MEDIA ADVISORY: Sept. 19, 2013

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

STATE CONSERVATION LAND ASSESSMENT REGIONAL PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED

~Meetings scheduled for Pensacola, Fort Myers, Viera and Orlando in September and October~

TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled four meetings throughout the state in late September and early October in order to continue presenting the public with information about the Department's state conservation land assessment and to take public comment.

The meetings are scheduled for Sept. 30 in Pensacola, Oct. 3 in Fort Myers, Oct. 8 in Viera and Oct. 9 in Orlando. They are designed for the Department to inform the public about the scientific process that has been used to evaluate the 3 million acres of state conservation land with a goal of selling lower value conservation land, enabling the Department to buy more valuable conservation land.

To date, the preliminary list of sites for potential sale has been reduced from 169 sites and roughly 5,300 acres to roughly 95 sites and 4,200 acres, which represents 0.14 percent of the 3 million acres of state-owned conservation land. The meetings will also provide an opportunity for the public to provide comment about the process or specific sites.

"These regional meetings are another way for the Department to be transparent and proactive during this evaluation process," said Susan Grandin, Director of the Division of State Lands. "Our process is working -- many sites have been removed for legal or title issues, endangered species issues or others. The input we have received from the public has been a valuable part of this process and we hope for that to continue."

The public is encouraged to visit a webpage designed to provide updated information on the process, as well as a list of sites with maps and assessments, background on the process and related documents. Comments can also be submitted via email to ARC_mailinglist@dep.state.fl.us.

The meetings will take place:

Sept. 30

6 to 8 p.m.

Ernie Lee Magaha Building

221 Palafox Place

Pensacola

Oct. 3

6 to 8 p.m.

Joseph P. D'Alessandro Building

2295 Victoria Ave Suite 364

Fort Myers

Oct. 8

6 to 8 p.m.

Brevard County Board of County Commissioners Florida Room C-313

2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way

Viera

Oct. 9

6 to 8 p.m.

Florida DEP Central District Office

3319 Maguire Boulevard, Suite 232

Orlando

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The Department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally-sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view the Department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us.

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