T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F S I E R R A C L U B F L O R I DA
Sierra Gets Ready to Lobby
Winter 2009
Inside this issue
Winter Outings
Committee Updates
Celebration of Outings
Breakwaters
Phosphate Committee Steps Up 6
Incineration is not Recycling
Growth Management
Budget Cut Alert
Kissimmee Book Review
www.florida.sierraclub.org 1
T he Florida Legislature is already
ramping up for the next session.
Interim Committee meetings started in
October with presentations from state
agencies. The budget will attract a lot of
attention again this year because Florida’s
income is projected to fall $2.6 billion short.
This means environmental programs will
continue to be at risk. Sierra Club volunteers
made a difference during the last Florida
Legislative Session and we’re gearing up to do
the same for 2010. Please consider joining us.
Last year your calls, emails, letters to the
editor, and personal contacts with legislators
were instrumental in raising a red flag over
the “professional certification” issue and
stopping it in the Senate. When the House
tried to include this provision in its growth
management bills, your opposition caused
Sen. Storms to say that she had heard from
2 so many constituents on that issue that she
would not vote for it. This bill was to create
3 a policy that a professional consultant’s
signature on a permit application to
4-5 impact surface waters or wetlands would
automatically mean the permit was presumed
6 to be in compliance. There would have
been no consequences for the professional
if the application contained accidental or
deliberate errors, but there would have been
7 consequences for our wetlands! You made
the difference.
7 Also last year, your calls and letters helped
stop HB 7149 and SB 946, two bad elections
7 bills that were introduced at the last minute.
They would have created confusing ‘no
8 To join in and continue to help Sierra
solicitation zones’ at polling places, restricted
voter access to non-partisan information
about voting, and added unnecessarily
complicated ID requirements.
In the next session, issues that will
claim center stage include: Off/near shore
oil drilling, Waste minimization, Growth
Management, Transportation, and Water
Allocations.
Last year’s push for near shore drilling has
been picked up again by incoming Speaker
Cannon and incoming Senate President
Haridopolos. The primary reason given for
this push is to help address the budget gap.
A saying making the rounds in the Capitol is
“A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”
The Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) is required
to present a plan to accomplish the state’s
goal of 75% recycling by Jan. 1, 2010. DEP
has also come out with an encouraging retail
bags report that would phase out plastic bags
by 2015. Sierra Club Florida will continue to
work for real recycling that does not include
incinerating municipal solid waste (MSW).
Sen. Constantine, who sponsored last
year’s Springs bill (SB274), is now chairman
of a new Select Committee on Florida’s
Inland Waters. Water allocations will be
even more important as Florida’s population
continues to increase. The state is expected
to break the 20 million mark by about 2015
and a sustainable water policy is essential.
- David Cullen, Sierra Club Lobbyist
The Legislative Advisory Committee is
working with our lobbyist, David Cullen, to
research and prioritize issues, craft arguments,
and educate our legislators. The members
of this year’s committee are: Dwight Adams,
Kathy Cantwell, Cecilia Height, Lisa Hinton,
Terry Janssen, Tom Larson, Drew Martin,
Demetra McBride, and Rosalie Shaffer. They
work hard and could use some more help.
If you would like to volunteer to be on the
committee, please notify the SC Florida
Steering Committee or email webmaster@
florida.sierraclub.org and she will forward
your request to them.
Not ready to join a committee but want to
help out in your Group or area of the state?
Sign up for our Listserv and get information
on what is happening before and during the
Florida Session.
Club have an impact in 2010, sign up for
our “member only” listserv, FL-FLORIDA-
REPORT. You will get updates on our
progress and alerts when immediate action
is needed. Go to www.sierraclub.org/
memberlists (have your membership number
available).
In addition to joining the list, now is the
perfect time to meet with your legislators in
their district offices to let them know what is
important to you. You can find their contact
information at www.myfloridahouse.gov and
www.flsenate.gov.
