The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) convened a meeting at the Inglis Community Center on Thursday, May 31, 2012, from 7PM until 9:30PM, to hear public comments regarding the Draft Tarmac King Road Limestone Mine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Tarmac America, LLC, is applying for a 100-year permit to mine construction-grade limestone aggregate from wetlands that fall within the Army Corps` jurisdiction. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies, in this case USACE, to conduct studies for activities that may significantly impact the environment. This draft EIS articulates the Army Corps` evaluation of the potential impact of Tarmac`s proposed mining operation in the southwest Levy County wetlands five miles north of Inglis. An audience of nearly 100 individuals from Inglis, Yankeetown, Cedar Key, Dunnellon, Ocala, and other Florida towns and counties heard: moderator Robinson articulate the evening`s format, the recorder`s function, and commenter`s expectations; USACE Osvaldo Collazo`s assurance that the presenters had listened carefully to and incorporated into the draft EIS the 2008 public comment; and USACE Senior Project Manager Ed Sarfert. Mr. Sarfert`s presented a thirty-minute, PowerPoint overview of the Tarmac King Road Limestone Mine Environmental Impact Statement. Public comment followed until approximately 9:30PM. 
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Eleven individuals signed up to speak at this meeting; twenty-one actually spoke; four individuals spoke twice by extending their initially limited three-minute speaking time. Not one positive comment was offered. Comments varied. Most often repeated concern was that of water: wells are currently drying up; local springs are dry; water restrictions are being increased; little rain is falling; the aquifer is lowering; little water is flowing across the area; salt water is intruding. Several individuals voiced skepticism about the model used in the EIS that stated no damage to the ground water would occur with the mining. Also repeated was the perception that the local citizens would ultimately pay the price for the mine in taxes and restoration costs. Tarmac`s need for a mine was questioned again and again. The logic and results of scoring the eight Alternatives (noted below) was posited as erroneous. Other citizens pointed out that roseate spoonbills, turtles, and gopher tortoises were erroneously not mentioned in the statement`s wildlife impact section. Numerous individuals commented upon more panther sightings than the EIS acknowledged. Numerous individuals questioned the need for a 100-year period permit. Others remarked how Tarmac`s construction of a berm to negate hurricane damage did not help New Orleans and would be ineffective here as well. Comment was made that the application does not conform to Levy County`s land management plan. Repeated comments centered upon the huge number of limestone-laden trucks that will lumber through Inglis and its environs emitting carcinogens. Doubts were articulated about Tarmac`s mitigation intentions and efforts. At the evening`s conclusion, USACE presenters commented upon the thoughtfulness, graciousness, and expertise of the audience. TARMAC KING ROAD IMPACT STATEMENT HISTORY A Notice of Intent was published in the February 19, 2008, Federal Register announcing the USACE`s intention to prepare an EIS on rock mining in Levy County and announcing two scoping meetings on March 26, 2008, in Inglis and on March 27, 2008, in Chiefland.
TARMAC`S BASE Tarmac Mines, part of the Titan Group, operates in nine countries on three continents and has been listed on the Athens Stock Exchange since 1912. Originating in Greece, the Titan Group has acquired controlling interests in cement companies in Bulgaria, Egypt, and the Eastern United States since the 1990`s.
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comment, in addition to that heard on May 31, is welcomed on or before 5PM CST July 11, 2012, by:
* telephoning or e mailing Mr. Sarfert at 850-439-9533, Edward.p.sarfert@usace.army.mil;
* using United States mail to Mr. Edward Sarfert, USACE, Regulatory Division, 41 North Jefferson Street, Suite 301, Pensacola, FL 32502-5794;
* clicking on the comment section on the www.kingroadeis.com website. THE SPECIFIC EIS CONTENT: The two-volume, nearly thousand-page draft EIS can be found at www.kingroadeis.com and includes: synopses of 2008 public concerns; offsite and onsite alternatives to Tarmac`s current application; potentially significant impacts on surface water, groundwater and seepage, groundwater quality, wetlands and vegetation, noise, cultural resources, recreation, and remaining environmental disciplines; and mitigation. PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENT In 2008, some 280 comments from 88 interested parties and individuals were recorded at scoping meetings involved concerns with: water, habitat sensitivity, USACE/Tarmac mistrust, local social and economic impact, wetland impact, transportation of materials, cumulative impacts, Tarmac`s stated need, environmental damage, and blasting impacts. ALTERNATIVES ONE THROUGH EIGHT
Offsite alternatives included mining and transporting aggregate from Alabama, Georgia, and other markets in Florida. These alternatives were characterized as costly, not large enough, or of poorer quality. Onsite alternatives numbered eight. Under each alternative, mining would stop when the area was fully excavated to no deeper than 120 feet with no expectation of further USACE authorizations. Alternative One is no action. Alternative Two, the most expansive, is mining as outlined in Tarmac`s application. Alternative Three through Eight vary in: lessening the size of the mining operation; lessening the number of years allowed by the permit; altering the mining geographical boundaries. IMPACTS The EIS articulates impacts on surface water, groundwater and seepage, groundwater quality, wetlands and vegetation, noise, cultural resources, and recreation; and mitigation as they relate to the Alternatives One through Eight. Direct and secondary impacts from construction and mining activities are acknowledged as are hurricane surge and sea-level change impacts. Groundwater and seepage impacts are described as having "no discernible impacts" or showing "negligible change" due to mining. Wetland and vegetation would "have some degree of adverse impact." Noise impact will be buffered by Tarmac`s provision of a "100-foot-wide vegetated buffer." Tarmac would avoid three identified archeological sites extant in the Mitigation Area. All alternatives, with the exception of Alternative One No Action, hunting areas would be reduced and the mine area would no longer be available for preservation under the Florida Forever Project. "Remaining environmental disciplines" include wildlife, topography, geology, soils, seismicity, hazardous waste, and more critical areas. The Eastern Indigo Snake, Wood Stork, and the Florida Panther are concerns. MITIGATION Tarmac`s proposed mitigation plan is to restore nearby Plum Creek Timber Company property which has already been degraded from timbering activities. |
