Lawsuits say U.S. actions threaten Florida panthers
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 27, 2003
A pair of lawsuits filed by environmental groups Thursday accuse federal officials of allowing developers and miners to destroy crucial habitat for the endangered Florida panther.
One lawsuit challenges a permit approved by the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that allows Florida Rock Industries to open a 6,000-acre limestone mine in Fort Myers in panther habitat. In exchange, Florida Rock will set aside 800 acres for preservation.
The other suit filed by the National Wildlife Federation and two other groups targets blanket permits issued by the Corps of Engineers for some types of development without individual environmental reviews. The permits are intended to be used when there will be minimal impact on the environment. The groups say they have been used for development in Lee and Collier counties that has been harmful to panthers.
The Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Although they once roamed the South, fewer than 100 now exist, most hemmed into Southwest Florida, an area that over the past decade has experienced rapid development.
A spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said he could not comment on the suit. A spokesman for the Corps of Engineers did not return a call.