You can also check the Sierra Club Florida
website http://florida.sierraclub.org/ for the
latest information on the top issues of the
session. You can and will make a difference if
you join us.
 Winter Outings
Sierra Club welcomes non-members to join us on our outings.
All participants are required to sign a standard liability waiver.
To read the waiver, visit sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms or
call the Outings Department at 415-977-5528 or ask the trip
leader for a copy. Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST37115.
December 4 - 5 Bahia Honda State Park Camping. Enjoy
the beautiful beach, the fresh air, visit Key West and relax before
the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Limit 6. Adults only. Rated
leisure. Cost approx. $65 to $85. Leader: Judy Kuchta, 305-308-
8913, judykuchta@yahoo.com . (Broward Group)
December 5 Kayak Isles of Capri (Marco Island area).
Explore the backwaters off Isles of Capri in a kayak with a
certified Florida Master Naturalist. Bring your own or rent one
from the local outfitter. We’ll paddle into Johnson Bay and
head north until we agree to turn around and head back to Sea
Oat Island or another nearby stop for lunch. Chances are we’ll
see ospreys, manatees, dolphins and other wildlife as we take a
leisurely paddle. We’ll then return to the Capri Fish House to relax
and go our separate ways. The trip is open to kayakers of all skill
levels. However, you must be able to make a wet entry and exit.
Per Sierra Club policy, everyone must wear lifejacket. Limited
to 10 participants. Call outing leader Victor at 239-438-5286 for
details and trip packet. (Calusa)
December 5 Everglades 101/ Everglades National Park Day
Walk. Introductory visit and “walk-hike” sampler in the ‘Glades
for beginners and refresher for veterans and guests. We’ll preview
our experience with film, displays and visiting art show at the Coe
Visitor Center then stroll the Anhinga Boardwalk Trail and nearby
Gumbo Limbo Trail followed by a visit to the Pinelands area for
a gourmet lunch (included) and walk an unimproved trail there.
Time and weather permitting, we’ll visit Pa-hay-okee Overlook
boardwalk. Each trail less than one mile long. We’ll look for
gators, birds, turtles, fish, maybe a snake or two and bugs in
season. Leisure. Limit 8. Cost $15. Please email: Leader Kaatje
Bernabei, kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net , 305-223-6551 and Asst.
Alan Nowell, mrhitnmiss@aol.com, 305-253-4250. (Miami)
December 6 Pinellas Trail Morning Bike Ride. We will ride
on the Pinellas Trail from Curlew up to Tarpon Springs for a
Greek meal by the sponge docks. Learn about the Pinellas Trail,
a linear park stretching almost the length of Pinellas. An easy
ride of about 18 miles. Leader Ben Berauer, 727-392-2821 or
bfberauer@aol.com.(Suncoast)
December 13 Ecowalk at Seacrest Scrub in Boynton Beach.
We will walk quietly, for about 1 1/2 hours, with frequent stops
to discuss what we have seen. Three hurricanes and a 1996
controlled burn have changed the natural area. Bring your water
and binoculars. There are no facilities. The Seacrest Scrub is
located on Seacrest Blvd, one mile south of Bethesda Hospital
in Boynton Beach. FREE. Leisure but SOMETIMES we will
walk in DEEP sand. Limit 10. Lisa Hanley, 561-732-9578, lisa.
hanley@Juno.com.(Loxahatchee)
December 20 Everglades Nine-Mile Pond Canoe Trail Day
Outing. This canoe trail is situated deep in Everglades National
Park nine miles north of Flamingo. Please e-mail: Leader Kaatje
Bernabei, kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net, 305-223-6551 and Asst.
Alan Nowell mrhitnmiss@aol.com, 305-253-4250.(Miami)
2 www.florida.sierraclub.org
December 26 - 30 Holiday Hike Myakka River State Park.
Four night/five day backpack trip to Myakka River State Park.
A moderate hike of about 30 miles. We plan to explore and stay
at several of the park’s best campsites. Your leaders will help
you learn about the history of this park and what it has to offer.
