Everglades Conservation Network Update #11, Excerpt 1
Everglades Conservation Network Information: 800-753-5499 



1) Congress to Prepare Everglades Restoration Bill

Long-awaited Congressional action on the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP) begins in June when both the Senate
Environment Committee and the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee take up versions of the bill. The House
will start with a draft bill from the Clinton-Gore
Administration. Their proposal, developed by the Army Corps of      
Engineers, has a significant commitment to keeping water in the
natural system. A draft bill circulated by staff for Senators
Mack and Graham drops guarantees of new water for Everglades
National Park and Florida Bay. The State of Florida has a bill
that would make a determination on water allocations on a project
by project basis and using Florida water law.

Significant opposition comes from the sugar companies and
lobbyists for the Miccosukee Tribe. Both interests will only 
support Everglades restoration if they are granted special
consideration. A tribe lawyer was quoted in the Miami Herald
saying, "We will put a knife in the heart of this bill." The
State, sugar companies and Miccosukees are united in opposition
to a pledge made last summer to put more water into the
Everglades. They have used this issue to create distrust, aiming
broadside after broadside against the Clinton-Gore
administration.

Hopefully, Congress will look past the politics and special
economic interests and give the Corps the authority and
appropriations necessary to move forward with restoration that
will truly help the Everglades.