Yesterday, in Atlanta, representatives from Miocene Holdings LLC met with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to discuss the proposed project on the St. Marys River. When the minutes of that meeting have been approved by all concerned I will post them on this site.
What is clear from reading the draft minutes is that there continue to be far more questions than answers - and ongoing concerns about the lack of data/incorrect data from Miocene. I applaud the EPD and all involved agencies, committee and organizations for their vigilance as they examine and evaluate Miocene's proposal.
Meanwhile, this video proves interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nD4EapFvHA
Note that, towards the end, the St. Marys River dwindles to a depth of mere inches.
To read the minutes of the June 27 meeting of the St. Marys River Management Committee go to http://www.saintmarysriver.org/docs/minutes/2011/1107.pdf
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
SMRMC
* This image was created by the very talented Ed Hall and can be found at his blog www.halltoons.blogspot.com My thanks to Mr. Hall for graciously allowing me to include his cartoon in this article.
Last night's meeting of the St. Marys River Management Committee during which they discussed the Miocene Holdings proposal (see below):
There are certainly far more questions than answers. The meeting was well-attended with representatives from all four involved counties, Cliff Lewis, (Asst. Branch Chief with the EPD) and members of the St. Marys Earthkeepers.
The EPD has two separate applications from Miocene: a withdrawal application and a discharge application. Miocene had originally projected three withdrawal sites but have now decided upon one - the site near Moniac at the headwaters of the river where the tannins are most highly concentrated. This is of great concern to SMRMC Chair Chip Campbell for it means that the entire river is then affected.
The EPD will be meeting with Miocene reps (one of whom is flying out from California) on Wednesday and should be able to provide more details afterwards.
Apparently Miocene has already installed a withdrawal pipe on the property and photographs of that will be obtained. There is no permit necessary for anyone who wishes to withdraw 100,000 gal per day from the river (or any GA river) for their personal use (a shock to me) and it is not known at this time if Miocene is removing water. One wonders why they even applied for the withdrawal permit: why not simply withdraw 100,000 gal per day - which would enable them to carry on even during periods of drought (a permit would require them to suspend operations during extreme low-flow conditions)?
The only study that Miocene has provided to the EPD thus far is one that describes an operation at "a bog in Washington." Mr. Lewis (EPD) reported that there is a dearth of information from Miocene and that their "numbers" are "questionable."
Mr. Campbell described the project as "tantamount to mining the public waters." Many board members (and visitors) voiced questions and concerns such as:
How could the amount of tannins extracted possibly justify the cost?
What of the mercury extracted (a far more profitable substance)?
Why the discrepancy in the pH levels reported?
What would be the impact on the ecosystem?
Why would they purchase the land prior to permit applications?
What, exactly, are the tannin levels at that point?
(During a previous meeting, Mr. Noblitt (a Miocene representative) said that neither his company nor any other has completed a similar project in the US. He said that his employer has been importing tannins from Europe, but he wouldn’t disclose further details about the source, calling it a “company secret.”)
Bottom line: this appears to be a highly suspect undertaking and I am gratified that the SMRMC is acting with caution - and extreme skepticism.
Friday, June 24, 2011
St. Marys River - Ongoing
The myriad questions surrounding Miocene Holdings LLC's proposal (to construct a facility on the St. Marys River in order to remove 350,000 gallons per day, extract the tannins and then "replace" the water) accumulate faster than they can be answered.
From the St. Marys River Management Committee minutes of June 6, 2011:
"Mr. Stovall said the typically low pH levels of the river would prohibit much aquatic life from living in it and described the river as a "sterile environment." He said that Miocene is currently in the process of gathering more data to respond to questions from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and also waiting on the results of some water quality data testing."
and this:
"Mr. Barber asked Mr. Stovall to elaborate on his comment about the river being a sterile environment. Mr. Stovall said he meant that "nothing" can live in a 3.8 pH environment. Several committee members expressed disagreement with that statement. (and Miocene plans to discharge (replace) water that has been treated to a regulatory level of pH 7)."
