What's New
Bookmark this page to quickly find the latest developments on the Keep Florida Rockin campaign.
May 1, 2009
Lake Belt Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) - The Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on Rock Mining in the Lake Belt Region of Miami-Dade County, Florida is now available for review and download. Please note that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting comments on the Final SEIS during a public comment period that ends June 8, 2009.
April 22, 2009
No Rock, No Roll - As federal stimulus funds for new road building increase demand for construction materials, taxpayers are caught in the middle of a permitting tug-of-war between mining interests, environmentalists and judges.
May 26, 2008
Appeals Court Overturns Judge’s Mine Restriction Ruling - An Atlanta appeals panel said that U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler substituted his own analysis for that of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and allowed his own feelings to bias his decision. The short-term effect on limerock prices will also likely be minimal, if it’s affected at all.
October 16, 2007
Lake Belt Plan balances needs of people, nature - The State of Florida is to America what America is to the rest of the world, a land of natural wonder, economic opportunity, and freedom. Because of our enviable quality of life, our population and our economy have grown. With this success comes the challenge of protecting the quality of life that brought us here — and keeps us here.
September 18, 2007
FBT President Doug Callaway appears before the Army Corps of Engineers - His talking points used at a public hearing regarding the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on rock mining in the Lake Belt region are now available.
September 2007
Army Corps of Engineers Website - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using a website to provide the public with access to key documents, announcements, background information, and a means for submitting comments and requesting specific information
July 18, 2007
Keep Florida Rockin! - As you know, last week a Miami federal judge halted rock mining on hundreds of acres in a Northwest Miami-Dade County area known as the Lake Belt. Although FBT has focused attention on this important issue for over a year in a variety of ways -- even using humor (see our promotional items) -- this recent ruling is clearly no laughing matter!
With half the rock used on Florida's roads coming from this one area, a threat to this supply of rock also threatens Florida's economy and our transportation efforts. A Press Release provides a thorough overview and explains how this incorrect decision is not only bad for Florida workers and our transportation system, but also bad for Florida's environment.
Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT), and our other "Keep Florida Rockin" coalition partners (www.KeepFloridaRockin.org) will continue to help publicize this important issue to the "3 Ps" -- the Public, the Press, and the Politicians.
Sincerely, -Doug
PS: Ironically, this decision was handed down on Friday the 13th, and the fear of that day is called "paraskavedekatriaphobia" - I can't pronounce it either. This phobia afflicts over 17 million people ... roughly the same number of Floridians who will be adversely affected by this one ruling.
July 17, 2007
Ruling Strikes a Blow to Florida’s Economy, Environmental Projects and Critical Highway Construction - Senior U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler issued a ruling Friday in the case of Sierra Club v. Flowers et al calling for an immediate halt to approximately one-third of all limestone quarrying in the Lake Belt region of western Miami-Dade County. Judge Hoeveler cites protection of the county’s Northwest Wellfield as the rationale for his ruling in spite of years of rigorous monitoring and review by every county, state and federal agency with expertise and authority over safe drinking water.
July 16, 2007
Court Ruling Would Bring Florida To Screeching Halt - A Miami federal judge has halted rock mining on hundreds of acres in Northwest Miami-Dade County (See two stories posted below). Since half of the rock used in building and maintaining Florida's highways comes from this one area, the ruling threatens to bring much of Florida's economy and transportation improvement efforts to a sudden and screeching halt.
A report by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) earlier this year indicated that a 5 percent cut in Lake Belt rock would result in $2.4 billion of lost annual economic output and 24,000 lost jobs or layoffs. By initial estimates, the judge's order could cut output by 30 to 40 percent.
Using those figures, a 35% reduction will cost Florida's economy nearly $17 billion, and cost 168,000 Floridians their jobs! If allowed to stand, the consequences of this one ill-advised ruling would be simply devastating in both human and economic terms.
Last year, Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT), along with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida TaxWatch, the Florida Transportation Builders Association (FTBA), and many others formed the "Keep Florida Rockin" coalition (www.KeepFloridaRockin.org) to help publicize this important issue.
Hopefully, this decision will be reversed on appeal, and Florida's economy and transportation system will be allowed to Keep Rockin along!
July 14, 2007
Judge blocks mining in key Miami-Dade area, industry to appeal - Rock mining companies plan to appeal a federal judge's ruling that put a stop to rock mining in parts of Miami-Dade County on the grounds it is endangering the area's drinking water supply. Other rock mining can continue in the county and elsewhere in South Florida where limerock pits produce the material used to build many of Florida's roads and make concrete. In addition to the industry and transportation officials, the lawsuit was opposed by Floridians for Better Transportation, whose members are mostly business groups like the Florida Chamber of Commerce, builders and bankers. The group argues it will make traffic problems worse by slowing road building.
July 13, 2007
U.S. judge: Halt rock mining to protect water - A Miami federal judge on Friday ordered a halt to rock mining on hundreds of acres in Northwest Miami-Dade County. The ruling, by senior U.S. District Judge William Hoeveler, could have broad ripple effects on mining and construction in South Florida. If a report the Transportation Department produced earlier this year is accurate, the shutdown could come at a significant cost. The study projected even a 5 percent cut in Lake Belt rock would result in $2.4 billion of lost annual economic output and 24,000 lost jobs or layoffs. By initial state estimates, Hoeveler's order could cut output by 30 percent to 40 percent.
February 22, 2007
Strategic Aggregates Study - Presentation of Ananth Prasad, Chief Engineer of the Florida Department of Transportation at the House Infrastructure Committee.
