Chemours wants to mine on SRWMD land in Bradford County, FL, upstream from the Santa Fe River, on Double Run Creek which already had a tailings wastewater spill last fall.

You’ve got 30 days to comment:

The Jacksonville District will receive written comments on the proposed work, as outlined above, until June 12, 2025. Comments should be submitted electronically via the Regulatory Request System (RRS) at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs or to John Fellows at john.p.fellows@usace.army.mil. Alternatively, you may submit comments in writing to the Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Attention: John Fellows, 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, FL 33610. Please refer to the permit application number in your comments.

That’s permit application number SAJ-2019-00480 (JPF).

Chemours Army Corps application to mine TiO2 on SRWMD land, Bradford County, FL, Santa Fe River Basin 2025-05-13

Many of us complained back in 2019 about SRWMD allowing Chemours access through SRWMD property, but in 2021 SRWMD claimed it had no choice.

SRWMD parcels, Bradford County Property Appraiser 2019-10-17

Now it’s not just access, it’s actual mining. So what does conservation mean to the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD)? Or to its parent the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)?

Here’s the problem: “ Due to the nature of mining, the location of the high-grade mineral sands and the locations of the wetlands, impacts to wetlands onsite are unavoidable.”

The Army Corps can deny this Chemours permit application in the Santa Fe River Basin in Florida.

Here’s an obvious reason: “The applicant states that a review of the Regulatory In-Lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS) revealed there are no mitigation bank service areas that include the location of the proposed project, nor any available In-Lieu Fee programs that service the project site. Therefore, the applicant proposes permittee-responsible onsite and offsite mitigation for any unavoidable impacts.”

Chemours has had at least one major wastewater spill of hundreds of thousands of gallons each of the past three years. Why extend that bad track record?

And can avoid it next to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. GA-EPD can deny that permit application. If even the most experienced TiO2 mine operator, Chemours, with five mines in north Florida and two in south Georgia, cannot prevent wastewater spills, why should anyone believe a bunch of coal miners from Alabama can?

As WWALS reminded GA-EPD a year ago and WWALS told GA-EPD and the Army Corps back in 2019, these same coal miners, Twin Pines Minerals LLC, were processing tailings at Chemours north Florida mines, when “During and just after Hurricane Irma in 2017, the only pollution spills reported in the Suwannee River Basin in Florida, other than a couple of diesel spills from military vehicle accidents, were from three Chemours TiO2 mine sites on Trail Ridge.[4] Here is an excerpt from the report for Chemours Maxville Mine near Starke, Bradford County, Florida,”

“Due to the significant rain event associated with Hurricane Irma, Stormwater and process water was released from the emergency spillways at 4 of the ponds on the site (turbid water — no hazardous materials or chemicals). Discharges from the emergency spillways ceased over the course of a few days. , , Additionally, turbid water was released from NPDES point (D001). Due to high winds, sediment was not able to be settled from the water column.”

Those spills and other infractions caused FDEP to issue a Consent Order on Twin Pines Minerals LLC and Chemours.
https://wwals.net/?p=49898

Here is the current Chemours wetlands application:

SAJ-2019-00480 (JPF)

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Published May 13, 2025 / Expiration date: 6/12/2025

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1344). The purpose of this public notice is to solicit comments from the public regarding the work described below:

If you are interested in receiving additional project drawings associated with this public notice, please send an e-mail to the project manager by electronic mail at john.p.fellows@usace.army.mil.

APPLICANT: Clement Hilton

The Chemours FC, LLC

P.O. Box 753

Starke, FL 32091

 

Map: Chemours Permit Location in the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT)

WATERWAY AND LOCATION: The project would affect aquatic resources associated with headwater wetlands of the Santa Fe River (HUC 03110206), a tributary of the Suwannee River (HUC 031102). The project site is located south of State Road 230 and east of State Road 100, approximately four miles southeast of downtown Starke, in Sections 12, 13, and 24, Township 7 South, Range 22 East, Bradford County, and Sections 6, 7, 18, and 19, Township 7 South, Range 23 East, Clay County, Florida; at latitude 29.883858° and longitude -82.051777°.