Despite Miocene's claims that the St. Marys River is a "sterile environment" (unfit to support aquatic life) it would appear that it is, in fact, healthy and thriving with 65 species of fish and a dynamic, complex eco-system. Consider this from The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service:
"Dissolved oxygen levels fall to around 3 mg/L in late summer, but return to normal levels once the water temperatures cool down in the fall. Reduced oxygen levels in the summer are common in Georgia's estuaries. Biological oxygen demand and pH levels measured indicated a healthy estuarine system as well." See graph above.
http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/Assets/Documents/CIGreports/StMarys.pdf
Miocene and their "experts" claim that the river's pH level is (on average) 3.8 and yet all verified scientific data indicates a level of 8.3 to 8.7. When there is a discrepancy of this magnitude the decibel level of the alarms bells is almost deafening. On the one hand we have a seven year old company that defies web-searches - and on the other we find a body of research by accredited agencies. Miocene has yet to (to my knowledge) offer any example of existing projects of this nature other than the facilities "in Europe" that they mentioned...but were unable to say where, when or what these facilities were/are.
I will be attending Monday night's meeting of the St. Marys River Management Committee in Callahan. Cliff Lewis, the Assistant Branch Chief with EPD for the Suwannee, Satilla, St Marys, and Ochlockonee River Basins, will be discussing the Miocene Holdings LLC application. It is to be hoped that real answers will be offered.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
River Update
Yesterday I read the minutes of the last meeting of the St. Marys River Management Committee wherein they met with representatives of the company, Miocene Holdings, LLC. Those would be the people who want to suck 350,000 gallons of water per day from our low-flow, slow-moving blackwater river in order to remove the tannins (to augment fertilizer) and then pour it – treated to a pH level of 7 – back into a river with a natural pH range of 3.8 - 4.2.
Let’s review some of the highlights of that portion of the meeting.
The Miocene reps were: Mr. Emmett Noblitt (Miocene representative and facility manager), Dr. Stuart Stevens (coastal ecology consultant) and Mr. Chris Stovall (an engineer with Thomas & Hutton Civil Engineering - Miocene’s firm of choice).Dr. Stevens began his presentation by stating that he thinks the proposed Miocene Holdings project is a “great project” and “will not harm the St. Marys River.” He pronounced that it is an “eco-friendly project” that will allow for more “green farming.” Mmm…sounds nice so far (in a buzz-words, PR, cheerleady sort of way).
The good Dr. then went on to explain that the water will be treated with potassium and chloride and that a trace amount of those chemicals may be returned to the river. (Okay, not so good). He also suggested that putting water with a higher pH back into the river wouldn’t harm the river’s ecological integrity.
Mr. Stovall then chimed in and said the typically low pH levels of the river already prohibit “much aquatic life” from living in it and described the river as a “sterile environment.” Huh? It’s a what?
Mr. Stovall was asked to elaborate on that startling comment. He said he meant that “nothing” could live in a 3.8 pH environment. Several committee members understandably “expressed disagreement” with that statement. (Keep in mind that Miocene plans to discharge (replace) water that has been treated to a regulatory level of pH 7).
“Sterile environment”? Well darn, someone should inform the more than 65 species of fish that have been identified in the supposedly barren St. Marys River. Having just returned from the harbor where I watched two manatees and chatted with a few fishermen and crabbers, I feel somewhat remiss in not filling them in on Mr. Stovall’s pronouncement. (Hopefully they’ll read this article and pass the word on to the alligator that recently wandered in from the river and tried to enter a patio bar at the harbor front. Someone should let these creatures know that they don’t exist).
Back to the meeting.
“Charlton County member Teresa Crawford asked if this type of project has been done anywhere else. Mr. Noblitt responded that it is being done in Europe but not in the United States. Nassau County member Winifred Stephens asked where the project was currently being done in Europe. The Miocene representatives did not know.
