I got these additional figures indicate that Chemours wants to mine right up to Double Run Creek, upstream from the Santa Fe River.

I got them by following up on the Chemours application to the Army Corps for a permit to mine TiO2 on SRWMD land,

Additional Project Drawings, Chemours application to USACE to mine on SRWMD land –SWCA 2025-01-02

Chemours can’t continue mining without this permit, which it must get from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), because of the successful lawsuit by Miami Waterkeeper, St. Johns Riverkeeper, et al., to revoke the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) takeover of federal Clean Water Act permit applications.

See the third page of the USACE application form:

This project was originally review[sic] and approved by the USACE in 2020 pending the issuance of the State Water Quality Certification. Prior to USACE receiving the State Water Quality Certification, the EPA approved Florida’s State 404 Program, which became effective on Dec. 22, 2020, and all USACE pending permits were transferred to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for processing.

This project was subsequently reviewed, and Phase 1 was approved on June 6, 2022, under the FDEP State 404 Program, Permit no. ST404_137482-022. A portion of the Phase 1 approved impacts have been completed. The approval of Phase 2 is needed for Chemours to continue mining operations without any disruptions. Due to the FDEP being divested of its authority to issue State 404 Program permits on Feb 15, 2024, Chemours has requested the USACE review and approve the entire project for compliance consistency.

For that lawsuit, see Earthjustice, February 16, 2024, Federal Court Strikes Down EPA Approval of Florida Wetlands Program, and Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. Michael S. Regan, et. al., Civil Action No. 21-119 (RDM), U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

WWALS got these additional figures via a request that the Public Notice indicated was possible:

Dear Project Manager,

The Public Notice for SAJ-2019-00480 (JPF) U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Published May 13, 2025 / Expiration date: 6/12/2025 says:

“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.”

Please send those additional project drawings and any other materials associated with the Chemours permit application SAJ-2019-00480 (JPF).

John P Fellows sent the files on May 19.

He added, “FYI, the only other information that I can send you without a FOIA request is a copy of the application form, which I have attached in case you wanted to have it.”

I have now sent a FOIA request asking for the missing Figure 6 and any other “additional project drawings and any other materials associated with the Chemours permit application SAJ-2019-00480 (JPF) Published May 13, 2025 / Expiration date: 6/12/2025.”

We’ll see what else turns up.

Meanwhile, the documents so far are on the WWALS website:

• 20250102-Chemours_TRS_404App_FINAL_Figures.pdf
• 20250102-Eng_Form_4345_Signed-2.pdf

Images of each page are below.

20250102-Chemours_TRS_404App_FINAL_Figures

Figures
PDF

Figure 1: Location Map
PDF

Figure 2: Aerial Map
PDF

Figure 3: USGS Topographic Map
PDF

Figure 4: Soil Map
PDF

Figure 5: FEMA Floodplain Map
PDF

Figure 7: Pre-Mining Land Use and Vegetation Map
PDF

Figure 8: Pre-Mining Wetlands Map
PDF

Figure 9: Pre-Mining Topography and Drainage Basins Map
PDF

Figure 10: Mine Plan Map
PDF

Figure 11: Wetland Impact Map
PDF

Figure 13: Post-Mining Land Use and Vegetation Map
PDF

Figure 14: Post-Mining Topography
PDF

Figure 15: Wetland Mitigation Map
PDF

Figure 17: Offsite Permittee Responsible Mitigation Map
PDF

20250102-Eng_Form_4345_Signed-2

SWCA Environmental Consulting agent for The Chemours FC, LLC
PDF

Mining and extraction of heavy mineral sands.
PDF

Due to the FDEP being divested of its authority to issue State 404 Program permits on Feb 15, 2024, Chemours has requested the USACE review and approve the entire project for compliance consistency.
PDF

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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