Limit of 8 participants. Cost is $20 plus campsite reservation fees.
Co-leaders Mike Pici, 727-798-9227 or revmp777@earthlink.net,
Ben Berauer, 727-392-2821 or bfberauer@aol.com (Suncoast)
January 3 Florida Trail/Big Cypress National Preserve
Day Hike. We head out wet or dry, north from Oasis Ranger
Station just off the famous Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) way
west of civilization. Please e-mail: Leader Kaatje Bernabei,
kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net, 305-223-6551. (Miami)
February 6 - 13 Fundraising Trip to the Enchanted Island
of Puerto Rico. Spend 7 days hiking, kayaking, swimming,
exploring the tropical forests and learning about the rich culture
and history of Puerto Rico. Learn about the environmental
issues the island faces from our local Sierra Club guides. We will
spend one night in San Juan exploring the old town and the rest
of the time we will be at the Patillas Eco Resort. The cost of
this trip is $650 per person plus airfare, and includes all lodging
and transportation. Limit 10 participants. For reservations and
details contact: Rudy Scheffer, rudy@adventuresworldwide.com,
727.726.8375. (Suncoast)
The Pelican, Vol. 42, No. 3
Kathy Criscola, Managing Editor
The Pelican is published by Sierra Club Florida, 405 Inglewood
Drive,Tallahassee FL,32301, and mailed to Florida Sierra Club
members. Annual membership dues include $1 for the Pelican
newsletter. Address all inquiries to PO Box 575, Tallahassee FL
323092-0575 or email editor@floridasierraclub.org. Send change of
address information to address.changes@sierraclub.org
Steering Committee
Linda Bremer, Jacksonville
Craig Diamond, Tallahassee
John Swingle, Altoona
Betsy Grass, Miami
Tom Larson, Jacksonville Beach
Marian Ryan, Winter Haven
Rudy Scheffer, Safety Harbor
Communications Committee
Liz Cantarine, Bradenton, ecantarine@tampabay.rr.com
Kathy Criscola, Tallahassee, editor@floridasierraclub.org
Betsy Grass, Miami, betgrass@ix.netcom.com
Ron Haines, Lantana, ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Frances Howell-Coleman, Winter Haven, fcoleman@tampabay.rr.com
Corbett Kroehler, Orlando, corbettkroehler@yahoo.com
Rosalie Shaffer, Bradenton, Shaffer_us@yahoo.com
Visit www.florida.sierraclub.org
 Committee Updates
Group Advisory Council
To help the Sierra Club Groups in Florida, the Group
Advisory Council has to date launched a conference call/
group discussion program, set up a group leader listserv for
communications, and, conducted surveys of Groups to find
out where help is needed.
The first conference call, in October, was about moving
from a paper to an electronic newsletter and was a huge
success. All groups were invited and 12 leaders asked to
join the call. Debbie Matthews shared the Miami Group’s
experience of moving to an electronic newsletter 2 years
ago. Ron Haines from the Loxahatchee Group shared how
his group is handling the transition of going electronic
with a paper option. The rest of the attendees shared their
experiences with newsletters, and how they are making it work
for their Groups. Some Groups have not started electronic
newsletters yet, but were very interested because of the cost
savings involved, and they had many questions. All attendees
learned something new, and met others going through a similar
process. This was the first of several conference calls planned.
Other topics suggested in the Group surveys were: fundraising,
outings, and navigating through the membership database.
The Council has also launched a Florida Group Leader
Discussion Forum Listserv called the FL-GROUPS-FORUM.
This is the place for group leaders and activists to seek help for
problems or questions they have encountered in the running
of their Group, and to share their knowledge and successes
with their fellow Sierrans. It is a place for everything from a
Group membership chair asking about how to use HELEN
to a Group chair asking for tips from others about how to
conduct a productive meeting, or attract new members. This
list is NOT for discussion of environmental topics, although a
discussion of how to form and focus an effective conservation
committee or conservation campaign would be fair game. To
subscribe, send a message with your name and group affiliation
and position to: ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net.
