think?

click here to read more.


July 9, 2010

Update on oil disaster

Linda Young, Director,
Clean Water Network of Florida.

Dear Friends of Florida's waters:

It has been two weeks since I sent you an update on the oil disaster as perceived through my eyes, ears and nose. I have learned a lot in that time period and much has happened in terms of government action/inaction and of course to our waters and wildlife. It's hard to know where to start, so I'll just start and hope that it flows in a direction that makes sense to you.

click here to read more.


June 30, 2010

Keep up to date on the government Gulf oil disaster map.

Click on the link below and click "View Interactive Map" for the map:

http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/


June 16, 2010

Keep up to date on the latest Gulf oil disaster map.

This is an interactive map which will be continuously updated:

SERT GATOR (Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and Response)
http://map.floridadisaster.org/gator/


June 14, 2010

Report on oil disaster

Linda Young, Director,
Clean Water Network of Florida.

Dear Friends of Florida's waters:

This morning I attended the press conference at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) where Senator Bill Nelson gave the briefing. It was refreshing to hear a politician talk straight and tell the truth about what is happening (for a change). There is bad news and there is some encouraging news to share. I'll mix it up a bit, so you don't get too overwhelmed with the bad news.

click here to read more.


April 21, 2010

EPA Numeric Nutrient Criteria, (KBWG)

Kings Bay Working Group meeting.

April 21, 2010. At the Kings Bay Working Group meeting in Crystal River, Dr. Bob Knight of Wetland Solutions, Inc. presented material from a recent report on modeling ecosystems of twelve of Florida's major spring systems. In essence, the study qualified the work of Dr Odum conducted in the 1950's and emphasized the primary forcing agents of light and Nitrate concentrations.

Dr Gary Williams of SWFWMD spoke on the USEPA proposed numeric nutrient criteria, in which he observed upon the lower nitrate concentrations in Kings Bay (which meet the proposed EPA standard) compared to much higher concentrations in the Rainbow River (which exceed the proposed EPA standard), when the algae levels were much higher in Kings Bay than those experienced in the Rainbow River. SWFWMD advocates developing site specific nutrient criteria for springs rather than applying a single standard statewide. To read more from the SWFWMD full submission to USEPA. – click here


March 30, 2010

Sea grass protection tangled up in offshore oil drilling

Last year, we wrote about the mapping of an under-appreciated natural treasure: a 380,000-acre sea grass bed — the second-largest in the nation — off the coast of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

click here to read more.


February 8, 2010

Preserving Natural Resources

Appalled at vandalism of a cave, Emily Casey (a Withlacoochee Technical Institute science teacher) agreed with the Withlacoochee Forestry Center to encourage behavior change by education and an informative sign.

click here to read more.


November 14, 2009

Florida Springs Rally

Please see the attached Florida Springs Rally flyer. Although the event is three months from now, we are striving to inform the public early so they can mark February 16 on their calendars.

click here for more.


November 6, 2009

Hold polluters accountable for what they do to Florida waters

By David Guest, Special to the Times

click here to read more.


September 20, 2009

It is time to protect our water resources

by Don Cox, director Citrus 20/20, Inc.

click here to read more.


September 20, 2009

Saving our waters is going to take the strength of our collective willpower

by Gary Bartell, District 2 Citrus County Commissioner.

click here to read more.


September 20, 2009

Safe Drinking Water and Wastewater Disposal are Cornerstones of Civilization

by Cheryl Phillips, Chairwoman of the Water and Wastewater Authority, Past Chair of Citrus 20/20, Inc.

click here to read more.


September 20, 2009

Our Water, Our Future

by Dan Hilliard, Director of the Withlacoochee Area Residents (WAR), Inc.

click here to read more.


August 25, 2009

Groundwater Flows - a case study.

In the context of state and federal law, the case study addresses the sources of groundwater issuing from Kings Bay springs, using photolineament / fracture conduit assessments.

click here for the case study.


July 11, 2009

Florida Green Party Press Release re: Levy Nukes.

Green Party Granted Standing in Legal Challenge to Levy Nuclear Plant License Contentions in Petition to Intervene Ruled Admissible by Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel.

click here to read more.


June 7, 2009

Amy Remley Foundation opposes construction on Primerica site.

What is the public interest in half a road to nowhere at the risk to our jewel of the Nature Coast? Moreover, everything is set for taxpayers' millions to complete any "evacuation route".

click here to read more.


May 26, 2009

Brief for BOCC 26 May 09 – CRCP DA hearing DA-07-03.

