Suwannee American Cement Plant Allowed Near Ichetucknee Springs
In a shocking reversal, Gov. Jeb Bush and DEP secretary, David Struhs
showed
their true sentiments towards the environmental community by signing
an
agreement with Suwannee American cement plant and announcing an intent
to
issue an air permit to the notorious polluting company, allowing them
to
build a cement plant within three miles of the spectacular Ichetucknee
Springs, the crown jewel of the state park system. They did this without
consulting Florida Sierra or Save Our Suwannee, who had been colitigants
with
DEP in Suwannee Americans appeal of the original denial to issue the
permit.
In this settlement agreement , that Secretary Struhs called "The best
thing
that could happen for Florida",the state of Florida gets the privilege
to buy
the Kirby mine. This mine is thought to be a threat to the springs,
granted,
but it was already on the CARL list to be purchased by the state. And
here's
the kicker, Struh's claiming the state is buying it at a 70% discount,
at the
price of $27 million. That's $75,000 an acre folks…that's right,
$75,000 an
acre, there is no typo. They are using the value if mined, the true
value is
more like $3000 an acre. Something that they don't mention, as well,
is that
now the company will be able to mine on the cement plant property,
2 miles
from the springs. That mine may be just as great a threat. No one knows
for
no studies have been done .
In another part of the deal, Suw-Am donates a million dollars to establish
a
trust to"study" the 3 rivers area, (the Ichetucknee, Santa Fe and Suwannee
rivers). A small pittance for the enormous amount of $ they will make
on the
plant and the nitrate poisoning and mercury poisoning the air emissions
from
the plant will potentially cause to the springs.
Struhs raves also about the "state of the art" continuous emission monitoring
the plant will have. What they don't mention is that for the particulate
matter (PM) that will be puked out of this plant, they are only measuring
PM
less than 10 microns in diameter, not less than 2.5 microns, like they
should. EPA established new guidelines for particulate matter in 1997
because…." evidence that serious health effects (mortality, exacerbation
of
chronic disease, increased hospital admissions, etc.) are associated
with
exposure to ambient levels of PM found in contemporary US urban airsheds,
even below current PM standards."(US Environmental Health Protection
Agency ,
Criteria Document for Fine Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Microns
Aerodynamic Diameter,1997, pg 13-1). In analysing their air permit,
our
consultants estimate they will exceed those new standards easily, endangering
the health and well being of people living in the area and using the
park.
Yet the state is not requiring ANY PM 2.5 monitoring. To emphasize
the point,
Alachua County now has 6 PM 2.5 monitors throughout the county because
of
concern that we will exceed these new standards when FRI opens their
new
cement plant.
Originally, DEP denied the air permit because the company had such a
bad
environmental record. This is now supposed to be corrected by the company
adopting an "environmental management and education system" for its
employees. What assurance do we have that they will now suddenly change,
after decades of noncompliance by this notorious company? Similar promises
have been made by the company before.
What you can do. Write a letter today to DEP Secretary Struhs
at 3900
Commonwealth Blvd, Mail Station 49, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
or
struhs_d@epic5.dep.state.fl.us and Jeb Bush at The Capitol, Talahassee,
Fl.
32399-0001 or JEB@JEB.org or call the Governor at 850-488-4441.
Better yet, call individual cabinet members offices. Tell them what
a rotten
deal this is for the taxpayers of Florida. Call now! as they
will be voting
on the Kirby mine purchase next Tuesday, December 13. Let's flood the
cabinet
with these phone calls.
The Honorable Katherine Harris, Secretary of State
Department of State
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
(850) 414-5500
Office of Cabinet Affairs
(850) 414-5534
The Honorable Bob Butterworth, Attorney General
Department of Legal Affairs
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
(850) 487-1963
Office of Cabinet Affairs
(850) 487-1963
The Honorable Robert F. Milligan, Comptroller
Department of Banking and Finance
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0350
(850) 487-0370
Office of Cabinet Affairs
(850) 410-9780
The Honorable Bill Nelson, Commissioner & Treasurer
Department of Insurance
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0300
850-922-3106
Office of Cabinet Affairs
(850) 413-2824
The Honorable Bob Crawford, Commissioner
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0810
(850) 488-3022
Office of Cabinet Affairs
(850) 488-9786
The Honorable Tom Gallagher, Commissioner
Department of Education
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
(850) 487-1785
Office of Cabinet Affairs
(850) 488-0080
DEP Secretary announced an Intent to Permit several weeks ago.
Opponents to
the Ichetucknee Cement Kiln have an opportunity to object to the intent
to
permit in writing and to demand a public hearing.
As I know many e-mail users find it more convenient to respond to requests
to
write letters electronically, I have secured the e-mail address of
the
Ombudsman receiving comments for the Intent to Permit the S/A Cement
Kiln.
The comments are due before December 16th and must address facts to
which you
object concerning the operation of Joe Anderson's kiln.
The primary reason
DEP refused the permit originally is his non-compliance with DEP regulations
and his not responding to fines. DEP now feels it has "reasonable
assurance"
Anderson will begin complying. Why?
Other considerations to the "deal" are that DEP denied citizens access
to
making the deal with Anderson and denied a citizen's hearing scheduled
for
two weeks in December; DEP is not protecting the State Park and ecotourism
already in existence; health and welfare of tourists are not being
cared for;
truck, light, and noise pollution have not been addressed; the million
dollar
environmental study proposed to be provided by Anderson must be a
PRE-requisite to the permit, based on a study's favorable findings;
a study
must be conducted on the effects of mine blasting to expand the mine
only
three miles from the Ichetucknee River; and that a trade of the Blackwater
River clean up for the right to pollute the Ichetucknee is not a viable
trade. Other technical questions may be submitted by engineers,
chemical
engineers, and cement plant experts.
E-mail comments should he submitted to elizabeth.angulo@DEP.State.fl.us
The street address for tangible mail is Office of the Ombudsman, 3900
Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station #49, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000.
Please write a timely request for a public hearing, basing your request
on
some aspect of the permit.
Virginia Seacrist
Stop Ichetucknee Cement Kiln: It makes us S.I.C.K.
Ft. White / Gainesville Florida
904-497-4471 / 352-378-6603
The Chief Governor's Cabinet Aide, Colleen Castille, telephoned
me to report
that after talking to the Governor and to Secretary Struhs, all parties
agreed that insufficient notice was given concerning the Cabinet discussion
of acquisition of the Anderson mine next to the Kirby mine. Therefore,
the
item will be struck from the December agenda. Of course, no protest
will be
mounted in Tallahassee, as the government is complying with out request
to
postpone the agenda topic.
We feel it is in our best interest to contact the Cabinet Aides before
January 19th, and the Cabinet members before January 25th, concerning
our
input on the acquisition of the mine as part of the deal to allow Anderson
to
build his kiln at the Ichetucknee.
To be personally informed of agenda items before the Cabinet, telephone
Judy
Brooks at 850-488-7131. We will all be better informed in the
future.
Virginia Seacrist
SICK
352-378-6603