The Group Council is also looking for members across the
state to join them in working on Group Health issues. If you
have skills to offer and the interest to help out, please get in
touch with Debbie Matthews (treehuggerdeb@gmail.com).
— Debbie Matthews
Phosphate Committee
During the summer months the Sierra Club Florida
Steering Committee sought applications from members
of the following groups to serve on a Phosphate Mining
issue coordinating committee: Ancient Islands , Calusa,
Greater Charlotte Harbor, Manatee-Sarasota, Tampa Bay and
Suwannee St. John’s. The team was selected in August and
immediately set to work. (see story page 6) Team members are
Percy Angelo (Greater Charlotte Harbor Group), Linda Jones
(Manatee-Sarasota Group), Bev Griffiths (Tampa Bay Group),
and Andy Quinn (Ancient Islands Group). Cris Costello is the
phosphate campaign field organizer, Marian Ryan is the liaison
to the Sierra Club Florida Steering Committee and Eric Huber
is the legal liaison.
www.florida.sierraclub.org 3
The primary work of this committee will be to coordinate
Sierra Club Florida’s comments on decisions, actions,
or statements by public agencies and office holders on
phosphate mining and related issues. Areas of work will
include: current and future mining applications and permits,
reclamation, mining regulations, old mined lands, and
environmental impacts on natural systems, habitat, water, air,
and soil.
This committee is now in the process of drafting newly
framed position papers relating to both the direct and indirect
impacts of strip mining in Central and Central-Southwest
Florida. In addition, they will be hosting a coalition meeting
in the month of November in order to work more closely and
strategically with the other organizations currently involved in
challenging the expansion of phosphate mining.
This committee still lacks representatives from the Calusa and
Suwannee St. John’s Groups – volunteers from those groups
should notify Marian Ryan marianryan@gmail.com in order
to nominate someone or apply for representation on the
Phosphate Mining Coordinating Committee.
— Cris Costello
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee has had a busy and productive
summer and fall. Along with the required monthly conference
calls and quarterly face-to-face meetings, and the hundreds
of emails, there have been organization, financial, lobbying,
and group health issues to tackle. Greg Casini, Associate
Director of Sierra Club Volunteer Development continues
to work directly with us providing guidance and handling our
communications with National Sierra.
Members of the Steering Committee have organized new
state committees and campaign teams, and held training
sessions to get each of the committees started. The latest of
these is the Growth Management Committee, which will work
on FHD as well as other GM issues, and the Phosphate Issues
Committee, which has immediately begun to work on setting
a Phosphate Policy for SC Florida. They will join the other
new Campaign Coordinating Committees: Coastal & Marine,
Energy, and Waste Minimization. The Everglades, Outings and
Fundraising Committees continue to function but need some
new volunteers.
We are very happy to see the increase in the number of
volunteers for work at the state level, and hope that members
will continue to reach out to take on more of the work. In
particular, we encourage leaders with time and energy, to
volunteer to help with the Group Advisory Council. They are
poised to lend assistance to Groups but need some more hands
for the work. Please email Debbie Matthews (treehuggerdeb@
gmail.com) if you have some time to volunteer.
The Steering Committee continues to post the details of
Steering Committee conference calls and meetings on our
extranet web site at Sierra Clubhouse (clubhouse. sierraclub.
org/fl), and on our public web pages at florida.sierraclub.org.
You can ask questions about the Steering Committee and our
progress by e-mailing fl-steering-contact@lists.sierraclub.org ,
or me at webmaster@florida.sierraclub.org .
— Betsy Grass
 Sierra Flo
Miami Group snorkels in the
Keys: It was a windy, blustery August day EXPLO
in Miami, but not raining in the Florida Keys,
so Miami snorkelers headed to the beautiful
coral reefs at John Pennekamp State Park.
