AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR CHRIST Dear Governor Christ, I am asking you to veto House Bill 7121 and Senate Bill 2784, creating the "Strategic Aggregates Review Task Force," overriding which overrides city and county mining ordinances. These bills do not provide ANY protection of natural resources from mining operations-- nor citizen due process rights to protect property. AT A MINIMUM, BOTH BILLS REQUIRE AMENDING TO STOP MINING WITHIN TWO MILES OF FIRST MAGNITUDE SPRINGS! Manatee Springs State Park (alone) is located across the street from one proposed limerock mining site-- with 13 first magnitude springs NOT protected. Also, this site is located across the road from my home-- and other existing subdivisions. Imagine limerock dust, blasting and rock hauling across the street from YOUR home and what that does to property values and "quiet enjoyment rights!" What the corporate landowner could not do through local controls, nor the courts, it is attempting through state override. PLEASE HELP PROTECT THESE NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUR CITIZEN 'DUE PROCESS' RIGHTS! Florida House Environmental and Natural Resources 'Protection' Committee CREATED a state crisis due to a supposed shortage of aggregate materials for roads and construction... including limerock. However, Florida Association of Counties Executive Director Chris Holley said Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) publicly stated that DOT IS NOT SEEKING PREEMPTION OVER CITY NOR COUNTY RIGHTS. Holley said `some mining industry representatives` are NOT seeking this change-- yet `some' within the mining industry are `MISREPRESENTING FACTS' [seeking state override over local controls]. Levy County Commissioners worked over a year in public hearings creating Levy County Land Development Regulations (LDRs). These LDRs protect both our natural resources and homeowner`s property values. Property owners are now having to contemplate whether to stay or sell property due to valuation declines should mine overrides occur. Legal battles will probably ensue for resulting property devaluations, loss of quiet enjoyment of homes, loss of drinkable ground water from existing wells, and damage from blasting`s effects creating fractures in and upon near building`s foundations and structures. While these damages may be 'business expenses' for mines near present and existing subdivisions, they will destroy natural springs and our homes quality of life. Neither House of Representatives William Kendrick and Florida Senator Steve Oelrich (faced with overwhelming public outrage over state`s usurping mining control) responded to voter telephone calls! Both will vote according to their campaign contributions. Worse, William Kendrick AND Nancy Argenziano are BOTH term limited, so do they care whether horrible environmental disasters and property devaluations are created for constituents? WE ASK THAT YOU NEVER CONSIDER SUCH PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOR FUTURE STATE PUBLIC APPOINTMENT IF THEY SUPPORT THESE BILLS! Governor Christ, I understand you vowed to veto a wetland's bill Representative Kendrick sponsored to take away local control of city and county governments from wetland developments, another environmental disaster! HB 7121 and SB 2784 are just as deserving of your veto, Sir! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER! Sincerely, Vera Ellen Rich, CPA | 
