03-04-2025 Trump Addressed the Nation
TALLAHASSEE
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced Tuesday that he was ordering a committee to hold hearings into insurance companies moving billions of dollars to affiliate companies while claiming losses, following reporting by the Herald/Times.
[So, if The Miami Herald had not reported on Insurance Companies moving billions of dollars to affiliate companies while claiming losses, the Legislators in the Florida House would not have known?]
In his opening remarks for the legislative session, which began Tuesday, the Miami Republican said that insurance companies might have been using “creative accounting” to “hide” profits.
[If the Insurance companies are using creative accounting to hide profits, who are the auditors? Who are the accountants? Are they reporting false information? Then, what are the consequences? What will happen to the excess premiums we have been charged during the last few years because they were losing so much in the State of Florida?]
“A couple of years ago, the insurance industry came to the Legislature and said without sweeping reforms, companies could not compete in Florida,” Perez told lawmakers.
[If based on false premises, will the sweeping reforms be retracted? Will the Insurance companies be forced to return excessive premiums charged to property owners?]
“We have since learned of reports — in existence at that time but not disclosed to the Legislature — that may suggest some insurance companies were using accounting tricks to hide substantial profits while telling us they were in a crisis.”
RELATED CONTENT: Democrats urge DeSantis to investigate why state didn’t share critical insurance study. [See below}
The Herald/Times last month revealed that a never-before-seen state report found that insurance companies claimed to lose millions at the start of the state’s insurance crisis, while their affiliate companies made billions.
The report was produced in March 2022, months before lawmakers met in emergency sessions of the Legislature to make it harder to sue insurance companies.
[If the Legislature made it harder to sue insurance companies... is the Legislature responsible for PROTECTING the Mining Industry and now the Insurance industry?]
Insurers, regulators and Gov. Ron DeSantis cited the high number of lawsuits against companies as the reason why Floridians were experiencing skyrocketing premiums.
Perez said the committee would be given the “full range of tools” to investigate: “issuing subpoenas, putting witnesses under oath, and hiring outside experts.”
Those tools are rarely used by legislative committees.
[Are we hearing the stuff they know we want to hear in direct competition with Elon Musk / Trump's DOGE to gather the industry to give them more donations or will we, the people, see relief in the form of RETURNED UNEARNED PREMIUMS based on a figment of corrupt imaginations?]
The remarks received a standing ovation by representatives. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM.
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article301390569.html#storylink=cpy
Next... the report that no one had seen...
RELATED CONTENT: Democrats urge DeSantis to investigate why state didn’t share critical insurance study
PAGE #1:
57 Companies, either individually or as a part of a group of insurers, were selected for the review.
4 Companies were NOT reviewed due to recent acquisition transactions and / or insufficient data.
3 of the remaining 53 companies were liquidated in 2021 or 2022.
41 of the 53 companies utilize a Managing General Agent - MGA - or Attorney in Fact to administer policy and claim operations.
Requested the video from the Florida Channel and received the Terms of Use:
Thanks to The Town of Miami Lakes Town Manager we received the link to the 02-06-2024 House Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee, below... click on the link to watch:
The video starts 00:12 with ‘Amy, please call the roll’ process where some names are called out saying ‘excused’. Representatives are called out: Chair Sirois present, Vice Chair Yeger is excused. Democratic Ranking Member Casello, Joe D is excused. Representatives: Amesty, Carolina [R] Present; Chamberlin, Ryan. Present; Gantt, Ashley Viola D. Present; Holcomb, Jeff. Present; Maggard, Randall Scott. Present; Maney, Patt. Present; McFarland, Fiona is excused; Melo, Lauren. Present: Nixon, Angela Present; Robinson, William is excused; Shoaf, Jason Present ; Silvers, David present; Valdes, Susan Present - Ex Officio
00:51 Quorum achieved, Audience is welcomed
00:57 Agenda Item the public wants to provide testimony, an appearance form must be completed and turned into the Sergeant Staff, silence electronic devices, speak loudly and clearly into the microphones, recording a vote: YES or NO, no additional commentary while voting
01:36 Panel is introduced and asked to move forward to proceed. Chair of Hearing, Representative Tyler I. Sirois says the Panel will be discussing some issues down in Miami Dade County related to Mining. Names of Panel Participants:
1. Joan Rice, Director from the Division of the Fire Marshal's Office
2. Town of Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board Chair Miguel Martínez, Architect
3. Town of Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board Secretary, Attorney at Law Steven Herzberg, today a Council member
4. David L. Teasdale, Sr. Vice President of Forensic Engineering at Hague Engineering Company
5. Jeffrey Straw, Vice President and Area Manager for Geo-sonics
6. Ananth Prasad, President, Florida Transportation & Builders Association
2:42 Presentations begin, the Chair provides about 8 minutes to each participant, provides for committee comments, then Representative Tom Fabricio will arrive momentarily to provide additional details into the issues
Chair of Hearing: Rep Tyler I. Sirois
03:54: Representative Tom Fabricio sets table for the Committee
03:54: Representative Tom Fabricio sets the table for the proceeding, presentations about to be heard and the presentations will start
04:04 Representative Tom Fabricio is recognized: “Greatly appreciates being indulged -to allow the pleasure of becoming involved in an activity which is typically one that is undesirable or disapproved. To get to this workshop it has been 4 years in the making for our area’s State of Florida Representative! Outrageous!”
