EVENTS

Want to get the word out on an event?  Have pictures to submit?  
Email information and photos to environmentalconfederation@gmail.com for inclusion in ECOSWF Events.

Mosaic Workshops Scheduled - DeSoto County
Read more here
Upcoming Mosaic workshops are scheduled for July 27 and October 18.​  Call 662-469-8000 for time and location.
Mosaic owns around 23,000 acres of farmland in DeSoto County. The company wants 14,000 of those acres rezoned to allow mining. The workshops are part of a 2019 dispute settlement between the county and Mosaic, after county commissioners denied the rezoning in 2018. They are set to continue through 2023, when Mosaic plans to resubmit its rezoning request to DeSoto commissioners.
Picture





Robin Hagan of RHPhotoAdventures will be your guide at a wide variety of diverse and interesting destinations in 2022.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Click to sign up and the exact meetup location will be sent to you: 
https://rhphotoadventures.com/guided-tour-sign-up 
July 17th – Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, Punta Gorda
August 21st – Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland
September 18th – Bird Rookery Swamp, Naples
October 16th – Emerson Point, Bradenton
November 20th – Oscar Scherer State Park, Venice
December 18th – Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples
NOAA seeks input on Gulf of Mexico aquaculture sites, including 3 off Florida
Upcoming Meeting - submit advance comments or speak on
Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. EDT
Follow this webinar link to view the meeting presentation:
https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PWXW2739199&p=9612327&t=c
To listen and provide comments, dial 800-857-5095 and use participant passcode: 9612327​
Get Involved: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
How to participate in the public comment period
NOAA Fisheries is holding a 60-day public comment period ending 
​August 1, 2022 to gather feedback from the public on the scope of the programmatic environmental impact statement. Written comments can be submitted electronically or by mail any time during the comment period.
Scoping Meeting Presentation (PDF)
Electronic Comments: Written comments can be submitted electronically via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to regulations.gov and enter “NOAA-NMFS-2022-0044” in the search box. Click on the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Enter “N/A” in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous.
Mail: Submit written comments by mail to Andrew Richard, Regional Aquaculture Coordinator, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Please include “Gulf AOA PEIS” on the envelope. 
Public comments can also be submitted verbally at three virtual public scoping meetings: 
Past Meeting Records:
Scoping Meeting June 8
Read Transcript (PDF)  Listen to Recorded Meeting (MP4)
Scoping Meeting June 16  Read Transcript (PDF) 
Listen to Recorded Meeting (MP4)

During the public scoping period, NOAA Fisheries is interested in data, comments, views, information, analyses, alternatives, or suggestions on:
  • The scope of the NEPA analysis, including the range of reasonable alternatives and how many/which locations should be considered and evaluated;
  • The type of aquaculture (e.g., finfish, shellfish, seaweed, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture) that could be supported and/or analyzed in a proposed AOA location;
  • Ecologically, economically and socially suitable species and gear for aquaculture that could be analyzed for a proposed AOA location; 
  • Monitoring and reporting requirements for owners and operators of aquaculture facilities that could mitigate impacts to managed and non-managed fishery resource, protected species, habitat, water quality, storm, navigation, economic, social/cultural and other impacts;
  • Potential adverse, beneficial, neutral and/or cumulative impacts to biological, physical and ecological resources, including potential interactions with marine mammals and other species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act or Endangered Species Act, essential fish habitat designated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other sensitive, managed, or protected habitats in the Gulf of Mexico;
  • Potential adverse, beneficial, neutral and/or cumulative impacts to the social, economic, and cultural environment, including commercial and recreational fishing industries and coastal communities;
  • Promotion of environmental justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion when considering alternative AOA locations and other aspects of offshore aquaculture development in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico; 
  • Underserved communities and underrepresented groups, and/or regions and communities that could either benefit from or be adversely impacted by the siting of AOAs in the Gulf of Mexico;
  • The impact of  climate change and/or changing environmental conditions (e.g., storm intensity, sea level rise, water quality) on siting and other aspects of aquaculture;
  • Current or planned activities in or near the areas highlighted in this Notice of Intent and their possible impacts on aquaculture development or the impact of aquaculture developments on those activities;
  • Other topics relevant to the Proposed Action and its impacts on the human environment.