Boarding the boat, the group noticed the
weather was starting to turn, so they
scrambled to a reef capped by a clear
sky. Fish, coral and sponges were the
“catch of the day” before the lightning
and rain arrived. Back on shore, the
hungry group enjoyed a late lunch at
the Fish House.

Tampa Bay Group caves in: On a Tampa Suncoast

Bay Group outing to the Dames Caves, a participant inviting for Su
observes the outline of an ancient sea creature clearing. Sign
embedded in the limestone wall. The trip was led by it has to offer.
Tampa Bay Outings Chair Gail Parsons. It was one of a Mike Pici at 7
wide variety of outings organized by the group. aol.com.

IS YOUR GROUP PICTURED? SNAP TO IT!

Nassau Group paddle on Simpson Creek: Paddlers are shown on Simpson Central Florida Group along th
Creek on Little Talbot Island, a rare underdeveloped barrier island in northeast Florida. The five-mile evening, the Central Florida Group went on a
paddle included a stop for lunch on the sandbar at Bird Island. Paddlers experienced maritime increased, the water sparkled with the living l
forests, desert-like dunes, undisturbed salt marsh and a variety of wildlife and native and migratory creatures. Mullet raced underwater and left tr
birds. Outings take participants to the creeks and marshes in Nassau and Duval counties, as well as light. Above, the participants prepare to set o
Crystal River with its manatees, and sunset/moonlight paddles on the Okefenokee Swamp.

4 www.florida.sierraclub.org
orida Outdoors
ORING! ENJOYING! PROTECTING!

Suwannee/St. Johns Santa

Fe River Springs Paddle: Left to
right, turtle, turtle, turtle! Thanks to a statewide
turtle harvest ban, the river cooters posed in the
midday sun as the Suwannee/St. Johns Group
recently paddled eight miles down the Santa Fe
River from High Springs to Ft. White. Twenty-five
folks experienced at kayak-level the environmental
wonders of more than a dozen springs. The ever-
present reminders of failed septic tanks, water
t Group annual holiday backpack trip: December weather is cool and bottling withdrawals, inadequate development
uncoast’s annual five-day outing at Myakka River State Park. Past participants relax in a setbacks, industrial and fertilizer runoffs,
n up now for this year’s event Dec 26-30, 2009. Learn about the history of the park and what producing the ever increasing green algae in our
. Limited to eight participants. Cost is $20 plus campsite reservation fees. Contact co-leaders “not-so-clear-springs-anymore,” gave everyone
727-798-9227 or revmp777@earthlink.net, or Ben Berauer at 727-392-2821 or bfberauer@ even more reasons to become involved in passing
on to the next generation the same wonders we
PHOTOS COURTESY OF OUR GREAT FLORIDA GROUPS! enjoyed that day.

he Indian River: On a hot September
an outing to the Indian River. As darkness
light in the water created by bioluminescent
rails of light and the paddles created swirls of
out for a great night water experience.
Loxahatchee Group at Riverbend Park: Trip leader Ron Haines, center, chats
with Fred Beaudin and Gail Peterson on the Loxahatchee Group’s outing to Riverbend Park
in Jupiter in September. Riverbend Park encompasses a newly-restored area upstream in the
Loxahatchee River, a federally-designated Wild and Scenic River. The Loxahatchee Group helped
the river get that designation back in the 1980s. (Photo by Vicky Newson)

www.florida.sierraclub.org 5

Breakwater Projects
Threaten Coast
Palm Beach County, with 40% funding from the state of
Florida, is planning a $30 million breakwater project off of
Singer Island in Riviera Beach. This project would consist of
eleven limestone and granite structures to be placed parallel to
the beach in 12 ft depths approximately 300 yards offshore.  Sierra Club Florida’s new phosphate committee has sent
The project would create an eyesore at the beach, interfere
with wildlife, and be a hazard to boaters and swimmers.
