<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document>
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 9">
<meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 9">
<link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C11CE2.E7090840">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:DoNotRelyOnCSS/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:DocumentKind>DocumentEmail</w:DocumentKind>
<w:EnvelopeVis/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle15
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;
mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
color:black;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US style='tab-interval:.5in'>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>It’s me again…for those of you that remember the letter to Gov.
Bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have a few questions on a
different topic, a new “soap-box” issue, if you will.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>I have already corresponded with some on this list about my
new issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know I am fighting an
uphill battle; but it is one that I hope, with some help from other private
citizens, that we can win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am
hoping someone can explain to me what the difference is between a worm reef and
a coral reef.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>I am presently doing research on beach restoration projects, specifically
when such projects pose a threat of possibly burying near shore hard bottom
habitat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Frankly, I am trying to
find alternatives to a specific project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I need to know the difference between a worm reef and a coral reef so
that I may better understand the permit applicant’s viewpoints on why it is ok
or of little concern if the habitat in this proposed project area is buried
under silt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Previous smaller
projects in the area have already caused some obvious damage to the habitat.)<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am asking why it has been stated, “It’s
only a worm reef,” or “It’s not like it is a coral reef,” when there is occulina
coral everywhere, some other corals that I do not have enough education in the
area to identify, there are many different species of sponges, more urchins
than I would ever want to count (wasn’t there a big deal not long ago where
urchins mysteriously disappeared helping to contribute to an over abundance of
algae?), many species of fish including wrasses, damsels, angels, parrotfish,
nurse sharks, and many others, lobsters (quite a few), hermit crabs, coral
banded shrimp, sea turtles and a lot of other inhabitants that I don’t care to
attempt to list.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>I was of the opinion that a reef is a reef is a reef; and a reef system
included any and all inhabitants from microscopic plankton all the way to the
largest of game fish and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I
am hoping someone from this list can help to set me straight on the difference
and perhaps provide some educated, professional, scientific opinions (you may
remain anonymous </span></font></span><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2
color=black face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;mso-hansi-font-family:
Arial;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings'><span
style='mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings'>J</span></span></font></span><span
class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>) as to why property owners
on the beaches would justify possible reef damage by saying it is only a worm
reef.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I honestly do not understand
what the difference is; or why it would matter if there are worms present, as
long as there is coral present, why it is not “classified” a coral reef.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>I would appreciate any response that may provide me with a better
understanding of all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am
just hoping that these ecosystems weren’t given the name worm reef just for
political reasons (I haven’t seen any worms on the reefs yet and I have several
different species of worms in my aquarium on live rock that come out during the
day), to keep the EPA from being too demanding for information and alternative
actions, so that their beach restoration projects are more easily permitted.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Thank you in advance,<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Patricia Hunt<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle15><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Mother, wife, and student<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>