Dear Ichetucknee River Lovers,
On December 2nd, Bill Ogle presented a fine case
against the Suwannee
County Commissioners who permited a cement plant without changing the
Comprehensive Plan from agricultural to industrial. He argues
that the Land
Development Regulations do not define "resource based activity," providing
no
guidelines for the commissioners to judge if a cement plant is an industry
which is exempt from zoning changes. Suwannee American lawyers
say they can
use the limerock on the land and turn it into cement without a change
in
zoning. S/A says the cost of transporting the limerock to Live
Oak, zoned
industrial prohibits them from moving the site. An important
admission is
that to remove the millions of tons of limerock, BLASTING will occur
to
extend the mining site near the Ichetucknee. The final arguments
will be
presented to Judge Kennon by December 16th, each lawyer writing the
final
order he wishes to see the judge deliver.
In the meantime, the most important action each
of you can take is to
write to the DEP Ombudsman authorized to receive citizen input concerning
the
intent to permit the cement plant. If DEP deems the outcry worthy,
given
through the ombudsman, a citizen's hearing will be granted, allowing
us again
to argue against the permitting of a pollluting cement plant in an
eco
tourist area. We often lose sight of the fact that the reason
everyone is
alarmed is not because of cement production, but because the incinerator
which produces cement spews forth harmful pollutants beside our Outstanding
Florida Waterway, The Ichetucknee River.
Use any of the reasons you think worthy, from mercury
deposition to truck
traffic, to allowing a known non-compliant industrialist to have a
permit.
Obtain a copy of the intent to permit and evaluate it, if you have
the
expertise. We have some experts working on a technical reply.
Citizens
expected to witness DEP's defense of its original stance, the denial
of the
permit on the basis of bad behavior by the applicant. We were
denied the
right to that public hearing, because DEP made a deal with the same
rascal
who now may receive a permit. Government out of the sunshine
seems enough
reason to demand the hearing. It is clear that DEP is trading
the
environment for a deal with a rich, powerful industrialist. Why?
We hope that a flood of protests going through these
legal channels
BEFORE December 16th will force DEP to delay the permit once again.
Three ways to contact the Ombudsman:
mail to: Office of the Ombudsman, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail
Station
#49, Tallahassee 32399.
phone: 850-921-1222
WEB site: http//www.dep.state.fl.us/officsec/ombud/comment.htm.
When I tried the site, I was not connected with
the Ombudsman's office,
another reason to complain to DEP.
Keep the faith, but please write a few sentences
to protest the proposed
action of DEP. We must overwhelm them with reasons to preserve
the
Ichetucknee Experience.
Virginia Seacrist