Map: Context, Chemours, SRWMD, Santa Fe River in the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT)

EXISTING CONDITIONS: The proposed mine site totals approximately 2884.4 acres.  The majority of the proposed project area was historically managed for silviculture. Unpaved, graded roads cross the proposed project area to provide access for silviculture operations. Wetlands and ditches occur throughout the proposed project area, and portions of the wetlands have been subject to timber harvesting and replanted with pine for silviculture.

The area surrounding the project area consists of the applicant’s mining and processing facilities to the north, additional pine plantations to the west and south, and Camp Blanding Joint Training Center to the east. Keystone Heights Airport is located one mile south of the project’s southern limit.  The project site also overlaps or is in the vicinity of several public and private parcels of conservation lands.

The applicant has partially mined or disturbed the site under a State 404 Individual Permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) (ST404_137482-022) for the initial phase of the overall project.

PROJECT PURPOSE:  Basic: To mine mineral sands

Overall: To mine mineral sands from identified deposits in the vicinity of the applicant’s existing Trail Ridge processing facilities

PROPOSED WORK:  The applicant requests a ten-year authorization to discharge dredged or fill material into 740.45 acres of aquatic resources, including 314.59 acres of impacts completed under the State 404 permit as of March 2025. This overall total includes 710.59 acres of wetland impacts and 29.86 acres of surface water impacts. The impacts to the remaining aquatic resources includes 401.53 acres of wetland impacts and 24.33 acres of surface water impacts.

AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION: The applicant has provided the following information in support of efforts to avoid and/or minimize impacts to the aquatic environment:  

The applicant stated the following in their application: Due to the nature of mining, the location of the high-grade mineral sands and the locations of the wetlands, impacts to wetlands onsite are unavoidable. Large portions of wetland sloughs running through the Project Area were avoided in order to maintain the existing flow ways connecting onsite wetlands to downstream wetland systems, and flow ways that feed into the Santa Fe River Basin. During the mine planning process, the footprint of the mining limits was reduced to avoid large wetland areas located along the western and southwestern boundary. These efforts to reduce the impact to wetlands within the proposed Mine Permit Boundary reduced wetland impacts and leaves 725.96-acres of wetlands and other surface waters undisturbed.

 

During construction, all necessary steps will be taken for the duration of the proposed project activities to ensure that no adverse impacts to water quality will occur. This may include, but is not limited to, siltation curtains, hay bales and floating turbidity screens, and other typical construction BMPs as necessary. All newly exposed surfaces will be seeded as soon as practicable. BMPs (as appropriate) will be installed along the limits of disturbance areas when adjacent to any undisturbed wetland areas.

Stormwater management for the Project Area was specifically designed to reduce and mitigate potential impacts to downstream waters and to restore to the greatest extent practical pre-mining surface flow conditions. The mine plan was designed to maintain downstream flow by avoiding the large central wetland flow ways.

The engineered stormwater management design will ensure protection of adjacent and downstream waters and will adhere to State Water quality requirements. Discharge water will be reclaimed within the stormwater retention ponds and discharged in accordance with the State Industrial Wastewater permit.

Within the Project Area the proposed stormwater management system and accepted BMPs will serve to reduce turbidity, erosion, and runoff to maintain water quality within adjacent offsite wetlands. Adherence to general and special permit conditions in the State permits will provide for protection of water quality during the duration of permitted activities.

COMPENSATORY MITIGATION: The applicant offered the following compensatory mitigation plan to offset unavoidable functional loss to the aquatic environment:

The applicant states that a review of the Regulatory In-Lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS) revealed there are no mitigation bank service areas that include the location of the proposed project, nor any available In-Lieu Fee programs that service the project site. Therefore, the applicant proposes permittee-responsible onsite and offsite mitigation for any unavoidable impacts. This mitigation includes the onsite restoration of 710.59 acres of wetlands impacted during mining, the enhancement of 165.48 acres of onsite wetlands which are not proposed to be impacted, and the enhancement of 53.96 acres of offsite wetlands. For long-term protection of the mitigation areas, the applicant states that the rules and statutes that protect all wetlands within the State of Florida including the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) program and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act will suffice, along with proposed ownership by the State as part of the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center (CBJTC) Army Compatible Use Buffer and proposed long-term management of the areas by the CBJTC as part of their Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP). The applicant states that they will be responsible for the financial assurance for the mitigation implementation. The CBJTC will be responsible for funding the long-term management of the mitigation areas as part of the INRMP.   

