WAR for OUR WATER SUPPLY

Economic chaos or contaminated water? When you listen to the litigants battling in federal court over rock mining in northwest Miami-Dade County wetlands near the Everglades,those are the two stark outcomes that they predict will result from a recent decision by U.S. District Court Judge William Hoeveler.In truth, neither outcome is a certainty,but Judge Hoeveler chose to restrict some mining operations-wisely,we believe-in order to protect wetlands and,more important,our water supply.If South Florida's primary water supply is contaminated,the consequences-economically,healthwise and otherwise-could last for years,even generations.Mining company lawyers say that South Florida will suffer an economic disaster of epic proportions if the judge's July 13 order lifting three mining permits isn't reversed.The three companies involved will be ''irreparably harmed,'' employees will be dismissed, contracts will be lost,and extraction of 22 million tons of limestone will be jeopardized,the lawyers say.A sign of the lawyers' overheated rhetoric is their personal attacks on the judge in their appeal and in a meeting with The Miami Herald's Editorial Board.They accuse Judge Hoeveler of a ''lack of impartiality and predetermination of the issues.''That is not the impression one gets after reading the judge's opinion and the case record.The judge's order,in fact,affects only three of nine mining companies operating in the wetlands,and only those closest to the drinking-water wellfield where the possibility of contamination is greatest.The other companies are free to continue mining, although the judge could have lifted their permits,too. None of them could reasonably claim to be surprised,and therefore unprepared,for the order. The judge had signaled his intent in March 2006 when he issued a summary judgment for the plaintiffs, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups...
To read more go to:
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/184669.html
As in the days of Noah...