EAA rock mine Archives

Legal roadblocks stall Southland rock mine, but the fight isn’t over

The Southland rock mine is in a holding pattern. We’re keeping a close eye on it. The project to mine limestone on 8,600 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area — on land owned by U.S. Sugar and Okeelanta Corp./Florida Crystals — faces a new hurdle. Our friends at Tropical Audubon Society have filed a legal challenge to block the Florida Department of Environmental Protection from issuing an environmental resource permit that would allow blasting to begin. Phillips & Jordan — the contractor ramrodding the project through the approval process — was due to file an updated plan with the South Florida Water Management District in late August. SFWMD is the government body that will decide if Southland gets the green [...]

Allie Preston2025-09-15T16:01:16-04:00September 16th, 2025|EAA rock mine|

The Southland rock mine fight isn’t over

Last week the Palm Beach County Commission’s vote to approve the Southland rock mine was a slap in the face to the overwhelming public opposition voiced by Floridians who showed up, spoke out and demanded better. This week, the fight turned to Belle Glade. As expected, special interests doubled down, showing up to the South Florida Water Management District public meeting to push misinformation and protect their profits. And once again, we were there to challenge them. Let’s be clear: This rock mine is not about water. It’s about profit — at the expense of Everglades restoration, clean water and public trust. We need to hold our public officials and agency representatives accountable. They are making decisions that will [...]

Allie Preston2025-05-29T17:31:04-04:00May 30th, 2025|EAA rock mine, Rescue the River of Grass|

Palm Beach County Commission approved the Southland Rock Mine in the historic Everglades

Ignoring overwhelming outcry from Floridians, the Palm Beach County Commission approved the permit for the Southland rock mine Thursday evening. We will remember the commissioners who voted yes on this dangerous proposal: Commissioners Marino, Baxter, Flores, Powell, Weiss and Woodward. The rock mine is being sold by Big Sugar as a “water resources” project so that they can further boost their bottom line, all while failing to prove ANY meaningful benefit to the Everglades. While yesterday was a step in the wrong direction, this isn’t the end of the fight against this project. Stay tuned because we will need you to speak up again soon! Yesterday’s events are also proof that Friends of the Everglades’ work to acquire and [...]

Allie Preston2025-05-22T20:24:32-04:00May 23rd, 2025|EAA rock mine|

WATCH NOW — Floridians stopped the state parks attack, and we can stop the Southland rock mine too

https://youtu.be/VtFmlgK4sFk?si=TWEOoVJq67YmuKqy From the desk of our Executive Director, Eve Samples, your Voice of the Everglades update: A high-stakes vote is scheduled this Thursday before the Palm Beach County Commission — one that could forever alter the landscape south of Lake Okeechobee and undermine the future of Everglades restoration. Two industrial sugarcane corporations — U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals — have joined forces with engineering firm Phillips & Jordan to seek approval for an 8,600-acre rock mine in the Everglades Agricultural Area. They’re peddling it as a “water resources project” and are seeking approval to mine limestone before the impacts on the Everglades have been evaluated. Southland didn’t emerge through normal channels. Like the recent sneak attack on Florida’s state parks, [...]

Allie Preston2025-05-19T17:32:07-04:00May 20th, 2025|Action Alerts, EAA rock mine, Voice of the Everglades|

Tell the Palm Beach County Commission to OPPOSE the Southland rock mine!

The Southland rock mine proposal, planned for 8,600 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), is being rushed through without full vetting from the South Florida Water Management District — despite claims to the contrary by the developer. The proposed mine sits in an area critical to Everglades restoration — and yet it’s being fast-tracked based on misleading information and without the necessary public accountability. We need to act now so the Palm Beach County Commission votes NO at a public hearing on May 22 at 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, on the 6th floor. By sending this letter to Palm Beach County Commissioners, you’re standing with Friends of the Everglades to demand transparency, protect South [...]

Allie Preston2025-08-13T09:29:42-04:00May 8th, 2025|Action Alerts, EAA rock mine, Wildlife Habitat|

Stop the rock mine. Save the Everglades.