04:17 This is an issue that Rep. Fabricio ran on, a very important issue to the communities he represents, Hialeah, Miami Lakes, Miramar, Palm Springs North, Doral, Miami Gardens.
04:21 ‘Our view to this issue is very simple. We believe that the Lime Rock Blasting Limits in the State are generally fine, however, in situations where we are about 1,000 yards from residential communities, our homes are shaking every day.
There is damage to the homes. Data to be presented from the gentlemen from the community, indicate that the lower basting limits often used by some of the quarries and they are able to extract lime stone at the lower levels that would cause less damage, less disruption.
Gentlemen are here from the community and gentlemen are here from the industry. It is greatly important for us and we greatly appreciate your indulgence with this and we ask that under rule 7.5 Term of Appointment
7.5—Term of Appointment
All standing committee or subcommittee chairs, vice chairs, and members serve at the pleasure of the Speaker. All initial standing committee and subcommittee appointments made by the Speaker in accordance with Rule 7.2 shall be made before each regular session is convened and shall expire on June 30 of odd- numbered years or, if the Legislature is convened in special or extended session on that date, upon adjournment sine die of such session.
05:20 Please allow Public Testimony as there are folks from the community who have traveled very far to be here with us. Thank you
05:35 - 12:33: 7 Joan Rice, Director from the Division of the Fire Marshal's Office [Help Received]
05:40 Joan Rice starts her presentation by mentioning the Miami Dade Pilot Program:
The Division of the State Fire Marshal created this website to promote transparency and accountability with respect to enforcement actions against construction materials mining activity that does not comply with Florida law.?This website allows you to submit complaints regarding alleged non-compliant construction materials mining activity and view the status of complaints submitted to the Division of State Fire Marshal regarding construction materials mining activity.
The Division of State Fire Marshal (Division) has contracted with a seismologist to place monitors across Miami-Dade County.? The monitors are in place to monitor and report on vibrations that result from blast events associated with construction mining in Miami Dade County.? However, enforcement actions can only be based on readings from monitors positioned in accordance with the Florida Administrative code.?
Specifically, Florida Administrative Code Rule 69A-2.024(4)(b)(1) states “Ground vibration shall be measured for every blast at the location of the nearest building that is not owned, leased, or contracted by the blasting or mining operation, or on property for which the owner has not provided a written waiver to the blasting operations, up to a maximum of one mile.”?
Please note, environmental variables such as geology, hydrology, tree roots, roads, etc. may affect the frequency and wavelength of a blast.? Due to these variables, it is not uncommon to get different readings at seismographs that are relatively close together.
The Division continually monitors the readings provided by both independent and contracted seismologists, and actively attempts to minimize discrepancies by evaluating both the quantities and locations of contracted seismographs.?
Vibration Monitoring Course and Analysis Training:
RI 8507 Structure Response and Damage Produced by Ground Vibration from Surface Mine Blasting: https://vibrationmonitoringcourse.com/osmre-ground-vibration-monitoring-papersosmre-office-surface-mining-reclamation-enforcement/ri-8507-structure-response-ground-vibration-mine-blasting/
05:59 Legislative background provided as to how they got where they are today. In 2017 Legislators appropriated funds to the Division of State Fire Marshals, to contract for a study to review the Bureau of Miners Report / RI 8507 a comprehensive report of over 40 years of research on structure response and damage produced by ground vibration from structured mine blasting. The report outlines safe blasting limits to prevent vibration damage to residential structures. The study focused on Florida and its unique soil particularly in areas surrounding construction mining. The study was completed in 2018
06:42 The study concluded that the findings as to blasting intensity was applicable to Florida. In 2019, House Bill 1189, Vibration Limits were established based on 1189
2019 House Bill 1189
Click to read: https://myfloridacfo.com/docs-sf/state-fire-marshal-libraries/sfm-documents/mine-blasting-study.pdf?sfvrsn=41235181_2
Construction Materials Mining Activities Consultation and Study Preparation Services, the Final Report, Contract FM410 prepared for State of Florida, Department of Financial Services, 200 East Gaines Street, Larson Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, July 2018... RESPEC:
Bill Text: Pages Total 7
02-06-2024 House Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee continues: https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/2-6-24-house-regulatory-reform-economic-development-subcommittee/
06:51 Requiring the State to set limits… that is misleading it is NOT the State of Florida who sets the limits, it is the STATE FIRE MARSHAL!
