Pipeline Defended

November 10, 2005

Letter to the Editor
Cedar Key News
Cedar Key, Florida

Dear Editor:

The Cedar Key News recently ran an editorial and a news article concerning the Fenholloway River in Taylor County. The company that I work for, Buckeye Technologies, was mentioned by name in the writings. I would like readers to know of the successes we have had in implementing environmental improvements at our cellulose manufacturing plant near Perry – improvements that are helping to restore the Fenholloway and improve Gulf water quality.

Buckeye has invested over $84 million since 1988 to improve the quality of our plant`s treated wastewater. The expenditures have reduced wastewater color by 50 percent, reduced wastewater volume by 22 percent, and reduced sodium discharge by 27 percent. The use of elemental chlorine to purify pulp has been eliminated.

There are encouraging signs that these improvements are having the desired effects. In 2003 biologists with the U. S. Geological Survey conducted an investigation and found bass, bluegills, warmouth, red bellies, and several species of catfish as well as bowfin and gar in the Fenholloway. They also collected young tarpon just below our plant`s wastewater outfall. All of the fish were healthy.

Further improvements are required by a pending wastewater permit prepared by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with oversight by the EPA. These improvements – projected to cost at least $58 million – include additional equipment upgrades within the Buckeye facility to further reduce color, increase oxygen levels in the river, and reduce nutrients; enhancing 6,700 acres of company owned wetlands; and removing salty wastewater from the freshwater portion of the Fenholloway. This latter provision involves the much-discussed pipeline.

Specifically, the pending permit requires a 47 percent reduction in carbonaceous biological oxygen demand, a 58 percent reduction in total nitrogen, a 29 percent reduction in total phosphorous, and an additional 8 percent reduction in color.

It is wrong to suggest that relocating Buckeye's treated wastewater within the Fenholloway will harm Gulf water quality. The proposed plan of work improves Gulf water quality. Buckeye will not agree to any plan that creates a new environmental problem for its neighbors or the company.

The proposed Fenholloway improvement plan is comprehensive: it further improves wastewater quality, improves river water quality and improves Gulf water quality.

In the past Buckeye has hosted plant and river tours for Cedar Key residents and we will gladly do so again. We believe in two-way communications with our neighbors.

To schedule a visit, readers can call 850-584-1275.

Sincerely,

Howard Drew
Site Manager