The future of Everglades restoration depends on one thing above all: acquiring the land we need to send clean water south. And right now, a dangerous project is reminding us exactly what happens when we fail to protect that land south of Lake Okeechobee. You may have heard that the Southland rock mine (a mining proposal backed by Big Sugar) wants to blast away 8,600 acres just north of the EAA Reservoir. The proposal offers no verified environmental benefit and has no approved role in Everglades restoration plans. Despite what sugar’s high-paid lobbyists claim, this is not a water project — it's a taxpayer-funded rock mine designed to make the already rich even richer. Plain and simple: This is [...]

Allie Preston2025-04-15T13:09:13-04:00April 16th, 2025|EAA rock mine, Rescue the River of Grass|

Premature approval of EAA rock mine could undermine Everglades restoration

On March 7, 2025, Everglades Law Center sent the following letter on behalf of Friends of the Everglades to the Palm Beach County zoning director urging Palm Beach County to hold off on approving the controversial Southland mining project in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The letter points out that the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) hasn’t finished its review of the project, which is required before the County can consider it a legitimate water resource initiative. Even though Southland is claiming SFWMD has already given them the green light, that's not the case—so far, the District has only taken the very first step in its evaluation process, and a final decision could take a year or more. [...]

Allie Preston2025-03-07T10:57:05-05:00March 7th, 2025|All Posts, EAA rock mine, Everglades Restoration, Friends of the Everglades Statements|

Voice of the Everglades: We demand public action on the EAA rock mine

https://www.youtube.com/live/NsCkwFVHnlc?si=8gpmcg6yS9VKWJZ5&t=3767 WATCH as Eve Samples voices concerns about a proposed plan to mine the Everglades at the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board meeting February 13, 2025. Just three weeks after the Rescue the River of Grass movement launched, thousands of you have stepped up and signed on. It’s a remarkable showing of strength. We have strong allies in every corner of the ecosystem — including Tropical Audubon Society in Miami, Calusa Waterkeeper in Southwest Florida, Indian Riverkeeper on the Treasure Coast and Florida Keys Outfitters in Islamorada. They and more than 100 other organizations have signed the Rescue the River of Grass petition. This is a bold campaign to meet these urgent times. As we speak, some [...]

Allie Preston2025-03-07T10:58:05-05:00February 18th, 2025|EAA rock mine, Rescue the River of Grass, Voice of the Everglades|

3 reasons why it’s time to Rescue the River of Grass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hKp0jrgcvY Thank you to everyone who has taken action so far to defend Florida’s future by acquiring more land for water storage and treatment in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Thousands of people have already signed our petition urging Florida lawmakers to Rescue the River of Grass. This is just the start. The real work lies ahead and we need your help inspiring more people to take a stand for clean water and true restoration of the Everglades. We know this campaign has sparked questions, so we shot a short video with our Executive Director Eve Samples to break down the details, the urgency and what’s at risk if we don’t act now to finish the job. Watch the [...]

Allie Preston2025-03-07T10:58:19-05:00February 3rd, 2025|EAA rock mine, Rescue the River of Grass|

WATCH NOW — The state parks sneak attack and Big Sugar’s rock mine have something in common

https://youtu.be/tn1pNXgJiEs?si=ZTXNEJ_fekLlbUrI From Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Friends of the Everglades executive director Eve Samples brings you your Voice of the Everglades update: Last month’s assault on Florida’s state parks was both brazen and bumbling. In just eight days, Gov. Ron DeSantis was forced to do an about-face on stealthy plans to build golf courses, hotels, and other harmful development on environmentally sensitive public lands. The retreat signaled a temporary victory for those of us who love wild Florida — and a reminder of the power of speaking out, showing up and working together. Friends of the Everglades was honored to stand in solidarity with so many of you. Now, we must bring our might to another battle before us: [...]

Allie Preston2025-03-07T10:58:49-05:00September 19th, 2024|Big Sugar, EAA rock mine, Everglades Restoration, Save Florida's State Parks, Voice of the Everglades|