Protect the Everglades from Mining

I am writing to urge the EPA to intervene to stop current plans to expand limestone mining activities in the Everglades, our country's largest subtropical wilderness.

The Army Corps of Engineers' proposals both to re-issue mining permits set aside last January by a federal court because of violations of federal environmental laws and to approve expansion of the mining would irreversibly destroy critical wetlands and endangered species habitat, harm Everglades restoration, contaminate local drinking water supplies and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Everglades National Park has already been devastated by a century of draining the Everglades and poor growth management, and must be protected from further harmful practices.

The EPA has the legal authority and the responsibility to prevent the permanent harm that the proposed mining would cause to the Everglades and drinking water. The EPA should only approve a five-year mining plan that includes buffers to protect the Everglades and the public wellfield. This would still allow years of mining while necessary studies are completed to see if any more mining can be done safely and without unacceptable environmental impacts.