JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—An emergency order by Gov. Rick Scott requiring immediate public disclosure of any instance of pollution is already yielding local reports.
JEA, the city’s water and electric utility, sent out an email to all local media, acknowledging two spills: reclaimed water leaking into a stormwater pond and a coal byproduct called petroleum coke spilling into the St. Johns River.
Neither posed a risk to public health, safety or welfare, according to JEA.
"We’re starting immediately,” spokesperson Gerri Boyce told First Coast News of JEA's compliance with the new disclosure law. “Anything that happens that is quote considered pollution now has to be reported within 24 hours.”
The emergency order, which just took effect Monday, was a response to two recent environmental accidents, which were kept secret until reported by news outlets.
Three weeks ago, a sinkhole at the Mosaic phosphate mine in Polk County allowed 215 million gallons of radioactive wastewater to drain into the state’s drinking water aquifer.
In St. Petersburg, heavy rains following Hurricane Hermine overwhelmed sewage treatment plants, sending up to 150 million gallons of partly treated raw sewage mixed with rainwater into Tampa Bay.
The governor’s order, which is effective immediately, is broad. It requires reporting of “any incident or discovery of pollution that may cause a threat to the air, surface waters, or groundwater of the state.” The reports must be sent to a city’s mayor, or equivalent head of the local County Commission, and to broadcast media and newspapers.
Because the rule applies to any polluting industry, it could conceivably produce a wave of reports. Small-scale spills and pollution releases are very common, as JEA’s two within two days demonstrates.
“You all will be inundated with notifications,” predicts Boyce, “because it happens every day to every utility and every company.”
Mayoral Spokesperson Marsha Oliver says the only notification the city has received is JEA’s, but noted the rule has just taken effect.
Boyce says she worries the new law may create a glut of not-very-helpful information, noting that the two spill were minor.
“But here’s the thing,” says Boyce, “we’re going to follow the rules,” says Boyce.
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JEA’s complete notifications are below:
1. Incident Address: 14279 Bartram Park Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32258
a. 5,000 gallons of reclaimed water was discharged into storm drain to adjacent stormwater pond on 9/26/2016 at 2:20 p.m. when a transmission pipe broke.
b. The spill consisted of fully treated and compliant reuse water destined for downstream reuse customers.
c. There is no potential risk to public health, safety or welfare. Florida Department of Environmental Protection notified.
2. Incident Type: Petroleum Coke Spill
Incident Address: Northside Generating Station - Fuel Dock, 4377 Hecksher Drive Jacksonville, FL 32226
a. 110 gallons of petroleum coke was released into the St. Johns River on 9/27/2016 at 2:30 p.m. when a leak developed on the unloader leading from the vessel. The material floated on top of the water, was contained and removed.
b. There is no potential risk to public health, safety or welfare. Florida Department of Environmental Protection notified.
