The National Rivers Website, Rivers of Florida:

The following news is assembled from postings from various sources, as a public service. The sponsors of this website do not assume responsibility for accuracy. Always double-check information before relying on it, especially when your safety is involved!

STATEWIDE ISSUES:

ACA sues over pollution of Florida waterways

Sewage treatment mistreats the St. Johns River

The American Canoe Association (www.aca-paddler.org) reports that it has filed a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, the Buckman Street Sewage Treatment Plant (Buckman), and the Jacksonville Electric Authority for hundreds of permit violations at the Buckman plant. The suit, filed on June 15th, seeks an order requiring the plant to comply with its permit limits.

The association received complaints about water quality from local paddlers and the Stewards of the St. Johns River (Stewards), a conservation group dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the St. Johns River. The Stewards were concerned over ongoing permit violations and were instrumental in gathering data and submitting this information to the ACA. After reviewing the plant's own monitoring reports, the association determined there was a pattern of noncompliance and decided to take action. "Without this action the Buckman plant will continue to violate its permit limits and water quality in the St. Johns River will further deteriorate," said David Bookbinder, Director of Environmental Enforcement for the ACA. "The citizens of Jacksonville, and those living, working and recreating downstream, deserve better."

This enforcement action reflects the ACA's overall concern about water quality in Florida. Paddlers across the state are encountering serious water quality problems. Elsewhere in Florida, the ACA is challenging a permit for the Buckeye Florida pulp mill on the Fenholloway River. The pulp mill had planned to pipe its pollution to the Gulf of Mexico, but ACA is seeking to force the plant to upgrade its treatment process to reduce pollution by switching to a modern closed cycle chlorine free process. "Shifting the problem from one waterway to another is not the answer," said Bookbinder. "Technology is available that can reduce the mill's pollution and help clean-up the Fenholloway River."

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