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Mining Impacts to the Human and Natural Environments

A compendium of resources and issues

Legal documents for all mining types:

Is it legal for additional documents to be provided after a hearing? 

Hmmmmm, interesting, considering they announced after the last hearing that no additional documents could be submitted...

from the newspaper :  "But after Saunders suggested the moratorium, other board members called for
the meeting to be postponed until June 30. That would allow more time to
gather documents necessary to weigh Mosaic?s proposal, members said."

Subject: Re: Hardee board postpones mine meeting

 
   I don't know if it's illegal to submit more documents. Perhaps Brad Kelsky could consider that question. I know that Mosaic submitted numerous documents and revised its application even in the middle of an administrative hearing in which Charlotte County was challenging the application.
   I also wonder about Hardee County's economic development director meeting with Mosaic out of the Sunshine to negotiate the economic mitigation.
   As you probably know, Charlotte County's appointment of a county commissioner to negotiate with Mosaic on the phosphate compact raised a question about Sunshine. I was told by the state's expert on Sunshine violations, at the Brechner Institue, she told me that an appointee may attend a meeting to hear information and report back, but if the appointee takes actions on behalf of the local government, such as approves or rejects terms of a draft agreement, that would constitute a violation. The county's attorney and the Peace River water authority's attorney disagreed with that opinion, but it seems odd that the negotiating committee was, as authority attorney Doug Manson, told me, łnot a committee,˛ but the county commission couldn't appoint Adam Cummings because he then served on the authority board with committee member Shannon Staub, and that would represent the authority meeting out of the Sunshine.

   I'm not familiar with how Bill Lambert initiated his negotiations for łeconomic mitigation.˛ I gathered that he just thought it was a good idea. He also told me he was hoping the B&Z board would continue their meeting. I wonder how many members he talked to prior to Thursday's meeting.
   I also wonder how county officials can negotiate for extra benefits when they are restricted by their mining code, which apparently fails to address economic impacts. Local governments do this with developers and, even though it hasn't been challenged because it appears to be in the public interest, the practice still makes me wonder.


Do mining code restrictions not allow them to consider economic impacts? 

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This resource focuses on adverse impacts from mining currently not addressed or evaluated by regulatory agencies and municipalities, as well as alternatives to mining and approaches for improved monitoring and evaluation of existing and proposed mine sites and mine-related impacts.  This portal is made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of scientists, other professionals and citizens.

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Last updated June 16, 2008