News Briefs 07.08.10

+ Coalition plans charter discussion
The Lakewood Ranch Community Coalition will hold a presentation on the concepts of the proposed city charter for Lakewood Ranch during a presentation at 7 p.m., July 14, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

“It is time for residents to think about how we should govern ourselves if we become a city,” Community Coalition leader Jo Anne Dain said. “The LWR Incorporation Study Committee prepared a draft, and we want resident feedback. Their opinions matter.”

For more information, contact Dain at 907-1029.

+ FLP plans outage for Stoneybrook
Florida Power and Light is planning to replace a transformer at the intersection of Port Harbour Parkway and Golden Harbour because of a leak.

The electric is expected to be shut off at 11 a.m., July 17, for a few hours. The outage will affect 10 residences on Haven Harbour.

+ Buchanan spill proposal progresses
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s proposals to help prevent future oil spills are making their way through Congress, passing both House and Senate committees.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 1 passed legislation to eliminate liability limits for offshore drilling accidents. The Senate’s Natural Resources Committee approved June 30 a bill banning federal employees who oversee oil rigs from taking jobs in the oil industry for a year.

The bills now must face a House and Senate vote, respectively. If approved, the bills will be reconciled and brought to each chamber for final passage.

HR 5572, also called the Oil Spill Prevention Act, is supposed to help future spills by separating the inspections office responsibility for safety and environmental protection from the leasing office that collects revenues, mandates missed inspections and requires rescheduling them, among other provisions.