Gov. Charlie Crist says he's contemplating a veto of a controversial bill on seagrass protection that was altered by Rep. Will Kendrick.

"Possibly. I haven't completely reviewed the bill yet," Crist said. He said a story in the St. Petersburg Times about how Kendrick, R-Carrabelle, altered the bill "gives me pause and I'm reviewing it. I haven't really decided yet."

The bill, CS/HB 7059, is supposed to protect seagrass beds in state aquatic preserves, but Kendrick's amendment says the governor and Cabinet should allow private companies to create sea grass mitigation banks on
state-owned land — something that has never been tried before. The
companies could sell credits to developers who wanted to wipe out sea
grass beds elsewhere along the coast, say for new marinas or new
boating channels.

Several environmental groups are calling for Crist to veto the bill because of Kendrick's amendment, but the state Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission both have recommended Crist sign the bill.

--Steve Bousquet and Craig Pittman