
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 14, 1993                   TAG: 9307140367
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SUGAR GROWERS TO FOOT EVERGLADES BILL

Major sugar growers agreed Tuesday to pay as much as $322 million toward cleaning up agricultural pollution that is killing the Everglades. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt called it the most ambitious ecosystem restoration project in history.

The agreement between the sugar industry, the state of Florida and federal officials entails a $465 million plan to clean up and restore the fragile wetlands and marshes in Southern Florida.

But it was immediately denounced by environmental groups as inadequate to protect the Everglades, which are crucial to many plant and animal species, to South Florida's water supply and to tourism and fishing.

Babbitt characterized the breakthrough as a "tentative settlement." It is dependent on further talks to work out specifics on timing, payment schedules and how the pollution cut would work.

Babbitt convened the sugar growers and state officials in behind-closed-doors negotiations. The statement of principles by the government and representatives of U.S. Sugar and Flo-Sun, Inc., the two largest growers, agreed to seek a 90-day stay of current federal litigation, and to use that time to finish the plan.

The pact will require farmers to reduce Everglades-polluting phosphorus runoff, increase the life-giving water flow through the Everglades by 25 percent, and construct 40,000 acres of marshes to filter the pollution.

The sugar companies would pay up to $322 million over 20 years, although it is anticipated the major construction work would occur within 11 years.

The extended payment schedule somewhat offsets the fact that the liability is significantly higher than the $150 million that the sugar firms had earlier agreed to.

The federal government is to contribute about $54 million, and the state of Florida will pay nearly $100 million. The state's share will be financed partly by a property tax increase raising $22 million a year.

Environmental groups were excluded from the recent negotiations on payment ratios, but Babbitt promised to invite them to future talks, along with the Miccosukee tribe members of the Everglades.

by CNB