54 (2) The State Fire Marshal shall establish statewide
55 ground vibration limits, based on both frequency and particle
56 velocity, for construction materials mining activities which
57 conform to those limits established in the United States Bureau
58 of Mines, Report of Investigations 8507, Appendix B -
59 Alternative Blasting Level Criteria (Figure B-1).
07:00 2020 HB 1047: Fire Marshal has Exclusive authority
CS/HB 1047: Construction Materials Mining Activities
07:46 Required Mines to provide written notification to the Division of Explosives before the detonation of any explosive, Florida Administrative Rule 69A: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/Division.asp?DivID=359
08:03 2021 The Division Officially established the Miami Dade Construction Mining Pilot Program
08:27 Fire Marshal’s website collects data and allows the public to file a complaint and review the data
08:32 Fire Marshal has developed the Blasting Activity Report, provides key information to help the Fire Marshal monitor blasts, each blast and each license and must submit a blasting activities report to the division which includes information about the peak particle velocity value and sound decibels. It requires, time, location, the number drills and the type of explosives used. Each blast that occurs within a 2 mile radius of the urban developed area must be below the adopted limit. .5 inches per second.
09:09 An additional requirement was for the Division of the State Fire Marshal to contract with a seismologist and a competitive procurement process was followed and a seismologist contracted who strategically located seismographs around residential area in a geo-fencing manner, which allow to gather time stamped geo referenced readings of peak particle velocity, air over pressure, frequency and distances to blast.
09:38 Information is available to the public on the Fire Marshal’s website
09:45 The contracted seismologist assists the Fire Marshal to ensure compliance
09:50 Data is reviewed by the contracted seismologist and the Division to ensure readings are within Florida laws
10:03 A second level of review over the information submitted by the mines
10:10 Any deviation is subject to disciplinary action by the Department of Financial Services / Fire Marshal’s office
10:22 Map identifying the seismographs located in the North West section of Miami Dade County. Currently there are 23 geo fencing seismographs monitoring the North West, planning to add 5 more to have a side by side comparison to the numbers reported by the mines, on line by April 2024. Each meets strict calibration guidelines.
10:56 Measurements taken and equipment installed must be in accordance with the International Society of Explosive Engineers Blasters Handbook
11:10 Images mentioned yet not shown, filed for a Public Records Request!
Public Records Request - House of Representatives: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/
02-08-2024 Public Records Requested / Information received:
Office of Open Government [email protected] 02-08-2024 @ 12:31?PM (2 minutes ago)
The Office of Open Government received the request below.
The information you are looking for can be found at
Meeting packet for 02-06-2024 Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Sub-committee: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?PublicationType=Committees&CommitteeId=3236&Session=2024&DocumentType=Meeting+Packets&FileName=rrs+2-6-24.pdf
13:22 - 21:02: 8 Min Jeffrey Straw, VP Geo-sonics specializes in man-made vibrations for 45 years [Help Received]
21:33 - 28:28: 7 Min? Ananth Prasad, President, Florida Transportation & Builders Association [Help Received]
28:52 - 34:54: 6 Min Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board Chair Miguel Martinez [Help Received]
35:15 - 39:56: Under 5 minutes Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board Secretary Steven Herzberg, Esq. [Help Received]
White Rock, out of 305 blasts, 167 were below 0.15, that means only 55%!
40:18 - 45:33: 5+ Min? David L. Teasdale, Sr. Vice President of Forensic Engineering
Public Comments:
52:28 Town of Miami Lakes Councilwoman Marilyn Ruano
52:37 I am here in support of this bill… interrupted by the Chair who says, I apologize but need to clarify, there is no bill. What? Representative Fabricio introduced Bill 245 and while this is a workshop to discuss mining in the Lake Belt Region it is because of the Bill on Mining Activity!