I refer to the documents submitted on May 15, 2009, for the Public Record and information of the Commissioners, the salient points of which are as follows:

click here to read more.


May 11, 2009

Submissions on May 11, 2009, to the Citrus County Board of Commissioners, for the hearing on the proposed Crystal River Commons Developer's Agreement.

click here for the submission.

click here to view the PDF presentation.


April 2, 2009

Crystal River Commons Project Application.

The letter and the presentation were submitted for the attention of the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners on 2 April, 2009. Based upon the Crystal River Hydrogeology page (Education Section - Coastal Rivers - Crystal River - Hydrogeology).

click here for the letter.

click here to view the PDF presentation.


April 1, 2009

How waters get to our local springs.

Published in the Crystal River Current, Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Millions of years ago huge pressures pushed Florida into the light of day out of the ocean..

click here for the full article.


March 29, 2009

Review: ‘Paving Paradise’ by Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite illuminates failed no net loss wetlands policy.

Review by Susan Cerulean, Special to the Times.

What I didn't know about my first home, on St. Petersburg's southern tip, was that it was built on false premises..

click here for the full article.


March 24, 2009

The Amy H Remley Foundation has elected to join forces with the Florida Forever Coalition.

By resolution of the Board of Directors, The Amy H Remley Foundation elected to join forces with the Florida Forever Coalition.

Their website can be viewed at http://www.supportfloridaforever.org/,
a list of coalition supporters can be viewed at http://www.supportfloridaforever.org/supporters/.


March 9, 2009

Added testimony before Administrative Law Judge, re Levy County nuclear plants.

Added testimony before Administrative Law Judge, re Levy County nuclear plants, on behalf of the Amy H Remley Foundation and the Kings Bay Association.

click here for the full article.


March 2, 2009

Braidwood and Dresden Nuclear Power Plants cancer increases.

Braidwood and Dresden Nuclear Power Plants letter concerning incidence of cancer increases near nuclear plants in Illinois.

Click Here to view the original letter.


March 2, 2009

Testimony before Administrative Law Judge, re Levy County nuclear plants.

Testimony before Administrative Law Judge, re Levy County nuclear plants, on behalf of the Amy H Remley Foundation and the Kings Bay Association.

click here for the full article.


February 25, 2009

How to survive the coming century

So wrote Gaia Vince in Issue 2697 of the New Scientist magazine published on 25 February 2009. Various scientists' estimates were presented of the effect upon our planet of a four degree C. rise in temperature due to Climate Change.

Click Here to view the entire article, and review a map (click on, "1 more image") of the world showing various estimated physical changes that we should anticipate and plan for now.

No one knows exactly what this world will look like in 2099, but models provide insights into forced human population migrations and future power generation practices.


February 25, 2009

Nutrient cocktails create water woes

Remember? Lyngbya algae needs a cocktail of nutrients to grow...

click here for the full article.


February 21, 2009

Crystal River Commons Project

The following document is submitted for inclusion in the Public Record, additional information may be seen on this Foundation's website at Crystal River – Hydrogeology.

click here for the full article.


February 19, 2009

Florida: One big Ponzi scheme

Published in the Citrus County Chronicle - February 19, 2009, under “Florida: One big Ponzi scheme”
By CARL HIAASEN

click here for the full article.


February 1, 2009

Progress Energy Debacle

A good example of what has happened to the average rate payer for electricity provided by Progress Energy is found in our own most recent electric bill. As a family, we have been trying to conserve energy...

click here for the full article.


January 28, 2009

Lyngbya is growing problem

You see Lyngbya on the bottom of the water as it sleeps in winter time...

click here for the full article.


December 12, 2008

EU leaders reach new climate deal

EU leaders agree a package to fight global warming, but critics say concessions made to some nations will reduce its impact.

click here for the full article, or
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7778787.stm


December 11, 2008

Wind, water, and sun beats out biofuel, nuclear, and coal?

The best ways to improve energy security, mitigate global warming and reduce the number of deaths caused by air pollution are blowing in the wind and rippling in the water, not growing on prairies or glowing inside nuclear power plants, says Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford...

click here for the full article.


December 2, 2008

Making Progress.

published in the Citrus County Cronicle.

Comments on “Nuclear-generated power is not the way to go”. Page C4 Sunday, November 30, 2008. included...

click here for the full article.


November 30, 2008

Nuclear-generated power is not the way to go.

published in the Citrus County Cronicle.

