EPA presentation files available

Here is the link to the presentation by Shea, from the EPA.
The Black and Veatch presentation can been seen Here.
Hope this helps all of you who were not able to attend the meeting.

EPA meeting summery

Thanks to everyone for coming to the meeting last night, and thanks to Shea, and everyone else from the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Black and Veatch for an informative presentation.
I’d hoped to summarize for those of you who where not able to attend, however, I think it would be easier to post a copy of her bullet point presentation as soon as it’s available.

All in all, the issues and questions posed after the presentation were concerned with neighborhood cleanup-- how it will be accomplished and when. There were also questions pertaining to Dioxin as a probable carcinogen; its effects, and dangers currently present in the soil and ground water. Containment of contamination during the cleanup, and concerns over property values.

Though she couldn't comment on certain issues such as property values, Shea did recommend that no wells for irrigation be dug or used. A representative from Black and Veatch, the firm handling the cleanup, stated that the neighborhood will most likely be cleaned by scraping the contaminated soil (from yards/ ditches etc..) and disposing of it. There is also a pump already in place, sucking out the goop (referred to as DNAPLs) that’s in the groundwater at the ACW site.
The timeline for completion (after further studies, discussions, planning and other rigmarole) is sometime in… 2012!

Somewhat sad, seeing as the EPA designated ACW a Superfund site in 1982, hey that’s only 30 years! But I digress….
The good news is-- at least now the ball seems to be rolling, and with involvement from our local and state representatives, hopefully the momentum can continue, possibly even increase.

For information on the city's proposed plans for the ACW site once it's cleaned click here
For more info on the ACW click here

EPA meeting Tomorrow!

Most of you know that Shea, from the EPA, is coming to town Wednesday ( Grotto Hall 6:00) to fill us in on the latest from the EPA. Hopefully, she will also be answering the questions we gave Debbie last week. Of course, we'd love to see as much as the community there as possible and hope to have our city/ county representatives in attendance. There will be a posted summery of the meeting (on this blog) for those who cannot attend.

Meeting summery

First, thanks to everyone for attending! And thanks to Debbie for working to help us get our questions in line so we're ready for the meeting next week with the EPA. For all you out there that did not attend; the discussion was mostly educational and geared toward trying to understand/ glean information regarding the soil tests that the EPA preformed last year. We are all hoping that the EPA will have a timeline for cleanup soon so we can move past this MESS and work on making Sanders Beach, not only a great neighborhood, but a environmentally safe, shining gateway into Pensacola.
We know that the city has plans for the American Creosote Works site. But it won't even be on the back, back , back burner until the EPA finishes their cleanup.
We will continue to work with city, county and state officials...bringing attention to our little area and hopefully pushing the EPA to (finally) get going!
We hope to see everyone next week on the 23rd at grotto hall for the "big" meeting with the EPA.

Other Issues

Although the meeting tomorrow will mainly cover the EPA and American creosote works, we are also working with the city on a few other issues. Blake has made a map of missing/ damaged sidewalks that need to be repaired or replaced. Hopefully, our neighborhood will soon be reaching the top of the list to have them repaired. If for some reason anyone does NOT want their sidewalk repaired, please let us know.
Also, Blake has met with the city's parks director about the community center and the adjacent park. We know that there has been a problem with the trash containers being emptied and are working on resolving the issue.
These are just a few of the things we've been working on, along with getting press and attention from our local and regional representatives regarding the lack of progress with American Creosote Works. Our hope is to get the EPA moving and get the area cleaned up!

Community Meeting

Our next community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday July 15 at 6:30 at the Grotto Hall. On the agenda: aside from introducing myself to many of you as the new chair of the SBCA we will also have a discussion of the upcoming EPA meeting, which is set for the 23th at 6:00.
Looking forward to seeing all of you!
Blake Jochum