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Minutes to the Meetings Back Public
Working Committee Meeting #1 Cargill Fertilizer Minutes Attendees: Public: Bobbi Adams, James Byrd, Lundy O. Christian, Audrea Fisher, Jane Fisher, M. Foster, Gordon M. Garms, Josette Geraci, Sal Geraci, Susan Green, George Harper, William Hartman, Sullie M. Holmes, Jeanie Johnson, Huing T. Mai, Lois Marcum, William Marcum, Bonnie and Jerry Maxwell, Deputy Rob Mobley, B. Dee Pittman, Noreen Poor, Manold Riba, Pam Riggs, Randy Riggs, Earnest H. Rims, Mary Rufener, Larry Ruffner, Patsy Ruffner, Martin Sheridan, Lerl Thompson, Charlie Ware, Paul Ware, Monica Welde, Haven Whiteside, Joanne Wilson, Mark O. Wilson, Jr., and Rose Young. Resource Team: Dena Leavengood (facilitator); Kathy Liles, Ken Huntington and Robert K. Vanderslice (FDEP); Gray Gordon, Parker Keen, Chris Smith, Brenda Menendez, David Jellerson and Teen Mullis (Cargill); Christine O'Connor and Deanne Roberts (Roberts Communications); Trish Stratton (PBSJ); Shirley Gersholowitz and John Healey (HC Planning); Reggie Sanford (EPC); Joe Bacheler (MacDill AFB); and Dan Blood (HC). Materials Distributed:
Open House/Displays Cargill hosted an open house/displays in public meeting room from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. with refreshments. Welcome and Introductions Gray Gordon, Vice President of Community and Industrial Relations at Cargill Fertilizer (Cargill), opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. with welcome and introductory remarks. Parker Keen was introduced and other Cargill staff recognized. Cargill has been in the community since the 1920's and has over 400 employees. Approximately 30 years of Cargill mining operations remain. Cargill has elected to use the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) Ecosystem Management Team (EMT) Permitting Process to more efficiently develop a facility plan matching the capacity of the mines. Kathy Liles, EMT Facilitator for FDEP, welcomed attendees. Ken Huntington was introduced and other EMT members were recognized. A brief overview of the purpose of the public involvement process was presented. Dena Leavengood, EMT designated Public Working Committee (PWC) Facilitator/Liaison, was introduced. Funding for this position to be provided by Cargill. Ms. Leavengood welcomed PWC and audience. A brief overview of the purpose of the PWC was presented. Christine O'Connor, scribe, was introduced. Agenda/Meeting Objectives Review Ms. Leavengood explained the purpose of the meeting. Agenda and meeting objectives were reviewed. PWC role, responsibilities and commitment were described. The PWC will meet two times a month through June 30, 1999, when the permit application will be submitted. Thereafter, meeting need and frequency to be determined by the PWC. FDEP Overview of Ecosystem Management Team Ms. Liles defined ecosystem management and presented overview of EMT process (hard-copy of overhead presentation attached). Principal permitting milestones include application submittal June 30, 1999; application review September 30, 1999; request for additional information November 30, 1999; response to request February 28, 2000, and final agency action October 31, 2000. Ms. Liles emphasized the importance of public participation and that the EMT permitting process is totally voluntary. Incentives for Cargill to participate include savings in time, cost and certainty, and process flexibility. In return, Cargill must provide for a Net Ecosystem Benefit (NEB - produce a better environmental outcome than would have been achieved through the traditional regulatory process), meet all standards and criteria, and reduce overall risks to human health or the environment. PWC Introductions/Discussion PWC members introduced themselves, stating their name, stakeholder interest and relationship to Cargill.