53:00 on the dial, because of the interruption, Council Woman Ruano is given her minute. 100s of homes have damages whether structural, or surface damage. Some of these mines need to be better neighbors. Not trying to put anyone out of business, we are experiencing significant property damage, we have residents that have to continually repair their homes, we understand the industry is very important.
53:43 Having a daily earth quake and watching your property crumble before your eyes is very difficult and as local elected officials, this is out of our hands, there is nothing we can do. It is in your hands and in the hands of our Representatives to bring us some relief.
54:00 Inflationary pressures are affecting our communities, hikes in property insurance is affecting our communities, and on top of that to have to continually repair your driveway, your dry wall, redo your swimming pool…
54:12 The cost of refilling your swimming pool, it is excessive because of the cracking, so although it seems that the State really needs this material, we have to consider the homeowners that should NOT bear the brunt of the cost to create these aggregates
54:39 Town of Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez
54:44 How do our residents feel? The sanctity of their homes, the thing we worked the hardest to build in our lives, it is being invaded, it is being violated, on a daily basis by these blasts. The very foundation of their homes is being weakened
55:11 The very blast designed to pulverize and disintegrate the rock are completely innocuous to the structures 1/2 a mile away should be called into question. We all understand how important these materials are to the economic development of the entire state but we are unduly taxing our residents to subsidize the cost of materials
55:47 With no mechanism to make them whole! It is very unfair, we need to take a step back and analyze what we are doing to our mutual residents from this invasion to the blast of energy they have no ability to control.
56:15 Blasting Advisory Board Marketing Franchesca Vasquez-Ortega
56:25 I am a resident from Palm Springs North, a Mom of two, and a Real Estate Professional. Mining sends shakes and waves through our properties and businesses, literally earthquakes!
56:38 Even our children attending schools in that area are subjected to blasting on a daily basis. Schools mitigate the impact by scheduling outside activities / music times so that the children are not frightened. As a Real Estate Professional I have witnessed damage to property and a deterioration to homes / businesses especially during the last five years. To demonstrate the disconnect, FDOT is expanding a road and they did not even know about blasting in the area. Not taking into account these roads back up into people’s residences! The time to review this potential bill is now as we are only talking about property damage now
57:38 Thank you very much, your time has expired
First Question:
Q: 46:00 If there is a reduction in vibration, will there be more blasts?
A: 46:10 The miners will be drilling by loading explosives in smaller charges, in terms of number of holes. These will be closer together and instead of shooting once or twice per day, you could have six to seven times per day, In 1980 in Florida that is what they were doing. A minimum of four to five shots per day because of where they were loading and the materials they were extracting. Now that standards are qualitative, they use different materials and blast fewer times per day.
Q: While concerned for the homeowners, of course, perhaps the committee members can answer, where there any types of disclosures from the Developers or the realtors given to individuals wanting to buy properties near by blasting place?
A: 47:33 Blasting Advisory Board Secretary Steven Herzberg: For new developments, yes per various Florida State Statutes. Some of these homes were there well before the approval of White Rock Quarries which took place in 1988…
A: 48:01 The areas developed before approval of White Rock Mining were Miami Lakes, Palm Springs North, Miramar, Miami Gardens, their property rights do not trump other property rights. Everyone has their own rights and for money they are doing an activity that is harming our property and it does not mean they get to continue to do that! If they blast and we don’t feel it, there is no problem! The problem is that we FEEL the blast! It shakes our homes, that is the issue that we have!
Representatie Anna V. Eskamani:
48:12 Representative Anna V. Eskamani
Q: For Florida Department of Transportation - FDOT: From a Supply Chain perspective, the reliance on these materials, are we trying to develop other types of resources? At the end of the day, it is a scarce resource and we may run out, and we need the materials to build roads
A: 49:10 Ananth Prasad, President, Florida Transportation & Builders Association starts by saying for clarification I am not FDOT spokesman! I would get into trouble with them! There have been recycled glass, a lot of other stuff happening but ultimately the aggregates have to support the weight! Whether a bridge or a house, last year the Legislation approved $20 Million dollars to fortify the Supply Chain. The goal is that as we improve our rail core infrastructure, north of I-4 requires it, and the Lake Belt over the years is going to diminish supply and we will have to find new ways to get more rock now.
Q: Follow up from Representative Anna V. Eskamani. What is the capacity to recycle asphalt?
A: Ananth Prasad, President, Florida Transportation & Builders Association: We do recycle asphalt! 15% to 40% goes into asphalt. Pilot Project on Alligator Ally, I-75, to put recycled asphalt as a base, we are looking into every different way to conserve the use of lime rock, and where there is a good material, we are all in.