December 2006
MIA mining for dollars at former airfield - December issue of Florida Transportation Monthly - Timing it seems, is everything. South Florida’s Lake Belt mining operations have been threatened by a federal lawsuit. The possibility of mining operations being shut down has made the limerock under the former Opa-locka West airfield very valuable. As a result, Miami-Dade’s Aviation Department (MDAD) worked with the FAA and Florida DOT to decommission the air field and is now considering mining the 420 acre site for limerock aggregate..
October 19, 2006
Keep Florida Rockin Testimony - Testimony of FBT President Doug Callaway at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Scoping Meeting in Miami.
August 1, 2006
Florida Transportation Monthly magazine story - The August 2006 edition of Florida Transportation Monthly magazine has a piece about Florida TaxWatch weighing in on the important Lake Belt Mining issue.
July 31, 2006
Lawsuit bad for Florida's rockin' economy - In a courtroom in Miami, arguments are now being heard in a case that could result in economic chaos for the entire state of Florida, and a huge setback in Everglades restoration. It's a complicated story involving a dispute over federal permits issued for limestone excavation, but the end result could be disastrous for every resident and visitor to Florida: a complete stop to future limestone excavation for a year and a half or more, and a screeching halt to our economy.
July 13, 2006
Miners chafe at Palm Beach County ban plan - Preventing rock mining in Palm Beach County could make it tougher and more expensive to construct roads and buildings, mining lobbyists say. Mining lobbyists have stiffened against a county proposal to ban new mining in the agricultural area until the county completes a study on it by December 2008.
June 30, 2006
Messing With Mining - What does Palm Beach County have less than 100 miles to its southwest? A mining region that represents more than 50 percent of the state's production of crushed rock and limestone.
June 13, 2006
Closing Lake Belt Mining Poses Serious Threat to Florida's Economy - Closing Miami-Dade County’s Lake Belt mining region, which represents more than half of the state’s production of crushed rock and limestone, would pose a serious threat to the entire Florida economy. That’s the finding of Florida TaxWatch in its research report "The Initial Price Impact of Closing the Production of Crushed Rock in the Lake Belt Region of Miami–Dade County".
June 10-12, 2006
9 articles from around the state - Not far from Everglades National Park, slow-moving dump trucks filled with tons of limestone rumble at all hours from rock mines along a strip of former wetlands west of Miami. The "Lake Belt" rock produced from these pits is vital to build roads and make concrete for construction in fast-growing Florida. Now, the Lake Belt's future is in doubt because of a recent ruling by a federal judge.
May 31, 2006
Florida Transportation Commission Transmits Resolution - Florida Transportation Commission Chairman James Holton sent a letter and resolution to Judge William Hoeveler requesting that mining activities be allowed to continue during the permit review process.
Read the letter and resolution...
May 30, 2006
Palm Beaches Chamber Adopts Resolution - The Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the continuation of mining in the Lake Belt area of Miami-Dade County while further environmental analysis is performed.
May 28, 2006
Group's plea: Keep on mining - The South Florida Sun Sentinel of May 28 included an article by Michael Turnbell explaining the importance of the Lake Belt Mining issue and FBT's efforts to draw attention to it.
May 22, 2006
The Keep Florida Rockin Web site is launched.
May 19, 2006
STARTUPS sends letter to the court - South Tampa Bay Area Transportation Partnerships (STARTUPS), a regional transportation coalition based in the Sarasota-Manatee area, has sent a letter regarding the possible shut-down of Lake Belt Mining to the Federal court. The purpose of this correspondence was to "encourage the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, to allow continuation of Lake Belt mining at a level that does not adversely affect Florida's environment or road construction projects."
May 18, 2006
Chamberwatch - Gabe Sheheane with the Florida Chamber of Commerce sent out this ChamberWatch e-mail regarding the new Keep Florida Rockin coalition to all of the Chamber's transportation supporters. The Florida Chamber is a key member of the Keep Florida Rockin coalition.
May 15, 2006
Chamber Insider - Florida Chamber President Frank Ryll included a piece about the new Keep Florida Rockin coalition in his weekly Chamber Insider e-newsletter this week. Recognizing the importance of transportation to Florida's economy and quality of life, the Florida Chamber is a primary partner with Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT) in the Keep Florida Rockin coalition.
May 14, 2006
Builders Say They're Getting Hammered by Skyrocketing Construction Costs - South Florida builders say they're getting nailed - Rising costs and a shortage of construction materials continue to dog the building industry. If that's not enough, builders and contractors are concerned a federal judge will stop rock mining in Miami-Dade County. Stopping the mining would halt construction projects, cause "unimaginable traffic gridlock," put thousands of people out of work and send the state into a recession, builders and transportation officials say. "I don't mean to sound like Chicken Little, but sometimes Chicken Little is right," said Doug Callaway, president of Floridians For Better Transportation, an advocacy group.
May 11, 2006
MIA digs for cash at Opa-locka - To ease Miami International Airport's money crunch, the county's aviation department wants to turn little-used Opa-locka West airport into a limerock mine. Selling mining rights on the 420 acres at the far northwest corner of Miami-Dade County could inject MIA with hundreds of millions of dollars, aviation department managers say -- money that could lower the airport's spiraling costs.
May 8, 2006
Mining debate centers on risk, benefits - Does the prospect of road, school and hospital projects in South Florida grinding to a halt outweigh contamination risks to drinking water for more than one million people? For a federal judge considering whether or how much rock mining should continue in Northwest Miami-Dade County, that's just one of the hard questions. The answers will not be simple.
April 19, 2006
Shut-Down of Mining Would Halt Florida Highway Projects - Today, Doug Callaway, President of Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT), said “if the Federal Judge wants these agencies to re-do their studies – that’s one thing – but he should not consider action that will have such a dramatic and negative impact on the entire state of Florida.” FBT believes in "Keeping Florida Moving!" and any action resulting in increased transportation construction costs in Florida would have the exact OPPOSITE effect.