Concern was expressed regarding the impact of PWC recommendations on the decision-making/ permitting process. Ms. Liles noted that similar projects had addressed public concerns and/or made changes to proposed projects. This is a new and different process allowing for citizen input at the beginning of the permit request, rather than at public hearings at the end. Project Information Mr. Keen presented the Project Information. The purpose of Cargill's 30-year plan is to match the planning period of the Riverview facility with the life of the central Florida mining supply. The comprehensive approach will consider impacts on the entire Alafia River Basin, and look at all land holdings in Hillsborough County, the by-product and all other land uses. Aerial photographs of the area were reviewed. Current operation and expansion plans were described. The old phosphogypsum stack , west of U.S. Highway 41, was opened about 1930, and closed in 1990. Its base covers 400 acres and it is approximately 220 feet high. The current stack system was permitted in 1984. The $20 million design/construction, focused on environmental protection and public health, was completed in 1990. It is permitted for approximately 430 acres and to a height of 200 feet, including 238 acres of cooling ponds. The proposed expansion plan requests raising the height of the stack system to 250 feet, extending the southern edge of the stack 800 feet (adding approximately 95 acres), and restoring Archie Creek on an additional 200 feet of property to the south of the stack. What is the timeframe of the project? Cargill is planning 30 years ahead, but won't do anything for seven to ten years. Work will follow in stages. Concerns were expressed regarding cooling ponds, berms and spills. Mr. Keen and Mr. Gordon responded that Cargill plans to move the cooling ponds to the top of the new expanded stack or to use new cooling technology as the stack expands. The ponds are built so they won't overflow. Design is state-of-the-art; liners are made of clay; and the berms are thicker at the top, exceed required free-board (distance from top of water to top of berm), have no pipes passing through the walls, and are monitored. Last year's multi-million gallon spill was caused by a berm that failed because of pipes going through the sides. Cargill's largest spill was approximately 40,000 gallons in 1988 and was caused when a tank overflowed due to an imbalance of the pumps. The cooling ponds were not involved. Questions were raised regarding gypsum storage and safety. Mr. Keen and Mr. Gordon responded that gypsum could not be returned to the mines because it would still be a gypsum stack and FDEP has not permitted transporting gypsum that great of a distance. However, research is ongoing to find a commercial use for the gypsum. The byproduct naturally contains radon, is "slightly radioactive," and is concentrated in the gypsum. Cargill has not studied the health risks of exposure to gypsum to citizens, but has studied its employees. No illness has been found associated with gypsum or any of the processes. Additional questions were raised regarding regarding odor, ammonia and property values. Mr. Keen and Mr. Gordon responded that Cargill is in the process of trying a new technique to reduce odor. It has received no complaints that the odor is bad for asthma. Via the PWC process, Cargill will respond to other topics, such as ammonia and property values/purchase, at future meetings. Public Working Committee Overview Ms. Leavengood indicated that the permitting process is designed to answer most of the concerns. The PWC will see everything that the permitting agencies see and have opportunity to comment. The PWC will be responsible for prioritizing concerns and making recommendations to Cargill and the EMT. Ms. Leavengood noted that Ed Radice of Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation, Joanne Gadek of Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce, Cindy Malone of Gibsonton Elementary and Cindy Cathey of FDEP are unable to participate on the PWC. Following discussion, it was agreed that other PWC members could adequately represent those individual stakeholder groups. Mr. Mohme volunteered to attend EMT meetings and represent the PWC. Need an alternate liaison for backup. Ms. Boronell also will be attending EMT meetings, but on behalf of Progress Village. Ms. Leavengood noted that she and Kathy Liles may be contacted at the following addresses, and interim telephone numbers and email addresses: Dena Leavengood, 3207 San Jose Street, Tampa
33629 Kathy Liles, 504 Cressida Circle, Springhill
33629 Comments/questions/suggestions will be forwarded to Cargill, the EMT, and the PWC for response, and will be addressed at future PWC meetings. All PWC meetings will be publicly noticed via the media and posted on web-page, Cargill sign, phone/voicemail, at meetings, etc. The public will be provided the opportunity to comment at PWC meetings, public forums, EMT meetings, and via email, focus groups and phone/voice mail. Meeting dates were discussed. The second Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of every month were identified as blackout days. Members indicated that early-evening, working dinner meetings were best. A questionnaire will be forwarded to members to assist in setting scheduled meetings for the two PWC meetings per month, and three public forums. Announcements/Upcoming Meeting Dates
The proposed agenda for the February 15 PWC meeting will include:
The proposed agenda for the first March PWC meeting will include:
The proposed agenda for the second March PWC meeting will include:
Future meeting agendas to include:
Public Comment The following concerns were identified:
Comments/questions/suggestions:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. |