Letter From D.E.P. Secretary

cmcastille@comcast.net

Governor, and Honorable members of the House and Senate and others:

  In a previous development agreement in anticipation of filing a comprehensive plan amendment negotiated with the state departments of Environmental Protection and Community Affairs, the developer agreed to preserve much of the tree canopy and the shoreline vegetation, in addition to less dense and less intense development. Those agreements are no longer in effect due to the developer's withdrawal of the comp plan amendment. He is now moving forward with a development consistent with his existing entitlements. The developer has begun cutting trees and underbrush in preparation for development.

  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the local permitting office of the City of Dunnellon have all sent inspectors out to the development site on the Rainbow River. The developer is acting in accordance with his tree cutting permit as issued by the City.

Sincerely,


Colleen Castille
Secretary
Department of Environmental Protection


                   Our Letter To The Secretary

October 30, 2006


Ms. Castille,

  I am the publisher of a local news and information website for the Dunnellon area. I obtained a copy of your letter to the Governor regarding the clear-cutting of oak and cypress trees on State property along the Rainbow River, in which you stated that the developer is within his rights and not in violation of the law.
  I have some questions that would be of interest to my readers.

1. Did you view the many photographs of the area in question and the destruction of live oak and cypress trees along the banks of the river?
2. Did you review the State boundaries vis-à-vis the location of the work being done?
3. Did you read the permit issued by the City of Dunnellon?
4. Do you have any social or business ties to Mr. John Taylor, the current mayor of Dunnellon, which you would wish to disclose?

  I feel that you decision is not only arbitrary, but not well-reasoned. My readers and I would like to know the answers to these important questions, so we may understand your reasons for reaching this conclusion. I realize that you are under no obligation to answer my inquiries, but if you refuse to reply, my 9000 readers will want to know why.
You can reach me at the addresses below.
  Thank you for your time and consideration.


Robert R. Burke
Publisher
Dunnellon Online
www.dunnellononline.com
webmaster@dunnellononline.com
gatorstudios@netzero.com

This is a link to an interview with Ms. Castille, in which she emphasizes her devotion to Florida Springs.

http://www.floridasprings.org/protection/interview/

Editor's Note:

  In this interview, Ms. Castille makes a reference to "...the delicious salty meats from the oysters plucked from the Black Point Canal on outings with my family..."

  The Black Point Canal was our home port for over 20 years. I know every inch of Black Point. It is the outlet for the man-made canal that runs past the notorious "Mount Trashmore", where a great deal of Dade County's garbage is dumped.

  I have never seen an oyster at Black Point, and I certainly wouldn't eat any that I did find. A visit to Black Point Canal at low tide would reveal the wonderful aroma of....sewage. This statement does not lend any credibility to the Secretary's statements, to say the least.