51:25 Patt Maney is recognized:
Q: Is there any data as to the number of homes before the mining started? Comment that some homes were there before, is there any data as to how many of those homes were built before the blasting activity started?
51:51 Blasting Advisory Board Secretary Steven Herzberg is recognized by the Chair: Do not have that data on hand, but I can tell you that one of the areas that is affected the most, Palm Springs North, was built before the mining activity started. Google: Palm Springs North is a residential community just north of Miami Lakes.
It was built between 1960 – 1974; an early developer was Laurence Construction, Inc., real estate experts said. Miami Lakes Lake Glenn Ellen was completed by 1985 as it was built in sections. Lake Sandra was built before. The East side of Miami Lakes was built prior to 1980. Rock mining has been in the Lake Region for years since the 1920s during the land boom but the issue is some specific mines. While I do not have that data, I am happy to try to get that data for you but there is a significant number of homes built in the 60s and the 80s prior to the most problematic mine.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Blasting Advisory Board Chair Miguel Martinez reviews the document Date: Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 11:22?PM
Subject: 02-06-2024 House of Representatives Workshop to Listen to:
Mining / Blasting Issues
To: Hope Reynolds
Incredible job as usual!
A few points…
A few take aways:
[Research:
What is OPPAGA? The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability -OPPAGA- is a research arm of the Florida Legislature that supplies data, evaluative research, and objective analyses that assist legislative budget and policy deliberation!
Website: https://oppaga.fl.gov/
Policy Notes Newsletter: https://oppaga.fl.gov/PolicyNotes/Index
State of Florida Organizational Chart: https://oppaga.fl.gov/ProgramSummary/OrgChart
At the top: The Florida Electorate… Why?
Career Opportunities: https://oppaga.fl.gov/About/Careers
Contact: 111 West Madison Street, Room #312, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-850-488-0021]
I am also including the writeup I made regarding Tuesday, as it was a day of many events and advancement in the cause:
Lessons Learned as a result of 02-06-2024 Workshop by Miguel Martinez:
Tuesday’s events -02-06-2024- proved more eventful than anything we have done or any meeting we have attended over the last 20 years regarding the issue of blasting.
Although things did not transpire as planned and after several delays, we finally made it to the State Capital building, to find a very long line for security.
Town of Miami Lakes Councilwoman Marilyn Olazabal Ruano drove in and was already waiting for us in the lobby.
Shortly after, we met with Town of Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez.
Both traveled to Tallahassee to show their support for the efforts of the Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board. Representative Tom Fabricio’s aide, Nikita Mizgirev guided us through the labyrinth of hallways to the chambers.
Upon reaching the Committee Chambers, the Miami-Dade County’s lobbyist was waiting for us and whisked us into our seats.
Chair Tyler Sirois allowed representatives from the miners to speak first.
This included the president of GeoSonics, representative from FDOT, and the CFO. An engineer from HAG engineering spoke after Steven Herzberg and I.
During the presentations, many facts were offered.
It was also acknowledged that the energy wave is being reached to our properties (previously denied).
It was acknowledged damage is occurring.
However, it was stated it is simply “finishes” and non-structural.
The curious thing is that the “non-structural” examples provided were in fact STRUCTURAL DAMAGES!
Councilwoman Ruano, Vice Mayor Fernandez and Blasting Advisory Board member, Franchesca Vasquez Ortega provided public comments.
Falk Amelung, a -professor from the Department of Marine Geosciences Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and one of his PhD students from University of Miami was also in attendance for support.
The Professor is using satellite imagery to measure ground displacements that can detect building movement due to the mine blasting.
The Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board previously hosted a presentation where he was the guest speaker and demonstrated his initial findings. Unfortunately, he was not able to speak at this workshop.
Upon the closing statements, the Chair recognized the issue had not been visited for over 20 years.
Representative Fabricio closed requesting the information provided be addressed in an OPPAGA study. -OPPAGA is the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.
It is a research arm of the Florida Legislature. OPPAGA supports the Florida Legislature by providing data, evaluative research, and objective analyses that assist legislative budget and policy deliberations.
I wish to personally thank members of the community that contacted the members of the Committee via email. This created a foundation of knowledge and the basis for our presentations. It also prefaced the opposing side’s information.
Their lack of transparency was evident due to the simple emails submitted!
We need to thank State Representative Tom Fabricio. This meeting was 4 years in the making! Through his dedication and commitment to the cause, he was able to obtain this workshop. It marks the start of a proper investigation that will eventually lead to properly regulating a needed industry.
