Environmental Protection?

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Here's what can happen when government runs like a business.

Secret deals, corporate lobbying behind closed doors... and suddenly the head of DEP and the Governor change their minds, scale back environmental regulations,  and turn their backs on the health and well being of the people of Florida:

• click here and follow the link to the St Pete times article to find out why JEB gave the go-ahead for the cement plant and how they did it...
  
  

• Letter from Kathleen Cantwell, MD,  Chair Suwannee-St. John Sierra Club, reporting results from a study on the emission of polutants (Mercury in particular) that prompted the Alachua County commission to challenge air permits for the cement plant. (March 9,2001)
  
  
• Letter from Division of Air Resources Management Department of Environmental Protection

Kathleen Cantwell, MD writes:

Recently a letter to the editor criticized the Alachua County Commission for authorizing $100,000 to challenge the air permit being furnished Florida Rock Industries. Talk about being penny wise and pound foolish. That amount of money is miniscule in comparison to the millions to perhaps billions in dollars the county could potentially lose from the air pollution of the plant.

Let me explain. The Air Quality Commission (AQC), a group of scientists appointed by the county to review air quality in Alachua County , had several concerns after their analysis:. These included mercury, ozone and particulate matter.

Mercury is the "dirty little secret" that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has kept very quiet about. Did you know that there is a fish advisory for the Santa Fe River and Lake Alto? That the levels of mercury, .5mg/kg are almost twice the level that EPA now advises people against eating especially if pregnant or a small child? DEP has considered wildly successful a program they have had to collect old mercury thermometers because of concern the mercury could get into our water systems. They were wildly ecstatic because they collected 7000 thermometers last year statewide. How much mercury did that amount to? 9.2 pounds. Curt Pollman, a national expert on mercury air deposition, especially in water bodies, testified that as little as 20 lbs of mercury released by the Suwannee American cement plant would impact adversely mercury levels in fish in the Ichetucknee River. And yet the Suwannee American plant has been permitted to put out over four times that amount and Florida Rock Industries eight times that amount! Together they are allowed to emit almost 300 lbs. of mercury per year! Mercury causes severe neurological damage to the developing fetus and child. What economic impact on the tourist, real estate and fishing industry in this county if this becomes common knowledge and the mercury levels rise?

Particulate matter and Ozone. The AQC also stated that It is important to note that county air pollution levels are currently approaching the new (and recently upheld by the Supreme Court) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and ozone ( a by product of Nox and VOC emissions) and that they could be exceeded as additional air pollution is generated in and around Alachua County by continued population and industrial growth. Not only would this have adverse effects on peoples health, especially the young and very old, it would have tremendous economic impacts as well. For example, if the county becomes "non attainment" meaning above pollution standards set by EPA, an onslaught of sanctions could come down upon us. For example, part of California's power crisis is the result of their being restricted by the EPA from any further power plants because of excessive air pollution. The city of Atlanta has lost millions in Federal Highway dollars because they have exceeded the NAAQS. Several of south Florida's cities have been sanctioned by EPA and have had to have mandatory vehicle emission inspections, a costly , not to mention aggravating experience for car owners.

The Sierra Club applauds the Alachua County Commission for their legal challenge to the Florida Rock cement plant air permit and their demands that the plant take measures to reduce its mercury, particulate, and Nox levels and continuously monitor their VOC's (they have already exceeded their permitted levels in VOC's last year) I urge you to contact your commissioners at bocc@co.alachua.fl.us or tel. 352-374-5210 or fax 352-338-7363 or snail mail at po box 2877, Gainesville, 32602-2877 and support them in this decision.

Yours truly,

Kathleen Cantwell, MD Chair Suwannee-St. John Sierra Club

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