Certainly, taxpayers must attend the meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, at the Crystal River Armory on Thursday, December 4th, and ask tough questions of that commission about the Progress Energy nuclear plants proposed for Levy County. Just as the lady featured in the banner position of Monday's CC Chronicle front page said we should (on page four).

click here for the full article.


October 28, 2008

The Flawed Economics of Nuclear Power.

Lester R. Brown. Earth Policy Institute, Plan B Update.

Over the last few years the nuclear industry has used concerns about climate change to argue for a nuclear revival. Although industry representatives may have convinced some political leaders that this is a good idea, there is little evidence of private capital investing in nuclear plants in competitive electricity markets. The reason is simple: nuclear power is uneconomical.

click here for the full article.


July 31, 2008

The future of Florida's springs isn't eternal.

published in the St Petersburg Times Thursday, July 31, 2008 as a guest column by Robert Knight and Sky Notestein.

click here for the full article.


July 15, 2008

Florida's Public Services Commission gives assent to the need for additonal generation of electricity.

In spite of overwhelming objections by members of the public and groups opposed to nuclear energy generation, the PSC assented to the case presented by Progress Energy that the need was evident at their meeting in Tallahassee on July 15, 2008. This paves the way for Progress Energy to pursue other regulatory conditions.

(see the Nuclear Energy page in the Alternative Energy section)


May 21, 2008

The need for the Progress Energy nuclear plants in Levy County.

On the need for the Progress Energy nuclear plants in Levy County, I spoke at the meeting on April 23rd., at the Plantation Inn in Crystal River and followed that with a more detailed written submission to the PSC. I am writing now as Director of the Amy H Remley Foundation and Director of the Kings Bay Association.

click here for the full article.


February 13, 2008

Development of Crystal River Commons.

This is the speech given February 7, 2008, before the Citrus County Planning and Development Review Board by Mrs. Renee McPheeters, Candidate for County Commissioner, District 1, Citrus County, Fl.

click here for the full article.


January 16, 2008

In the Trenches for Clean Water.

From: Saul Garlick, Global Policy Innovations Program.

Water, our most basic need, is poised to be the most baffling challenge of the 21st century. It is being ignored wantonly at a time when more than 1 million people per year die from its scarcity and contamination...

click here for the full article.


November 4, 2007

Comments on Withlacoochee Water Woes.

by Norman Hopkins, as printed in the Citrus County Chronicle, Sunday, November 4, 2007

I applaud and support Pricilla Watkins for speaking out in the CC Chronicle Commentary Sunday, October 21st, 2007. I attended those meetings of the WRWSA board and was appalled at the discussions there...

click here for the full article.


October 21, 2007

Withlacoochee Water Woes.

by Priscilla Watkins, president Homosassa River Alliance.
Published CC Chronicle Commentary Sunday, October 21st, 2007.

WATER WARS II?

THE OPENING SALVOS

Word began circulating in July that the St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD) had named our Withlacoochee River as one of its potential "alternative water supply" sources after 2013, although the Withlacoochee River lies entirely within the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). It was, and still remains, cause for high alarm...

click here for the full article.


October 15, 2007

'05 water bill was meant to promote alternatives.

Published in the St. Petersburg Times, by SEN. PAULA DOCKERY.

A recent Times article, "Law lets thirsty areas look far," and subsequent editorial, "Water grab would be theft, pure and simple," brought to my attention what I see as a misunderstanding of the applicability of "local sources first" laws...

click here for the full article.


October 7, 2007

Today's Citrus County Chronicle carried two articles by Don Cox which follow up his article printed on August 12th, 2007.

A Need for Bold Leadership on Drinking Water Protection

On the second war front, namely the water war that Florida is facing, decisions about drinking water quality, distillation, water prices and distribution are rapidly approaching. Citrus County taxpayers will be asked to underwrite expensive water treatment schemes while nature's own groundwater storage capabilities will be slowly consumed. Water use efficiency policies that could help meet Florida's water needs are often ignored in favor of proposals that are more expensive and have the potentially to be dangerous to our health...

click here for the full article.

A Need for Bold Leadership on Groundwater Protection

Past water wars were the result of years of over pumping groundwater supplies in Pasco County and distributing the bounty to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. In 2001, the Cato Institute report stated: "The policy politics of water management in Florida over the last several years has been contentious and driven by indecision, procrastination, and short-term fixes." The last battle front in the water wars will be about the reuse, growth management, and protection of our groundwater resources...

click here for the full article.


October 2, 2007

The following article appeared in the Citrus County Chronicle as an editorial under the headline "Region's water supply must be protected".

