It doesn’t involve hanging chads, but the battle waging over aggregates mining in South Florida is as hotly contested in that state as the 2000 presidential election. The debate involves two issues that pit mining companies against those concerned about the environmental impact of such mining. We first reported on the battle in South Florida’s Lake Belt region last year, after a judge banned rock mining in the area.
In May of this year, a federal appeals court lifted the ban, saying the judge let his personal views get in the way. But the battle isn’t over. The appeals court put the case back in the judge’s hands, ordering him to reconsider that key question using “proper standards of review.”
To further complicate matters, the Environmental Protection Agency has since sent a letter warning of the dangers of rock mining in that area.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation.
The second battle in South Florida involves the Everglades region. In April, Palm Beach County commissioners approved plans for rock mining in an agricultural area that was once part of the Everglades.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation and 1,000 Friends of Florida are suing to stop it. The groups argue Palm Beach County failed to address concerns that the mining could contaminate water supplies, drain wetlands and interfere with Everglades restoration.
The county will review the issues raised in the lawsuits.
What is happening in South Florida is a large-scale version of battles being fought over rock mining permits in communities throughout the country, and we’ll keep you posted as developments occur.

Buyer & Supplier Guide
Our annual Buyer & Supplier Guide in this issue is a great resource for those purchasing aggregates equipment, and it’s updated annually. This guide is also online. Visit www.pitandquarry.com/directory to access the online version, which will soon be searchable.
Many other web-site enhancements are coming down the pike, so visit often to stay up-to-date on the latest industry happenings.