Finally, Univision has been addressing the issue significantly. It has been the topic of discussion on recent occasions on numerous shows.
They set up a remote studio at Chelas and provided impromptu interviews from the public, this included Mayor Manny Cid.
Committee workshop:
Univision Interviews:
Miguel Martinez
Citizens United to Resolve Blasting Damage to Property
https://www.dhirubhai.net/groups/12952052/
About the Miami Dade County Lake Belt Area:
The Miami-Dade County Lake Belt Area (Lake Belt) encompasses 77.5 square miles of land at the western edge of the Miami-Dade County urban area.1 Generally, the Lake Belt is bounded by the Ronald Reagan Turnpike to the east, the Miami-Dade - Broward County line to the north, Krome Avenue to the west, and Tamiami Trail to the south, and it also includes certain lands south of Tamiami Trail.2
The Lake Belt provides the largest source of high quality limestone in Florida, supplying approximately 60 million tons of rock annually.3 The limestone mined from the Lake Belt provides the base material needed for concrete, asphalt, and road construction.4 The process of extracting limestone and sand suitable for producing construction materials is referred to as construction materials mining.5
The Lake Belt is an environmentally sensitive region, as the majority of the area consists of wetlands that were once part of the historical Everglades watershed. The area also overlays the Biscayne Aquifer, which is designated as a sole source aquifer by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).6 In addition, the Miami-Dade Northwest Wellfield (NWWF) is located along the eastern edge of the Lake Belt and is comprised of 15 water supply wells that withdraw water from the Biscayne Aquifer. The NWWF is the major source of drinking water for Miami-Dade County, supplying approximately 40 percent of the county’s water needs.7
Regulation of Explosives
For hard rock formations, explosives may be used to break up the rock into sizes that may be more easily mined.8 The use of explosives in mining activities is regulated by the federal and state governments in order to limit the strength of explosions to ensure the explosions do not cause damage to nearby buildings or structures. On the federal level, Title 30 of the United States Code and its various implementing regulations establish the basic safety, health, certification, reporting, and environmental requirements for the use of explosives in mining operations.
In Florida, the State Fire Marshal, through the Division of State Fire Marshal (division) within the Department of Financial Services (DFS), has the sole and exclusive authority to promulgate standards, limits, and regulations regarding the use of explosives in conjunction with construction materials mining.9 This authority includes the operation, handling, licensure, and permitting of explosives. The DFS rules establish limitations for ground vibration, frequency, intensity, blast pattern, and air blast as well as restrictions on when explosives may be used. The DFS rules also establish requirements for a mining company to provide notice to local governments in which the entity will conduct mining activities.10
The State Fire Marshal has the authority to delegate the monitoring and enforcement of the use of explosives by mining companies to local governments. This authority includes allowing local governments to assess and collect reasonable fees for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing the current limits of explosions used for mining purposes.11
Currently, mining companies are required to hire independent seismologists12 to monitor explosions and must provide a report reflecting the strength of each explosion to DFS upon request. DFS does not independently monitor blasts resulting from the use of explosives for construction materials mining activities. The State Fire Marshal may restrict the quantity and use of explosives at any location within the state if the State Fire Marshal determines the use of such explosives is likely to cause injury to life or property. In making such determination, the State Fire Marshal must consider the distance of blasting activity to structures, the use and occupancy of structures near blasting activity, the geology of the area, and the type of construction used in structures near blasting activities.13
According to DFS, 31 of the 90 construction materials mining permits issued in the state are within Miami-Dade County, making it the county with the highest number of such permits.14
2018 Mining Study
In 2017, the Legislature appropriated funds to require the State Fire Marshal to contract for a study to review whether the statewide ground vibration limits established in DFS rule for construction materials mining activities are still appropriate and to review any legitimate claims for damages caused by such mining activities.15 The study was required to include a review of measured amplitudes and frequencies, structure responses, theoretical analyses of material strengths and strains, and assessments of home damages.16
The study was completed in 2018 and concluded that the mines were in compliance with both federal and state maximum blasting vibration limits, but recommended including frequency as part of the state vibration limits as well as conducting a follow-up study to evaluate minimum seismograph specifications.17
Effect of the Bill
The bill creates a monitoring and reporting pilot program for the use of explosives (pilot program) within the division to monitor and report each blast resulting from the use of explosives for construction materials mining activities in Miami-Dade County. The bill requires the State Fire Marshal to hire or contract with seismologists to monitor and report each blast, including, at a minimum, monitoring and reporting the ground vibration, frequency, intensity, air blast, and time and date of the blast. The bill further requires the State Fire Marshal to make the reports available to the public on the division’s website.
