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The article discusses the decision on the case Florida Public Interest Research Group v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, concerning the agency's duty to review water quality standards. The ruling is a success for citizen watchdog groups concerned about the attempts of states to circumvent the requirements of the Clean Water Act through complicated administrative rule changes. The lower court was required to investigate whether the agency is enforcing clean water laws and oversee the review of Impaired Water Program in Florida.

While ecosystem approaches to management often necessitate the participation of key stakeholders during the plan-making process, few empirical studies have focused on the role of industry. Large resource-based industries not only have the greatest impact on critical natural resources, but also own much of the land base and critical habitat in the United States. This article examines the impact of resource-based industries in Florida on ecosystem management strategies and environmental planning in general. Specifically, it tests the relationship between industry participation in the planning process and the quality of local plans associated with managing ecological systems over the long term. Results indicate that the presence of industry during the planning process significantly raises the quality of adopted plans associated with managing ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers environmental news briefs. Florida's Kissimmee River which may flow in its natural course again if efforts by the Everglades Coalition succeed; Seven nations that are working on a treaty to protect the Alps from the harmful effects of development; Natural Resources Defense Council which has renovated it Manhattan headquarters to be maximally energy efficient; Others.

Examines a study which looked at the variation in mandate design features and their influence on the quality of environmental plans in Florida and New Zealand. Methodology used to conduct this study; Identification of the intergovernmental mandates in New Zealand and Florida; Indepth look at the findings of the study.

Features several articles presented at the symposium developed as part of the Thirteenth Annual Conference of the Public Administration Theory Network held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January 2000, under the title "What Would an Ecocentric Public Administration Look Like?." Ways which environmental philosophy might be expected to provide valuable assistance to public administration; Challenges posed by using watersheds as organizational foundations for environmental administration; Argument that public administration can benefit from environmental theory as a guide to a new economic theory; Concern for a more biocentric public administration.

The article presents news briefs on environmental aspects of mercury as of February 1, 2004. It cites the study by the Center for Science and Environment, an active environmental group in New Delhi, India that reports that imports of mercury to India have seen six-fold increase in seven years. Another study conducted by the Florida department of Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. authority for environmental protection states that mercury levels in fish and birds of Everglades, Florida have dropped by 80% over the last 10 years.