Update 2025-07-21: PFAS in sewage effluent used to restore wetlands 2025-07-18.

I did get answers from the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) about nitrate testing for springs, but no response about the Chemours application to mine on SRWMD land in Bradford County in the Santa Fe River Basin, using mineral rights retained by Rayonier.

Nitrate monitoring of springs and Mining on SRWMD land, –Suwannee Riverkeeper to SRWMD Board 2025-07-08

Surprisingly, nobody showed up to speak at the recent SRWMD Board meeting in item 6. Public Comment. See SRWMD’s YouTube video at 15:28.
https://www.youtube.com/live/9pousRkUayc?si=VoUYIbT4Ak8SKlGV&t=928

Nobody spoke in 6. Public Comment

SRWMD Chair Virginia Johns did note that one letter had been received, but it was already filed as public comment. So anybody expecting their letter to be read by staff was disappointed.

I showed up a bit late, but the Chair invited me to speak anyway. See 20:10 in the SRWMD video.
https://www.youtube.com/live/9pousRkUayc?si=qFrMO_mWv4ibK2E4&t=1210

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman spoke late

First I thanked them for posting their own YouTube video, since previously the only way they got on YouTube was when I stood in the back, people tripped over my tripod, and I put it on YouTube.

Then I asked what is going on with nitrate monitoring at Manatee Springs, since I had seen a notice that it would cease July 1, 2025, yet it was still continuing. Water Resources Deputy Executive Director Amy Brown asked for everyone to wait until item 32. USGS Monitoring Agreement Update.

Wait until item 32 for river gauges –Amy Brown, Deputy E.D., Water Resources, SRWMD

I already reported on that what Water Resources Office Chief Suzy Hetrick said about that: USGS discontinued funding for nitrate and pH spring monitoring @ SRWMD 2025-07-08. It’s not just Manatee Springs, it’s eight springs, not just nitrates, also pH and some other things. SRWMD may or may not pick up the slack. She will update in their August Board meeting.

No Nitrate, Beginning July 1, 2025, 2025-07-08 –SRWMD

Last I said I was surprised to find that back in 2015 when SRWMD bought a tract from Rayonier on Trail Ridge in Bradford County, that Rayonier retained mineral rights. And that Rayonier had since leased those rights to Chemours for strip mining titanium dioxide (TiO2). I thought SRWMD was in the business of conserving land.

Map: Rayonier Atlantic Timber Company South Tract 8/26/2015 –SRWMD
PDF

Nobody made any direct response. The Chair did make some notes.

I promised to send them our WWALS comments to the Army Corps, which describe and cite the above. Questions and call for Public Hearing on Chemours permit application to mine SRWMD land –WWALS to USACE 2025-06-12.
https://wwals.net/?p=67794

Questions and call for Public Hearing, Chemours application to mine SRWMD land, Santa Fe River Basin –WWALS to USACE 2025-06-12

Of course, the last time mining on that SRWMD property came up, SRWMD disclaims responsibility for new Chemours titanium mine near Starke, 2021-05-20.

But maybe they’ll have a better answer this time.

Maybe they’ll adopt Craig Pitmann’s idea from back then: Craig Pittman, Florida Phoenix, 20 May 2021, FL allowing mining of state-owned wetlands has a certain smell to it,

If I were the Suwannee River water district folks, I know what I’d do. I would copy what the state does with people like me who rack up lots of speeding tickets.

I would tell the Chemours folks that they’re certainly entitled to go in and exercise their right to mine that taxpayer-owned property — but they have to pay for crossing the rest of the state’s land to get to it, and the price will be pretty high based on their repeated infractions.

Based on the Chemours record, I would set the toll pretty high, maybe around $2 million, and raise it even higher if they mess up, even on something minor. If nothing else, it would help pay for the clean-up should Chemours mess up this site too.

Obviously, if it dumps a lot of pollution here, the company would forfeit its right to mine anywhere else — just like someone who racks up too many speeding tickets forfeits the right to drive.

We shall see.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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