It would increase erosion south of the project and could
impede the natural sand cycle on the beach. Beaches accrete
sand during the summer when the ocean is calm and erode
during heavy storms. During this natural process the beaches
neither lose nor gain sand. These walls could prevent beach
accretion of sand during summer months by stopping natural
wave action. It is unknown if it would accomplish the goal of
reducing beach erosion during heavy storms.
The Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, Surfrider Foundation,
and the Sea Turtle Conservation League have all expressed
concerns about the project. This $30 million could be spent on
a better alternative, a sand transfer plant. Such a system would
directly counteract the main cause of loss of our beaches—
man-made inlets, which interfere with the natural migration of
sand along the coast. Further, dredging and widening of these
inlets make the problem even worse. Sand transfer plants solve
this problem by pumping the sand past the inlets.
Breakwaters degrade the beach experience for swimming,
boating, fishing, and surfing as well as sea turtle nesting. Sea
turtles always return to the beach where they were hatched to
lay their eggs. Any change to this beach can result in failure
to nest. In addition, sea turtle hatchlings are very vulnerable
to predators. Few hatchlings make it to adulthood and any
additional impediments could push them further toward
extinction. Sea turtles are a great tourist draw and an important
part of our ecosystem. This beach on Singer Island is an
important nesting site; it has between 1000 and 1200 nests.
The disruption of sea turtle nesting on this beach would be
catastrophic to future generations of sea turtles.
Biologists and sea turtle experts are concerned that the
breakwaters would become an ambush site for hatchlings
leaving the beach. The hatchlings would have to swim between
narrow gaps in the breakwaters where predators could easily
attack them. Lights on the breakwaters at night could also
prevent females from nesting. These breakwaters also create a
hazard to humans. The narrow gaps between the breakwaters
could cause rip tides. Boaters could be pushed into the
breakwaters in rough weather and boats could be sunk.
These breakwaters could set precedent for other similar
projects. The Manatee-Sarasota Group is currently fighting to
prevent a similar project off of Longboat Key.
6 www.florida.sierraclub.org
What you can do: Write to Eric Reusch, U.S Army Corps
of Engineers, Permitting Division, 4400 PGA Boulevard, Suite
500, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410 (reference SAJ-2006-
05344), and to Martin Seeling, Bureau of Beaches and Wetland
Resources, Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
3900 Commonwealth Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000, asking
them to disallow these harmful coastal armoring projects.
More information on the breakwaters project is available at
www.stopthebreakwaters.com. 
- Drew Martin, Loxahatchee Executive Committee
Sierra Demands
Cumulative Impact
Review
two letters to the US Army Corps of Engineers demanding
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with an analysis of
cumulative impacts before any further Corps permits are issued
for phosphate mining. The Corps is currently reviewing permits
for a number of phosphate mines and mine extensions.
The Sierra Club letters point out that the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) requires an EIS before any federal action
significantly impacting the environment. By regulation an EIS
must include a cumulative impact analysis. Phosphate mines
require Corps permits under Section 404 of the federal Clean
Water Act when they involve mining in wetlands and streams,
which they invariably do. Corps permitting is a federal action
which makes the NEPA EIS requirement applicable. Despite
this clear direction the Corps has issued phosphate permits in
the past without an EIS and the Sierra Club is demanding that
this policy be remedied.
Two letters were sent, one with respect to the Ona Mine, and
a second addressing South Fort Meade and other applications
known to be pending or imminent (e.g. Lambe Tract and CF
Industries South Pasture Mine Extension. Mosaic and CF are the
only two remaining phosphate mining companies in the area).
Other environmental groups, including Protect Our Watersheds,
3 PR, Gulf Restoration Network and ManaSota-88, have also
written the Corps demanding the required EIS reviews.
While state data is incomplete, some 200,000 acres of land
in Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, and DeSoto counties
have been mined or are subject to current permitting. The rate
of reclamation for mined lands is quite low (25% for Mosaic and
14% for CF reclaimed and released) and, when reclamation does
occur, it is decades after the mining process and does not restore
the groundwater system which provides base flow to rivers such
as the Peace and the Myakka.
