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Wal-Mart digs up trouble with turtles

By TERRI BRYCE REEVES
Published April 5, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - When a work crew tried to unearth some gopher tortoises on the site of a proposed Wal-Mart recently, it stirred up more than soil.

Instead, workers unleashed the ire of local activists who gathered Tuesday night on the steps of Tarpon Springs City Hall and waved banners and flaunted photos of a backhoe.

The group's hand-painted signs said, "Bury Wal-Mart, not the turtles," "Wal-Mart is an environmental predator" and "First the turtles, next 800 trees, then our heritage and way of life."

"We're asking the Board of Commissioners to find the will and compassion to intervene," said Dory Larsen, a member of Friends of the Anclote River, which opposes the Wal-Mart project.

In response, the mayor recommended that the city write regulatory agencies and Wal-Mart to put its concerns about the incident on record. Two other commissioners also criticized the company, which said it made an innocent mistake.

Wal-Mart and its consultant, Lotspeich and Associates of Winter Park, had obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to relocate up to 10 tortoises from the site, which is on U.S. 19 near the Anclote River.

But before disturbing the animals, the retailer was first required to secure all of its other permits from other government agencies. And when the tortoises were removed, some permits were still pending, officials have said.

On March 23, state wildlife enforcement agents were called after activists spotted a backhoe on the property. When a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer arrived, the tortoises were already loaded in a truck headed for a mitigation bank in Volusia County. The officer ordered they be released back into starter holes.

Members of the Sierra Club, the Friends of the Anclote River and the Wal-Mart Alliance for Reform Now organized Tuesday's rally at City Hall to bring attention to the matter.

After the protest, the dozen or so activists filed into City Hall to express their frustration and concern for the creatures during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Speakers asked the commissioners to investigate and see if the eight turtles were still alive.

One critic said this was just one more example of Wal-Mart's disregard for the environment, fair trade and labor laws.

Larsen called for the city to write letters to Wal-Mart and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

"Let them know that you do not approve of the laws being broken within the city of Tarpon Springs limits, that you do not approve of a developer having wanton disregard for Tarpon Springs' permitting procedures, and that you hope that they enforce the strictest penalties allowable, including, but not limited to, revoking the permit entirely," she told commissioners.

Mayor Beverley Billiris recommended the city attorney draft a letter from the board to Wal-Mart and regulatory agencies to share their displeasure with the violations.

Commissioner Robin Saenger said the actions of the nation's largest retailer show a pattern of disingenuousness.

And Commissioner Peter Dalacos suggested passing a resolution to condemn Wal-Mart's actions.

On Wednesday, Wal-Mart spokesman Michael Mills said it was all an innocent mistake.

"We had an incidental take permit which allows us to move or kill the turtles," he said. "But Wal-Mart decided the right thing to do was to move the turtles to a conservation area where they will hopefully lead happy and healthy lives."

He said factors such as the weather and that the mitigation area was "filling up with other tortoises" caused the retailing giant to act prematurely.

"In our effort to do the right thing for the community and the gopher tortoises, we may have moved ahead of some paperwork or process," he said.

No tortoises died in the move, he said.

"Someone has been there since and all eight are fine," he said.

Terri Bryce Reeves can be reached at treeves@tampabay.rr.com.

[Last modified April 5, 2007, 06:50:30]