ÿþ<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" 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 11"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link rel=File-List href="SFWMD_Board_Approval_Response_files/filelist.xml"> <title>U.S. Sugar Corp.</title> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 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"; color:black;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:black; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:red; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} span.SpellE {mso-style-name:""; mso-spl-e:yes;} @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 bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=black vlink=red style='tab-interval:.5in' alink="#FF0000" topmargin=0 leftmargin=0> <div class=Section1> <div align=center> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;mso-cellspacing:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;height:11.25pt'> <td width=600 colspan=3 style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in; height:11.25pt'> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#006633'>&nbsp;</span></b> </p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1'> <td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <p class=MsoNormal>&nbsp; </p> </td> <td width=580 valign=top style='width:435.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width=580 style='width:435.0pt;mso-cellspacing:1.5pt'> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'> <td width=580 valign=top style='width:435.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> <p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b></p> <p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana'>Contact: GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE<br> 850.488.4394</span></p> <p align="center" style="text-align: center"> <em><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana">Released: August 26, 2009</span></em></p> <p align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Statement by <br /> GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST <br /> Regarding the Validation of Certificates of Participation for the River of Grass Acquisition <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> August 26, 2009</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Verdana'> &#8212; </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>  I applaud the Court s ruling in favor of the validation of Certificates of Participation by the South Florida Water Management District. Acquiring the 73,000 acres within the Everglades Agricultural Area provides restoration opportunities in the Everglades that once seemed out of reach. </span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">  As the District moves forward in the acquisition process, I am confident that they will do so in a financially responsible manner. The Court s decision recognizes the monumental outcome the transaction will have on the restoration of America s Everglades, and the benefits it will provide the environment, the economy and the people of South Florida. </span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">  Today represents another step forward in achieving this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for achieving restoration of the River of Grass. </span></p> <p align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Statement from<br /> DEP SECRETARY MICHAEL W. SOLE<br /> Regarding the Validation of Certificates of Participation for the River of Grass Acquisition <o:p></o:p></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'> August 26, 2009 &#8212; </span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Verdana'> The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is pleased by the Court s decision to validate the authority of the South Florida Water Management District to issue Certificates of Participation. The authority now allows Florida to move forward with the historic River of Grass land acquisition. </span></p> <p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana">  This acquisition of 73,000 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area has the potential to provide immeasurable benefits to restoration. The acquisition will be an extraordinary complement to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, allowing us to improve the supply and quality of water for South Florida, restore a more natural flow of water to the ecosystem, provide flood control and protect the habitats of the ecosystem s wildlife. </span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana">  We look forward to continuing our work with the District as well as our federal and local partners on this amazing endeavor. </span> </p> <p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></span> </p> <p align=center>###</p> </td> <td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <p class=MsoNormal>&nbsp; </p> </td> </tr> <tr style='mso-yfti-irow:2;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:11.25pt'> <td width=600 colspan=3 style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in; height:11.25pt'> <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt'>&nbsp; </p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:windowtext'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p> </div> </body> </html>