With groundwater supplies in Central Florida increasingly stressed by population growth, a recent meeting of 37 cities in the region, hosted by the St. Johns River Water Management District, was another wake–up call that Florida's water supply is finite...

click here for the full article.


September 9, 2007
We can avoid plight of the Everglades

Sam Lyons, Director of the Amy H Remley Foundation.
The following article appeared in the Citrus County Chronicle.

In my capacity as a member on the Coastal Rivers Basin Board, the Amy H Remley Foundation, and the Kings Bay Association, I often find myself delving into various articles and books pertaining to Florida's water resources. Recently, I finished reading, "The Swamp, the Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise" . This book is not only an informative history of the Everglades, but also an accounting of man's near destruction of this unique eco-system due to ignorance and greed. It is a book everyone should read.

click here for the full article.


August 14, 2007
Notes for BOCC hearing 14 August 2007, CPA–07–05 Springs and Springshed Protection Subelement,
by Norman Hopkins, President Kings Bay Association

The CPA–07–05 draft appears to fall short of the standard required for the protection of Citrus County's springs.

The standards referred to are:

  1. The specific requirements of FAC 18-21.004 (6), relating to our three southerly coastal rivers which, as sovereignty springs and spring runs, together contribute millions of dollars each year to Citrus County's economy, and,

  2. The Department of Community Affairs manual "Protecting Florida's Springs", and particularly page 21, referring to Primary Zones, upstream Secondary Zones, and Buffers surrounding sensitive springshed features. Pages 51 and 52, of the same document, describe the special protection afforded by buffers to separate environmentally-sensitive areas from a wide variety of impacts, including; erosion, contamination of conduits, light and temperature conditions of habitat, and containment of sediment, nutrients and bacteria before they enter surface or groundwater.

I can find no reference to Sovereignty springs or spring runs, nor language as to protection zones or buffers.

For information, the DCA document characterizes the Primary zone as the springshed's major veins, while the Secondary zone is its kidneys. Each zone being vital to the springshed's health and integrity, which cannot function as a healthy system without either one.

Within a protection zone, three buffer areas are described totaling an absolute minimum width of 125 feet, (which could be much more having regard to karstic and soil permeability considerations). It further states that these buffers need to be "clearly mapped, marked on the site and enforced" and, "buffers (within prescribed protection zones) are an integral part of any protection strategy...".

Moreover, FAC 18-21.004(6), requires buffer areas of 300 feet, for sovereignty springs and spring runs, and prohibits water degradation by fertilizers and the like. This applies, for example, to the case of Three Sisters Springs, a magnitude 2 tidally influenced sovereignty spring complex which is also used as a manatee thermal refuge (see FAC 18-21.004 (2)(i) and 18-21.004(6)(e)).

Surely, policy reference should be made to these standards, and if a "one size fits all" approach is taken to setbacks, then a more suitable figure would be the 300 feet as opposed to fifty.


August 12, 2007
Bold leadership needed to protect Citrus County's springs and waterways

At the recent hearings on protecting Citrus County Springs, a parade of lawyers, and building lobbyists attacked the rules for limiting their right to squeeze every possible piece of land adjacent to springs and water bodies. They also vigorously oppose rule improvements that are necessary to protect groundwater and surface waters. This is one front of a war on our groundwater supplies and springs.

click here for the full article.


July 20, 2007
Rivard Redding, Water Resources Educator / Presenter for SWFWMD "Know Where It Flow" program, presents the facts on Florida's water.

click here for the full article.


June 4, 2007
Received the United States Internal Revenue Service letter of exemption of Federal income tax as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

click here to view the letter.


May 24, 2007
Press Release

The quality of the water we enjoy is crucial to our very well being, our mental and physical health; whether we drink it, bathe in it, or however we choose to use it, in our homes, or on the lakes, rivers or springs of Citrus County. The Amy H Remley Foundation, Incorporated, a public charity, is pleased to announce that is has been recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, enabling citizens, corporations and public entities to make tax deductible donations to the Foundation.

The Foundation was launched on March 7th, 2007, to raise funds to be applied to projects to restore quality to Citrus County waters of whatever kind, and to educate the citizens and particularly high school and college students, in the issues of environmental science important to this community. The website at http://amyhremleyfoundation.org/ exists to further these aims. Please visit with us there and share your views so that may sense what is of concern to the citizens of Citrus County in order that we may correctly apply our efforts to your express purposes. Trust is in transparency.


May 21, 2007
The United States Internal Revenue Service today informed that the application of the Amy H Remley Foundation, Incorporated for recognition of exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code was approved.


