Community Advocacy

EnviroCare Develops and Supports Fair Solutions for all Interested and Impacted Parties.

EnviroCare embraces change as a natural cycle of progress and expansion. To ensure a positive outcome, EnviroCare supports involving all parties motivated to find a fair solution and mitigation measures for any negative impacts. The ultimate goal is to achieve a balanced result.

Homeland security

New Homeland Security regulations affected more than airline travel. Stricter security measures also affected South Florida marinas and treated under new “Port” regulations due to mooring large yachts. EnviroCare worked with Florida’s Congressional Delegation, United States Coast Guard (USCG)Headquarters, and Miami’s Captain of the Port to represent the interests of the South Florida marine community, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), the Florida Yacht Brokers Association and the Mediterranean Yacht Broker Association. EnviroCare was actively gathering and disseminating individual concerns to assist in creating a policy that would allow yachts to moor at public marine facilities without implementing Homeland Security Port Regulations. In 2007, the USCG approved EnviroCare’s Facility Security Plans for South Florida Marina’s hosting foreign flag yachts over 500 Gross Tons. EnviroCare completed deregulating for South Florida marinas under new USCG regulatory interpretations and yacht procedures.

Broward County Marine Master Plan

Due to the demand for high-rise residential waterfront properties in early 2000, marine businesses were disappearing quickly. During this time, Susan Engle was President of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF). Under her leadership, she worked with the community to understand the importance of working with waterfront businesses. Palm Beach County took an active stance and issued a local bond to benefit specific waterfront acquisitions. The MIASF and Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University developed a Marine Master Plan. The Plan engaged the cooperation of local municipalities and the marine industry to provide a countywide framework to address issues, set goals, and take action to show the importance of retaining and expanding working waterfront facilities. The dynamic action plan was to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of the marine industry in South Florida. Throughout the process, Susan Engle was Chair of the MIASF Marine Master Plan Steering Committee. The committee comprised local marine industry, government, and agency leaders who volunteered to oversee, guide, and direct the progress through implementation.

Broward County Manatee Protection Plan

On behalf of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), EnviroCare worked with Broward County’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Environmental Groups, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize Broward County’s Boat Facility Siting Plan (BFSP), which was the last element in obtaining a Manatee Protection Plan. The Plan’s approval would eliminate Broward County’s three (3) year moratorium on new boat slip permits. A subgroup provided specific documentation and feedback to the governing bodies. This subgroup represented the Audubon Society, Independent Green Party, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, MIASF, Broward County EPD, Serra Club, and Save the Manatee Club. The goal was to provide the environmental agencies with information demonstrating a positive correlation between increased slips and manatee movement throughout the county. To reach a consensus, the Broward County Commissioners imposed a slip fee to fund a marine patrol officer, a new county employee to oversee Broward’s new Marine Facility Operating License, and aerial flyovers during manatee sessions.

Florida Inland Navigational District - Broward County Dredging

During Susan Engle’s eight-year tenure as Broward County’s Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) Commission, she initiated Broward’s Deepening projects for the Dania Cutoff Canal, the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway (AIWW), and the New River. She began the process by engaging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a Project Management Plan to determine the feasibility of improving navigation for larger vessels. In 2006, Susan Engle obtained the support of the FIND Commission to pursue the deepening project as one of FIND’s first internal projects. The project design excavated the Dania Cutoff Canal. The AIWW from their existing depths to a depth of –17ft mean low water (MLW), representing a –15ft MLW project depth and an additional 2 ft allowable over-depth dredging. In December of 2008, she obtained the support of the yachting community by demonstrating how navigation improvements would enhance the ability of marina owners to attract larger vessels to Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale. In addition, partnerships with FIND marinas could improve access to their facilities and deepen the berths of larger yachts. LXR Luxury Marinas owned and managed three marina projects in Fort Florida, totaling approximately 400 slips. The marinas include Hyatt Pier Sixty-Six, Fort Lauderdale Hilton, and the Bahia Mar. SunTech operates Bahia Mar, and Tavistock owns and operates Pier 66.

Because of natural resources within the AIWW portion, the project comprised three phases. The initial Phase was completed in 2013 by deepening the Dania Cutoff. The AIWW and the New River deepening are still in the permitting and implementation stages.

FEC Impact Study

In early 2014, EnviroCare supported several boatyards and marine businesses west of the Fort Lauderdale FEC railroad bridge to assist those documenting impacts from additional railroad train usage and identify mitigation measures to avoid negative consequences. The services expanded to a coalition of concerned Ft. Lauderdale Area Property Owners, Boaters, and Marine Industry Businesses. The coalition’s objective was to review the suggested improvements to South Florida’s multimodal transportation system and recommend sustaining a high quality of life and economic prosperity with the ability to move goods and people while not impacting mariners’ interests. EnviroCare assembled and engaged a team of multi-disciplinary professionals to represent the coalition of marine and residential interests directly affected by rail bridge operations.

On December 3, 2014, EnviroCare prepared and submitted a comprehensive comment and objection report to All Aboard Florida (AAF) Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared under the Federal Railroad Administration. EnviroCare’s report advocated for constructive solutions to future rail planning and construction.

Twenty years later, Broward County, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and the MIASF are finally coming to terms with the impacts of the increase in train traffic and how it affects the New River, street traffic, and pedestrian movement. EnviroCare, commissioned by a group of concerned local marine businesses along the New River, spearheaded a response to the All Aboard Florida, now Brightline’s request to expand the FEC railroad to commuter passengers. The response was supported by experts in bridge construction, land use, planning, and economic and environmental impacts.