The bill prohibits the State Fire Marshal from hiring or contracting with a seismologist for the pilot program who:
The bill requires a person or entity that engages in construction materials mining activities to provide written notice to the State Fire Marshal of the use of an explosive for such activities in Miami-Dade County before the detonation of the explosive.
The bill requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules to implement and enforce the pilot program.
What is OPPAGA?
The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability -OPPAGA- is a research arm of the Florida Legislature that supplies data, evaluative research, and objective analyses that assist legislative budget and policy deliberation!
Website: https://oppaga.fl.gov/
Policy Notes Newsletter: https://oppaga.fl.gov/PolicyNotes/Index
State of Florida Organizational Chart: https://oppaga.fl.gov/ProgramSummary/OrgChart
At the top: The Florida Electorate… Why?
Career Opportunities: https://oppaga.fl.gov/About/Careers
Contact: 111 West Madison Street, Room #312, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-850-488-0021]
WP: Zelensky offers partial ceasefire with Russia to restart peace talks
Is this the apology Trump is waiting for?? From WaPo -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new framework for a partial ceasefire with Russia on Tuesday, posting on X [Not TikTok but Musk's platform.] that Kyiv would be willing to release prisoners and agree to a truce that would ban long range attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure.
The offer came after the Trump administration declared that Zelensky was not ready for peace and froze the U.S. military assistance that Ukraine has been relying on to battle the Russian invasion.
“Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal,” Zelensky wrote.
The post, which made no mention of halting ground operations on either side, came after President Donald Trump’s decision to pause aid sent shockwaves across Ukraine and Europe, stoking concerns about how the move might weaken Kyiv on the battlefield and fueling calls for Europeans to step up to fill the gaps that would emerge.
Washington’s decision to pause aid — applicable to all future deliveries of U.S. military assistance to Kyiv — could be reversed if Zelensky demonstrates a good-faith effort to participate in peace talks with Russia, The Washington Post reported, citing a U.S. official.
In his long message on Tuesday, Zelensky also reiterated appreciation for American support following days of Republican criticism that he was not adequately thankful on his trip to Washington last week, where an Oval Office meeting erupted into an argument between him, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Zelensky has repeatedly thanked Americans for their contributions to Ukraine’s war effort and many in Ukraine and Europe saw the meeting as an intentional effort to ambush Zelensky. Republicans insist that Zelensky is at fault and should apologize.
He stopped short of doing so in his post, but acknowledged the way the meeting unfolded was “regrettable.”
“It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” he wrote.
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Zelensky offers partial ceasefire with Russia to restart peace talks
Siobhán O'Grady, Leo Sands, Catherine Belton, Ellen Francis
March 4, 2025
KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new framework for a partial ceasefire with Russia on Tuesday, posting on X that Kyiv would be willing to release prisoners and agree to a truce that would ban long range attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure.
The offer came after the Trump administration declared that Zelensky was not ready for peace and froze the U.S. military assistance that Ukraine has been relying on to battle the Russian invasion.
“Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the U.S. to agree a strong final deal,” Zelensky wrote.
The post, which made no mention of halting ground operations on either side, came after President Donald Trump’s decision to pause aid sent shockwaves across Ukraine and Europe, stoking concerns about how the move might weaken Kyiv on the battlefield and fueling calls for Europeans to step up to fill the gaps that would emerge.
Washington’s decision to pause aid — applicable to all future deliveries of U.S. military assistance to Kyiv — could be reversed if Zelensky demonstrates a good-faith effort to participate in peace talks with Russia, The Washington Post reported, citing a U.S. official.
In his long message on Tuesday, Zelensky also reiterated appreciation for American support following days of Republican criticism that he was not adequately thankful on his trip to Washington last week, where an Oval Office meeting erupted into an argument between him, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Zelensky has repeatedly thanked Americans for their contributions to Ukraine’s war effort and many in Ukraine and Europe saw the meeting as an intentional effort to ambush Zelensky. Republicans insist that Zelensky is at fault and should apologize.
He stopped short of doing so in his post, but acknowledged the way the meeting unfolded was “regrettable.”
“It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive,” he wrote.
The pause in aid shocked Ukraine, which has relied heavily on U.S. weapons over the past three years of war. Military analysts say it has enough equipment at least for the next few months to hold the line. Sustaining the fight over the long run, however, will be a struggle without additional sources of weaponry.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Tuesday in a news conference — which included profuse thanks for U.S. efforts to date — that the country was rallying funding to build up its own defense capabilities. Ukraine is already producing 30 percent of weaponry and equipment used on the front line, and by the end of the year, it will produce 50 percent, he said.
