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An already contentious three-and-a-half year battle to stop Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter in Tarpon Springs just took a turn for the unexpected. 

The St. Petersburg Times tells us today how the proposed site of a 205,000 square foot Supercenter has been compromised by two Bald Eagles who built a nest in a tree right smack dab in the middle of a plot intended to be a 1,000 car parking lot.  Bald Eagles are no longer classified as endangered species, but the birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, whereby it is illegal to harm the birds, their nests or eggs in any way. A state wildlife official says that the nest would likely be classified a “category B project,” which would require Wal-Mart to apply for a special permit from the state before beginning any construction.

Wal-Mart has already been under fire for a whole host of problems that the Tarpon Springs project would bring, primarily the pollution and environmental problems that an oil & lube shop and thousands of cars a day would bring to the nearby Anclote River. The Friends of the Anclote River and literally hundreds of citizens have spoken out against this project for years, and the eagles’ nest might be what they need to finally kill the project.

And there was this very encouraging quote from the SP Times today:

Mayor Beverley Billiris said the agencies that protect the eagles will have to weigh in and advise the parties involved..."Maybe the eagle will settle the whole thing,” she said. “I think nature will be the one that will have the last say in it. That’s almost comical.”

That doesn’t seem to jive well with Wal-Mart Spokesman Quenta Vettel, who arrogantly says that Wal-Mart has been aware of the eagles’ nest since spring, and that the city shouldn’t have any say at all in what happens to the eagles:

“This isn’t part of the city’s purview,” she said. “Once we have site plan approval and all the permits that will be required to start clearing and construction, then you begin working with the appropriate agencies to make sure you protect the nest and the eagles.”

The City Commission is meeting next week to reevaluate Wal-Mart’s development certificate, which at least one commissioner says may have expired. Once Wal-Mart gets booted out of town, Ms. Vettel might regret telling residents they have no say what happens in their town.

Here’s betting that our supporters in Tarpon Springs will disagree.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Email Mayor Beverly Billiris and the City Commission now, and urge them to deny Wal-Mart’s development certificate when they meet next week, and end this site fight now, once and for all.