Inaccuracies taint consultant's record

TAMPA — For years, Florida's largest environmental consulting firm, Biological Research Associates, has helped private companies win government permits to pave over wetlands and destroy wildlife habitat. Even government agencies, including the state Department of Environmental Protection, have hired the firm known as B.R.A.

But over the years, records show, B.R.A. has produced information of questionable accuracy:

• In Hillsborough County, B.R.A. reported finding no wildlife habitat on a development site, only to have county officials discover more than 100 acres still being used by wildlife. That part of the property was thus off-limits for development.

• In Miami-Dade County, B.R.A. said mining near Everglades National Park would have no effect on endangered wood storks there. A federal judge called the assessment "patently absurd."

• In Levy County, B.R.A. told state officials that a zoning change for a rock mine had been approved by a unanimous vote of the County Commission. Actually, the commission had not even considered it. (story here)

Comments

Hey pave first, ask questions later!

They should choke on their disgusting lies. This is how the politicians, especially the Republicans have discovered is the way to do things. If they can't beat the system, the media, the watchdogs, they become them. At the expense to all of us. This is criminal.

So what exactly did the state agencies get for the money using B.R.A.?

DEP: "Don't Expect Protection"

These types of corrupt unethical firms thrived under the Jeb Bush administrarion and his FDEP disaster leaders. People like David Stughs and Colleen Castille, former FDEP heads under Jeb, allowed these crooked firms to thrive. This agency look the other way and outright enabled the corrupt violation of environmental laws. This culture and mindset was pervasive through all of floridas environmental and water management agencies under jeb. While some of these agency heads may have changed, 99.9% of their senior staff are the same and it is business as usual, with the same enviornmental sell-out mindset still dominating. In the case of FDEP an over a decade long employee of Strughs and Castille who is now the leader may or many not be change we need. Time will tell if Sole fully understands just how misled and decieved he and others were. It is time for the Crist admninstration to bring the change they were voted in to do.

2:59 Well said

hee hee, you said taint

2:g59 shougld leargn how to spegll the namegs of peoplge it maligns.

http://whartonigel.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/interview-with-david-struhs-international-paper.html

[Republicans destroyed our environment.]

Our envirnment has been in need of a bailout for years. Time for change. Vote DEM. Repeal the Bush disaster. Every single act.

Screw the environmental wackos.

check this out from the politics1.com blog....

RNC CHAIRMANSHIP. More problems for Florida GOP Chair Jim Greer's likely campaign for RNC Chair. A letter of support for Greer from Governor Charlie Crist has not quelled growing questions about RPOF spending first reported here on Politics1. Greer has blamed many of the questionable expenditures charged to the RPOF American Express card on the outgoing Florida House and Senate leadership. Former Senate President Ken Pruitt and former House Speaker Marco Rubio both had been issued RPOF credit cards. Meanwhile, Republican activists are raising questions about other alleged expenditures including a $10,000 registration fee Greer paid to attend a conference on climate change; $46,000 for a posh London hotel, 5-star restaurants, limousines and department stores during Crist's summer trade mission to the UK; and over $3,600 to a premium cigar store for cigars purportedly delivered to Greer's home. Large RPOF donors are also concerned about a hotel bill at the posh Breakers in Palm Beach during a birthday celebration for Crist earlier this year when Greer stayed in a $2,000-a-night suite and charged an additional $2,000 to the room for food and alcohol. The big ticket expense was the nearly $700,000 charged for the use of charter jets. RPOF officials insist all expenditures were legitimate and directly related to party activities. Greer's allies also note the Republicans fared surprisingly well in this year's state legislative races, losing only one seat despite the Obama wave and heavy Democratic spending. Some RPOF executive committee members are demanding a breakdown of flights, destinations and other costs. Greer has promised a "corporate level" audit of RPOF books -- but critics want a forensic audit that will reveal who paid for what and why. A least one party donor is contemplating a lawsuit to force a forensic audit. Greer is a close friend and ally of Crist. Declared candidates for RNC Chair next month include current RNC Chair Mike Duncan, South Carolina GOP Chair Katon Dawson, Michigan GOP Chair Saul Anuzis, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle, and former Mike Huckabee campaign manager Chip Saltsman. Greer promises to make a decision on the RNC Chair race within the next few weeks.