“We have to be self-reliant,” he said. “Our existence is at stake.” He added that Kyiv remains ready to sign the minerals agreement with the United States, which was plannedlast week before the Oval Office clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The U.S. is a very important financial military and economic partner of Ukraine, and we need to preserve this partnership,” he said. “We need to find ways to continue our joint work to attain just peace.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed reports of the U.S. pause in his daily news briefing Tuesday, calling it “a decision that can really push the Kyiv regime toward the peace process” and “the best contribution” to accelerating the war’s end.
Officials familiar with the military situation in Ukraine said the country has adequate stocks of some munitions such as artillery shells and could source others elsewhere, but the pause would leave a dangerous void in the battle against the waves of Russia’s missiles and drones.
Roman Kostenko, a member of the parliament’s national security committee and a former commander in the army, said the missiles for systems like the Patriot air defense would be hard to replace.
“These are the only missiles, practically the only ones, that can shoot down ballistic missiles, that can protect our infrastructure,” he said. Ukraine has some stockpiles, “but if they realize that our partners are not supplying us and increase the intensity of their missiles, our air defense will be exhausted faster.”
A Ukrainian security official said it remains unclear what the U.S. pause would mean exactly, since there have not been any official statements explaining it. But he agreed that in the immediate term, air defense systems would be hardest hit.
Ukrainian troops would be able to hold the front line for several more months if Europe is not immediately able to fill gaps left by the United States. “There will be an immediate impact on the air defense,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. “But in terms of our ability to keep fighting in Donbas and in the south, it’s not nice, but it’s not like we are going to collapse because of that.”
He said what was most critical for the ability of Ukraine’s armed forces to fight is the provision of satellite intelligence and that if this is not impacted, the fallout for now would be minimal.
Michael Kofman, a defense analyst with the Carnegie Endowment noted that the Ukrainians are less dependent than they used to be on U.S. equipment, especially as the nature of the fighting has changed. “Most of the casualties are now inflicted with mines, and drones, which are produced in Ukraine,” he posted on X.
Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general of the London-based defense think tank the Royal United Services Institute, agreed that a Ukrainian collapse on the front line is not imminent, but he said it would be affected in the long term.
“Recent estimates suggest that only 20 percent of total military hardware supplied to Ukrainian forces is now from the U.S.,” and an additional 25 percent is from Europe and elsewhere around the world. “But the 20 percent is the most lethal and important.”
European leaders have reiterated promises to keep supporting Ukraine, although it is unclear if they could totally compensate for the U.S. pause.
Officials and analysts say already-pledged aid for 2025, including from Europe, put Ukraine on a solid financial footing for the year. And Kyiv’s European backers could rally more funds for military aid with enough political momentum, but they could not match key U.S. capabilities in air defense and long-range strike capabilities.
“There’s a question of money and then a question of capacities. On the question of money, the answer is yes,” said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute of International Affairs and a former E.U. foreign policy adviser. “It is clear that Europeans lack some of the capacities the U.S. provided.”
“It will be really tough times, in between when we are able to fill in those capacities that currently we don’t have, and Ukraine will kind of pay a price,” she said.
European Union officials have sought to mobilize a new military package for Ukraine worth more than $20 billion. Those efforts are running up against economic woes among member states and objections from some states, notably Moscow-friendly Hungary — which has often tried to hold up E.U. aid for Kyiv.
Trump’s move toward realignment with Russia has also driven a push in European capitals this week to speed up plans to bolster their own defenses.
The European Union’s executive branch on Tuesday proposed a package to allow European capitals to draw on about $157 billion in loans for investment in defense. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said such a plan, which will help European states “pool demand and buy together,” could also free up room to provide military equipment for Ukraine.
“A new era is upon us,” she wrote in a letter to E.U. leaders addressing broader concerns about the moment. “Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us has seen in our adult lifetime.”
Tuesday’s proposal includes relaxing rules to allow more defense spending, repurposing some funds, and drawing on private capital.
On Friday, Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly castigated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, demanding respect and gratitude. Zelensky drew another rebuke from Trump on Monday for saying that a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine “is still very, very far away.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump berated Zelensky and accused him of not wanting peace.
Since the start of the war in 2022, the United States has provided over $100 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Most of this funding has gone to U.S. defense companies to purchase weapons made in the United States.
Sands and Belton reported from London, Francis from Brussels. Serhii Korolchuk in Kyiv and Niha Masih in Seoul contributed to this report.