The loss of river flows is of concern not only for human
populations and their water supply but also for the healthy
functioning of the estuaries they feed. Estuary ecosystems are
highly dependent on salinity gradients, the balance between salt
and fresh water flowing downstream. Changes in the salinity at
any location will impact the aquatic life, which may have different
requirements at different stages of development. The problem
is highlighted by the recent designation of the Charlotte Harbor
estuary as critical habitat for the federally endangered Smalltooth
Sawfish, but changes in salinity gradient can have impacts on a
wide variety of aquatic life.
– Percy Angelo, SC FL Phosphate Committee
Incineration is not
Recycling
by Dwight Adams
In 2008, the Florida legislature adopted a goal of
75% recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) by 2020.
Unfortunately, the law stated that waste used for producing
renewable energy would count towards the goal. The State
already had legislation that claimed MSW was a renewable fuel,
although a significant part of the energy in MSW comes from
non-renewable plastics made primarily from fossil natural gas
or petroleum.
The US Energy Information Administration has calculated
the fraction of energy in MSW from renewable and non-
renewable sources. Since the non-renewable part comes mostly
from plastics that constitute up to 15% of MSW but generate
about three times as much energy as other components, the
non-renewable fraction of MSW energy is about 50% of the
total. In Florida, it’s over 50% because many tourists consume
large quantities of drinks bottled in plastics.
Florida incinerates 12% of MSW, so with the stroke of
a pen, state authorities recently added 12% to the current
recycling rate. Counting everything that is burned as recycling
adds insult to injury since “waste-to-energy” plants recover
only 19% of the energy. The remaining 81% is lost in burning
the valuable resources, with 40% (by weight) left to be
landfilled.
The best way to recover the energy from waste material is
to recycle it! Most of the energy in MSW is supplied by three
materials: paper, cardboard, and plastics. According to EPA
data, recycling these saves three to five times as much as the
energy obtained using them as fuel.
Recycling each component of municipal solid waste saves
more energy than can be generated by using that material as
fuel. Waste-to-energy is wasted energy! Imagine the absurdity
of a campaign to increase recycling by burning more waste.
“Wet-stream” organic waste, which constitutes 25-30% of
MSW, is a very poor fuel because of its very low heating value.
In contrast, anaerobic digestion (AD) is an efficient, natural
process for handling organic waste that produces methane fuel
and captures the nutrients in the digestate as well. Statewide,
AD of wet-stream waste would produce over 500 MW, enough
to power 400,000 homes.
Some components of MSW, particularly glass and metals
that do not “burn,” produce no energy in WTE plants.
Aluminum and glass are destroyed and must be replaced from
virgin materials. The manufacture of aluminum from virgin
materials is incredibly energy intensive and the raw material
bauxite is rare. Recycling a ton would save over ten times as
much energy as is provided from burning a ton of waste. Only
19% of cans are recycled in Florida; 400,000,000 pounds are
discarded each year.
Incineration is a disposal technology, not recycling and
should not be labeled as such. Florida cannot change this fact
by passing a law.
What you can do: Write Secretary Michael Sole,
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3900
Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 49, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, and
say that you want to see 75% real recycling. Write a letter to
the editor of your local newspaper. Lobby your legislators to
revise the definition of renewable fuel to exclude MSW and
not to count incineration as recycling.
Join the SC Florida Waste Minimization Campaign.
This is one of our priority campaigns for 2009-2010 and we
are looking for volunteers from every Sierra Group in Florida
to help out. If you want to learn more, email Linda Demler,
(linda.demler@sierraclub.org).
www.florida.sierraclub.org 7
Kickoff of Growth
Management Team
Florida Sierra has formed a Growth Management
Coordinating Committee with the charge to “work as a team
to help protect Florida’s natural systems through efficient
use of land, dense and diverse urban areas, communities that
provide good quality of life, transportation and development
that minimizes waste of resources and greenhouse gas
production.” 
