On January 21st a federal judge upheld a 2008 decision ruling to cancel over 5,700 acres limestone mining permits adjacent to Everglades National Park in Miami-Dade County.

The mining permits, issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, were found unlawful because they compromised drinking water safety for the interests of private companies and did not comply with federal protections outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Lake Belt is an area of wetlands along Miami-Dade's northwest well fields which provide drinking water to South Florida residents. The area represents Florida's largest rock mining activities. Dangerous open rock pit mining in West Dade has put the Miami-Dade drinking water supply at risk for decades by altering hydrology and increasing exposure to carcinogens and illness causing bacteria called cryptosporidium.

Although Clean Water Action celebrates this decision, we expect the Army Corps is likely to issue new permits soon and will continue to fight for our water supply!