May 19, 2007
Extract from statement made to Stakeholders Conference By Norman Hopkins, President Kings Bay Association

  1. Number of active spring vents reduced
    Of the six significant spring vents from the Kings Creek region flowing into southern Kings Bay, only two now function at reduced flow rates. One of the original springs was deliberately closed by a developer to run roads through the wetlands. One was closed by a householder. Two were closed following the 1993 Storm of the Century, when tons of sediment washed out of the wetlands as flood waters receded.
    Of the total of eleven spring vents. including the original five spring outflows associated with the adjacent Black Spring Cove area, the number of vents has been reduced by more than two thirds.
    Four additional spring vents into southern Kings Bay require further examination.
  2. Algal blooms follow
    Until 2000, only minor algal blooms were to be seen locally. SAV consisted of Hydrilla, Nyad and patches of Valisineria. Much wildlife could be seen, with many abundant species of fish, birds, mammals and reptiles.
    As algal bloom infestations increased, wildlife sightings decreased.
    An explosive reproduction of algae occurred in March 2006, extending in hours over more than ten acres (and into the manatee sanctuary area).
    A similar but more extensive event occurred in March 2007 of the same algae. It was identified at UF as Chaetomorpha, a marine algae which attaches itself to the bottom.
  3. Salty waters
    Endemic salt water intrusions have penetrated into the southern Kings Bay area, not only from storm surges from the Gulf, but also by tides following the reduction of aquifer spring outflows. Slower water flow velocities allow algae to take hold more easily, and are inherently richer in nutrient cocktail content.
  4. ERGO
    1. Begin to restore southern Kings Bay - by allowing the blocked springs to flow again.
    2. Take the land which has the spring vents on it into public ownership to maintain the spring vents (some already is in public ownership).

April 12, 2007
Request to IRS to expedite Form 1023 submitted.


March 23, 2007
Receipt of Form 1023, application for exemption from Federal Income Tax with respect to The Amy H Remley Foundation Incorporated, acknowledged by the IRS.


March 15, 2007
Form 1023 submitted to the IRS for 501(c)(3) certification for the Foundation.


March 9, 2007
Citrus County Chronicle newspaper article.

A newspaper article "Group believes its new technology can clean up algae in Kings Bay" written by Terry Witt has appeared in the Citrus County Chronicle explaining the project the foundation is supporting. The article can be read online at:
http://www.chronicleonline.com/articles/2007/03/09/news/news30.txt

Also in the paper is an article on the mission of the Amy H Remley Foundation web site:

Web site offers ecological insights

Education is one of the two missions of the new Amy H. Remley Foundation Inc. and the group's Web site is being used as its main communications tool.
...


March 7, 2007
Speaking at the meeting of the Kings Bay Working Group, Gary Maidhof welcomed the launch of the Amy H Remley Foundation, as fulfilling Amy's wishes.

He recalled how Amy Remley originated the meeting, and further emphasized the need to educate the public in local water quality issues, in order that the people should participate in the restoration of a balanced ecology, to improve water quality in the County. He was pleased to note how the Amy H Remley Foundation was a firm step towards achieving that aim. Gary Maidhof is Director of Development Services for Citrus County.


February 15, 2007
New technology applied to tidal waters produces startling effect on limiting algal nutrients.

It was revealed at a meeting yesterday, that a significant reduction in nitrates and (more importantly) phosphates, together with enhanced supply of dissolved oxygen and increased microbial plate counts, were measured in before and after water samples at a licensed laboratory. It was argued that such reductions in supply of limiting nutrients would inhibit algal growth rates, including those of the troublesome Lyngbya sp. by cutting down their food supply. The novel technology served to increase microbial activity which accounted for the benefits by non invasive natural means. The operation of the technology was continuous in the tidally influenced flowing water over a period of two months.


February 12, 2007
Florida Department of State affirms Incorporation of The Amy H Remley Foundation, Incorporated.

The Florida Department of State certified the filing of Articles of Incorporation for The Amy H Remley Foundation, Incorporated effective on February 9, 2007.


February 2, 2007
New web site for The Amy H Remley Foundation.

The new web site built by David and Norman Hopkins is being built.

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Beyond Electricity: Using Renewables Effectively.
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September 24, 2012
Sewer Systems Legal Filing.
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February 1, 2012
Fuel Cell Today update.
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January 13, 2012
Sewer Agenda.
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December 23, 2011
Scientist: Water account overdrawn.
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Novemver 14, 2011
Submission to the Citrus County Commissioner, 14 November, 2011.
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