Map: SRWMD land, Bradford County Property Appraiser

 

CULTURAL RESOURCES:  The Corps is evaluating the undertaking for effects to historic properties as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This public notice serves to inform the public of the proposed undertaking and invites comments including those from local, State, and Federal government Agencies with respect to historic resources. Our final determination relative to historic resource impacts may be subject to additional coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, federally recognized tribes and other interested parties.

The District Engineer’s final eligibility and effect determination will be based upon coordination with the SHPO and/or THPO, as appropriate and required, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on historic properties within the Corps-identified permit area.

The Corps notes that the Florida SHPO sent a letter dated June 26, 2019, following their review in accordance with Chapters 267.061 and 373.414, Florida Statutes, and implementing state regulations (DHR Project File No.: 2018-0132-B). The letter stated that the SHPO determined that determined that the proposed project will have no effect on historic properties listed, or eligible for listing, in the NRHP, or otherwise of historical, architectural, or archaeological value

ENDANGERED SPECIES: The Corps has performed an initial review of the application, using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC), to determine if any threatened, endangered, proposed, or candidate species, as well as the proposed and final designated critical habitat may occur in the vicinity of the proposed project. Based on this initial review, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the proposed project may affect species and critical habitat listed below. No other ESA-listed species or critical habitat will be affected by the proposed action.

Table 1

Species Common Name and/or Critical Habitat Name	Scientific Name	Federal Status
Eastern indigo snake	Drymarchon couperi	Threatened (T)
Wood Stork	Mycteris americana	Endangered (E)
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker	Picoides borealis	E
Suwannee Moccasinshell	Medionidus walkeri	T
Oval Pigtoe	Pleurobema pyriforme	E
Suwannee alligator snapping turtle	Macrochelys suwanniensis	T
Black Creek crayfish	Procambarus pictus	E (proposed)
Tricolored bat	Perimyotis subflavus	E (proposed)

 

The Corps based its determinations on habitat availability in the action area for this project (including on the project site and in downstream waters potentially affected by the proposed work), listed species reports for the CBJTC, biological surveys conducted in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2019, and a list of species potentially present obtained from the IPAC system using the Corps’ National Regulatory Viewer Screening Tool for Florida.

Pursuant to Section 7 ESA, any required consultation with the Service(s) will be conducted in accordance with 50 CFR part 402.

This notice serves as request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for any additional information on whether any listed or proposed to be listed endangered or threatened species or critical habitat may be present in the area which would be affected by the proposed activity.

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996, the Corps reviewed the project area,  examined information provided by the applicant, and consulted available species information.

The Corps has determined the proposal would have no effect on any Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) because there is no onsite EFH, and the Corps does not anticipate any downstream effects on EFH. Therefore, no consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service on EFH as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996 is required.

Our final determination relative to project impacts and the need for mitigation measures is subject to review by and coordination with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

NAVIGATION: The proposed structure or activity is not located in the vicinity of a federal navigation channel.

SECTION 408: The applicant will not require permission under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 USC 408) because the activity, in whole or in part,   would not alter, occupy, or use a Corps Civil Works project.

WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: FDEP ERP MMR_137482-018 dated May 26, 2021, provides Water Quality Certification for this project.

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY: Coastal Zone Consistency Concurrence is required from the FDEP. In Florida, the State approval constitutes compliance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan.

NOTE:  This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the applicant. This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program. The geographic extent of aquatic resources within the proposed project area that either are, or are presumed to be, within the Corps jurisdiction has not been verified by Corps personnel.

EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, esthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food, and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. A permit will be granted unless its issuance is found to be contrary to the public interest.

COMMENTS: The Corps is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other Interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

The Jacksonville District will receive written comments on the proposed work, as outlined above, until June 12, 2025. Comments should be submitted electronically via the Regulatory Request System (RRS) at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs or to John Fellows at john.p.fellows@usace.army.mil. Alternatively, you may submit comments in writing to the Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Attention:  John Fellows, 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, FL 33610.  Please refer to the permit application number in your comments.

Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a public hearing will be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing.

CLICK HERE for Public Notice and Graphics: /Portals/44/docs/regulatory/Public Notices/2025 03 March/West/20250513-SAJ-2019-00480-BRADFORD-0612-JPF.pdf?ver=afH6EBzq6Yb3j6QqAfxC4g%3d%3d

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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