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Letter to the editor

Scrutiny provides best hope for Wal-Mart site

Dedicated opponents to the planned Wal-Mart Supercenter in Tarpon Springs haven't given up, despite losing several major battles over the last three years. They have won a few fights, too, so they remain dogged in their efforts to examine plans and other documents in microscopic detail.

The opponents have argued from the beginning that putting a massive retail project on the bank of the Anclote River, which is a protected Florida waterway, will negatively affect the river and its wetlands. They are convinced that polluted runoff and trash from the property will foul the water and harm plant and animal life.

Now, those opponents claim they have proof they were right: a letter from the Southwest Florida Water Management District sent to Wal-Mart engineers last month.

The letter states that because the project will affect wetlands, Wal-Mart will have to get an easement from the state Department of Environmental Protection before work can proceed.

The letter has resulted in another review of possible wetland impacts from the project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Wal-Mart opponents hope that this new review might uncover other problems that could delay or even blow up Wal-Mart's approved building plans.

It has happened before.

In 2006 opponents informed the Army Corps that it had improperly granted a permit to Wal-Mart that could lead to damage to a protected wetland. The Army Corps agreed and Wal-Mart had to revise its site plan.

There is disagreement, however, about what Swiftmud's letter means.

Wal-Mart says the letter doesn't refer to the plans and permits for the store itself, which is to be built on an undeveloped wooded site on U.S. 19 at the river's edge. Instead, it refers to associated road work off the store property, and therefore the new review could not put at risk the permitting for the supercenter itself.

Wetland damage caused by road work is no less concerning to the public and hopefully, to regulators, than damage from the store.

What's encouraging about this latest chapter is that it is further proof that the battle fought by Wal-Mart opponents continues to result in careful scrutiny by regulators.

Swiftmud staff caught the need for an easement from DEP. Now DEP will examine Wal-Mart's plans and the Army Corps will review them again.

The Anclote River is a precious resource. Its protection is vital. The more eyes examining Wal-Mart's plans, the better.

[Last modified December 3, 2007, 20:48:22]