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Treasure Coast Groups Organize to Fight New Injection Well Threat to Coastal Health
April 28, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
It was announced today that The Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County, Indian Riverkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation Treasure Coast Chapter will organize and coordinate their efforts to oppose the expansion of a bleach manufacturing plant's waste disposal via Aquifer Injection near the coast.
"We recently learned that Allied Universal Corporation has withdrawn its application for a wastewater permit because they think they don't need it," said Kevin Stinnette, the president of the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County. "They have worked to quadruple their size before they comply with existing permit requirements. Now they say they don?t need a wastewater permit at all."
Research conducted by the well-respected environmental groups has brought forth information that is highly disturbing. Allied has a long history of spills, leaks, accidents and environmental non compliance with warning letters and consent orders littering its DEP files. These transgressions are not only in the St. Lucie area, but also throughout the state of Florida. Yet the Ft. Pierce Utilities Authority has chosen to rely on them to police their own pollution. Now Allied is working to avoid even the anemic constraints of the permit process.
"I don't believe our local agency, and elected officials had, or considered, all the information on this company's environmental record. If they had, I don't see how any permits could have been issued." commented Indian Riverkeeper George Jones. "I want to make sure the public, and our officials charged with the protection of the public health and our environment, understand all the numerous facts that have been left out of this process."
Indian Riverkeeper Jones has already sent DEP Secretary Mike Sole and DEP Southeast District Director Jack Long a request that Allied be required to have a permit for any injection of waste material from their site to the FPUA injection well system. They will also demand DEP take the necessary actions needed to force the correction of all outstanding violations on the current site in Ft Pierce.
According to the National Archives and Records Administration, as early as 2001, migration of injected effluent has been documented or was suspected to be occurring in 42 of the 81 operational deep-injection sites, which are located primarily along south Florida's coast. "The same subsurface flow paths that supplied historic pristine ground water to coastal areas may now be points of 'preferential induced discharge' for fluid wastes injected into wells along South Florida's coast." said Dr. Sydney Bacchus, a hydroecologist with Applied Environmental Services, LLC.
"Any company with a history of violations like Allied Universal should not be trusted on their own accord to send their waste to the City of Fort Pierce to be disposed of in an Injection Well. It has already been proven by University of South Florida in a comprehensive study that these wells can leak what is injected into them, sometimes within hours after injection. Citizens of this county should not be susceptible to the risk of waste from Allied moving into our water system, followed by a massive risk to our Intracoastal and ocean." said Kevin Murray, Chair for The Surfrider Foundation, Treasure Coast Chapter.
These violations have been left uncorrected for way too long, and should be linked to any permit Allied seeks. Over the next few weeks, the groups intend to take their message to the Board of County Commissioners, Ft. Pierce Public Utilities Authority and the citizens of the County.
About the Surfrider Foundation, Treasure Coast Chapter:
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches.
Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 60,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. The Florida Treasure Coast Chapter was founded in 2005 in response to critical environmental issues effecting Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The Surfrider Foundation, Treasure Coast Chapter now has over 200 active members and over 1,000 supporting individuals and businesses.
About Indian Riverkeeper:
The mission of the Indian Riverkeeper is to protect and restore the waters of North America's most diverse estuary-- the Indian River Lagoon, its tributaries, fisheries and habitats through advocacy, enforcement and citizen action.
About Conservation Alliance:
Formed 37 years ago, Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County is one of the oldest environmental organizations in Florida. It is pledged to protect the water, soil, air, native flora and fauna, upon which all the Earth's creatures depend for survival and focuses its efforts on St. Lucie County. Its victories include the protection of the Ft. Pierce Inlet State Park from condominium development and the establishment of protection for our local waters from concentrated animal feeding Operations (CAFO?s).
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