This new committee’s top priority is to provide support
to Florida Groups as they deal with local growth issues. The
committee needs to have a growth management point person
in each group so that ongoing, two-way communications
can be established.  Sierrans, Please let your Group leaders
know if you are interested in this job. The committee
will be establishing a “best practices” library of how the
groups successfully handled specific growth management
situations. This library will be used as a resource to assist other
groups that may have similar situations. 
The members of the Growth Management Coordinating
Committee are Vicki DeSormier, H. A. Greene, Sandra
Ripberger, Lucy Trimarco, Robert Weintraub. These five
people come from Orlando, Miami, Bradenton, St. Petersburg
and Fernandina Beach. We are seeking two more committee
members. The Committee is currently working on the Florida
Hometown Democracy Amendment (Robert Weintraub point
person), state legislation (Vicki DeSormier) and compiling
group needs and experiences (Lucy Trimarco and Sandy
Ripberger). We can be reached through Vicki DeSormier,
Committee Chair, at freelancer1222@gmail.com .
And, be sure to check out the new Florida Hometown
Democracy website. We are gearing up to get Amendment 4
passed in Florida. Learn more by going to the FHD Inc site at
www.floridahometowndemocracy.com
- Vicki DeSormier
Budget Cuts Coming for Sierra
The Sierra Club National Board of Directors has announced that funds
to all Chapters will be drastically cut for 2010. Executive Director Carl
Pope presented the grim news in September of how donations have
fallen in the past years, and that it would be necessary to cut back on
sending funds out to support state entities, such as Sierra Florida.
Because Sierra Florida shares National money with its 18 Groups, this
will obviously have an effect on all the leaders and all the members in
Florida. The current estimate is that the cut will be more than 50%.
For Group leaders, you need to start planning now and get your
fundraising committee together. For all members: please consider
donating to Sierra Florida when you get our March Appeal. And if
you really appreciate your local group’s efforts in conservation, outings,
newsletters, and informative meetings, then drop them a note with a
modest donation.
Sierra Club Florida NON-PROFIT
The Pelican ORGANIZATION
P.O. Box 575 U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Tallahassee FL 32302-0575 TALLAHASSEE FL
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What’s New at the Bookstore

New Florida Environmental History
successful restoration project of its kind in the world - the
Book Released model for the overall Everglades restoration plan.

New Dawn for the Kissimmee River
by Doug Alderson
University Press of Florida
“From now on, I’ll paddle the Kissimmee beside the ghosts of raucous
cowboys, cumbersome paddle wheelers, marching soldiers, and lurking
Indians.”—Sandy Huff, author of Paddler’s Guide to the
Sunshine State
Orlando to Okeechobee by Kayak. In the spring of
2007, Doug Alderson, Florida Sierran, author, and editor,
joined an expedition down the Kissimmee chain of lakes and
the newly restored Kissimmee River. Chronicled nightly on
local television, the group witnessed firsthand the recovering
bird populations, spotted otters, turtles, alligators, and other
wildlife that make up the hidden beauty of this part of Florida.
In New Dawn for the Kissimmee River, Alderson uses
this twelve-day paddling excursion as a thread to explore the
history and ecology of the region, while highlighting the most
“This book” says Frances Coleman, “highlights the fact that the
Everglades begins at Orlando and therefore we need to think of the system
as a whole. I like the idea it promotes of traveling the watershed in non-
motorized craft; wouldn’t it be wonderful if kayakers started using that
blueways as they use the Ten Thousand Islands water trails!”
Doug Alderson, former associate editor of Florida Wildlife
magazine and current Florida Paddling Trails Coordinator
for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
is the author of Waters Less Traveled, Through Time and
Wilderness, and other books. To learn more, log onto www.
dougalderson.net.
- Staff

8 www.florida.sierraclub.org