Camden County Commissioner Blount questioned whether the company had gotten data from any other sources. Dr. Stevens said there is not much data available for the St. Marys River.”
Is it just me or is this sounding a tad fishy (perhaps a bad choice of words considering the “sterile environment”)? Removal of blackwater river water to extract tannins has been done…somewhere (they just don’t know where but never in this country). As far as “not much data available”, I have no response to that other than “try Google.”
It would seem that this company (speaking of Google, Miocene Holdings, LLC has managed to defy ‘net searches itself. Go ahead and try it) wishes to use the St. Marys River - one of our endangered blackwater rivers - as a science project to benefit a company that would initially hire only five people.
Kudos to the St. Marys River Management Committee for standing against this seemingly ludicrous proposal. I can only hope that the people of Georgia chime in when the time comes for the mandatory EPD “Public Comment Period.”
The minutes can be found here: http://www.saintmarysriver.org/docs/minutes/2011/1106.pdf Attachment A.
Let’s review some of the highlights of that portion of the meeting.
The Miocene reps were: Mr. Emmett Noblitt (Miocene representative and facility manager), Dr. Stuart Stevens (coastal ecology consultant) and Mr. Chris Stovall (an engineer with Thomas & Hutton Civil Engineering - Miocene’s firm of choice).Dr. Stevens began his presentation by stating that he thinks the proposed Miocene Holdings project is a “great project” and “will not harm the St. Marys River.” He pronounced that it is an “eco-friendly project” that will allow for more “green farming.” Mmm…sounds nice so far (in a buzz-words, PR, cheerleady sort of way).
The good Dr. then went on to explain that the water will be treated with potassium and chloride and that a trace amount of those chemicals may be returned to the river. (Okay, not so good). He also suggested that putting water with a higher pH back into the river wouldn’t harm the river’s ecological integrity.
Mr. Stovall then chimed in and said the typically low pH levels of the river already prohibit “much aquatic life” from living in it and described the river as a “sterile environment.” Huh? It’s a what?
Mr. Stovall was asked to elaborate on that startling comment. He said he meant that “nothing” could live in a 3.8 pH environment. Several committee members understandably “expressed disagreement” with that statement. (Keep in mind that Miocene plans to discharge (replace) water that has been treated to a regulatory level of pH 7).
“Sterile environment”? Well darn, someone should inform the more than 65 species of fish that have been identified in the supposedly barren St. Marys River. Having just returned from the harbor where I watched two manatees and chatted with a few fishermen and crabbers, I feel somewhat remiss in not filling them in on Mr. Stovall’s pronouncement. (Hopefully they’ll read this article and pass the word on to the alligator that recently wandered in from the river and tried to enter a patio bar at the harbor front. Someone should let these creatures know that they don’t exist).
Back to the meeting.
“Charlton County member Teresa Crawford asked if this type of project has been done anywhere else. Mr. Noblitt responded that it is being done in Europe but not in the United States. Nassau County member Winifred Stephens asked where the project was currently being done in Europe. The Miocene representatives did not know.
Camden County Commissioner Blount questioned whether the company had gotten data from any other sources. Dr. Stevens said there is not much data available for the St. Marys River.”
Is it just me or is this sounding a tad fishy (perhaps a bad choice of words considering the “sterile environment”)? Removal of blackwater river water to extract tannins has been done…somewhere (they just don’t know where but never in this country). As far as “not much data available”, I have no response to that other than “try Google.”
It would seem that this company (speaking of Google, Miocene Holdings, LLC has managed to defy ‘net searches itself. Go ahead and try it) wishes to use the St. Marys River - one of our endangered blackwater rivers - as a science project to benefit a company that would initially hire only five people.
Kudos to the St. Marys River Management Committee for standing against this seemingly ludicrous proposal. I can only hope that the people of Georgia chime in when the time comes for the mandatory EPD “Public Comment Period.”
The minutes can be found here: http://www.saintmarysriver.org/docs/minutes/2011/1106.pdf Attachment A.
Friday, June 10, 2011
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