Please help Reef Rescue stop the dumping of nutrient laden waste water
on our reefs. Over the past several years, the damage to this reef
system, in part the result of 500 million gallons per day of partially
treated sewage dumped in violation of the federal Clean Water Act, has
been frightening. In the early 1990s, I (a very amateur collector)
identified 134 species of mollusks on these reefs. Today, they are
disappearing.

Please click on the secure link in the Reef Rescue release below and
fill out the form letter to the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection.

Thank you.

*************************

Our Coral Reefs Are Under Attack Again!
They need your help to survive.

On April 13, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
announced plans to issue a permit to open a new ocean outfall to
discharge nutrient-laden wastewater into the coral reef ecosystem one
mile offshore of Lake Worth, Florida.
The wastewater is a byproduct of a Reverse Osmosis (RO) process that
produces drinking water, but the effluent will contain the same
concentration of ammonia and other nutrient pollutants as the infamous
Delray Beach sewage ocean outfall.The FDEP has asked for public comments
to be submitted before the final permit is issued.The public comment
period ends May 13, 2007.
What you can do?

Write the FDEP before the public comment period ends and tell them not
to issue any new ocean discharge permits.
Click on this link:

http://www.wadespage.com/PublicComments/LakeWorthOutflowComment_Input.shtml

to get to our preformatted email sender. You are one click away from
helping to save a coral reef by telling the FDEP not to issue a permit
to dump nutrient pollution. You do not have to be a Florida resident to
respond. The Clean Water Act ia a federal law and our coral reefs are a
national treasure.

Here is some of what is at stake:
This 4 foot diameter Giant Brain Coral on Horseshoe Reef sits in the
path of the proposed Lake Worth ocean outfall wastewater stream. This
ancient sentinel of the reef began life about the time the Declaration
of Independence was being signed.

Will nutrient pollution be allowed to write the final chapter in the
life of one of Palm Beach Countys oldest living treasures?

PLEASE HELP

Send an email to the FDEP.

Please forward this email to everyone on your mailing list.

Time is running out.

Thank you,

Ed Tichenor

Palm Beach County Reef Rescue

PO Box 207

Boynton Beach, FL 33425

www.reef-rescue.org

561 699-8559


If you prefer to send you own email, here are the rules the FDEP has
established:

The comments or request for a public meeting must contain the following
information:

Re: City of Lake Worth Reverse Osmosis, WTP PA File
No.:FL0427187-001-IW5A/NP

City of Lake Worth, Palm Beach County
Mr. Michael Thew, P.E.
Water Systems Superintendent
1900 2nd Avenue North
Lake Worth, FL 33461

(a) The commenters name, address, and telephone number, the applicant's
name and address, the Department Permit File Number and the county in
which the project is proposed;

(b) A statement of how and when notice of the Department's action or
proposed action was received;

(c) A statement of the facts the Department should consider in making
the final decision;

(d) A statement of which rules or statutes require reversal or
modification of the Department's action or proposed action; and

(e) If desired, a request that a public meeting be scheduled including a
statement of the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the
meeting. However, the Department may not always grant a request for a
public meeting.

You can snail mail to:Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Southeast District Office, 400 N. Congress Ave, Suite 200, West Palm
Beach, FL 33401-2913 Attention: Linda A. Brien, P.G., Water Facilities
Administrator

Or email: [log in to unmask],

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