Greenway Files and Environmental

The above files are provided as a link to information provided by private individuals, but available from COFB or publicly through other sources. A very substantial portion of the greenway South of Jasmine is now dying from tidal salt water intrusion. This intrusion is the visible result of poor planning. The invisible issue is the old dump which was closed in the late 60's or early 70's. This dump has few records and, as far as I can tell, was not well documented. This is potentially the biggest environmental issue our island faces.

The above audit in the first link point to a "HIGH RISK" from the old dump. Any reasonable person would assume this land should be tested fully for contaminants from a dump. I also want to point out the unregulated nature of the site since it was used as early as the 1940's and is now feeding directly into Egan's Creek, the river and ocean. This dump and the land adjoining the property to the south of Jasmine make me wonder if old industrial waste may be an additional contaminant. As an area vulnerable to flooding in even low intensity hurricanes, the entire basin is a time bomb or could be if it contains contaminants which may be released during a storm surge event.

I urge anyone reading this page to become involved to be sure the soil here is tested and that FDOT does not disturb any more soil or allow salt to intrude into areas possibly contaminated. As a resident of Amelia Island, I insist on reasonable care and diligence from this point forward. I also grew up living on 3 acres right at the main gate to the public dump in question above. I feel I have a little more personal knowledge and feel compelled to say something because everyone else might have forgotten this site exists.

How can you become involved? Call your City Commissioner and make them aware of the issue and how important preserving this island is to you. A list of current city commissioners is below for your convenience.

Address for letters regarding “The Greenway” concerning salt intrusion or any testing issues relating to dumped materials in or near the greenway:

(1) St. Johns River Water Management District
Mr. James O. Jett, Esq.
Assistant General Counsel
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street
Palatka, FL 32177
jjett@sjrwmd.com
386-329-4391
NOTE: Refer to Permit #4-089-81627-4:

(2) Florida Department of Transportation:
Mr. Jim Knight
Mr. Don Dankert
Florida Department of Transportation
1109 South Marion Ave., Mail Station #2007
Lake City, FL 32025-5874

(3) MS. Dinah Frazier
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Northeast District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way Suite B200
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7590
Phone: (904)807-3384
FAX: (904)448-4362
dinah.frazier@dep.state.fl.us

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/northeast/

Staff
Name	Title	Email	Phone
Leeper, Bill	Mayor	Email	(904) 277-0788
Gerrity, Joe	Vice Mayor	Email	(904) 261-3556
Malcolm, Bruce		Email	(904) 261-9062
Sapp, Ron		Email	(904) 261-4534
Walker, Ken		Email	(904) 261-9875