Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
July 30, 2015 2:22 p.m.
Board members of the Nassau County Ocean Highway Port Authority (OHPA) spent Wednesday afternoon in a workshop session striking words and omitting paragraphs from the controversial port master plan. After months of protests from concerned citizens, board members agreed to remove most of the controversial language from the plan. According to Port Attorney Clyde Davis, formal approval of the changes made to the plan will more than likely take place at the next regularly scheduled meeting on August 12.
Once the changes are approved, such words as coal, oil refineries, fumigation facility, bulk vessels for liquid natural gas, will no longer appear in the master plan. In addition, a reference to 700 trucks a day will be amended to 168 trucks per day. Even with the significant reduction in number of trucks per day, port officials say with a limited number of security gates the figure is still “pie in the sky.”
The elimination of cruise ships from the port master plan sought by concerned citizens did not make the cut. Board Chairman Richard Bruce said even though cruise ships and cargo don’t mix, it would be a mistake to eliminate cruise ships. Fullwood did not agree saying he does not want cruise ships in Fernandina.
During the discussion, Fullwood told commissioners a petition is circulating requesting a resolution from the OHPA opposing permit applications for coal transfer and the loading of coal from ships or barges and the “re-purpose, retrofitting, investing, re-engineering or modification of any equipment that would enable the offloading, handling and transferring coal from ship or barge at the port.” Vice Chairman Danny Fullwood spoke to the language suggesting current port equipment to transfer oats (a new port cargo) could be used to transfer coal.
Val Schwec, commercial director for the Port of Fernandina said although Kinder Morgan has no plans for a coal transfer facility, an outright band as presented in the resolution could present problems in the future should an unforeseen situation arise such as closure of the only railroad bridge to the island (coal is now delivered by rail). Without coal in this situation, Schwec suggested mill workers could not work.
Thank you, Susan for posting the information about the workshop. Also Commissioner Fullwood stated that in a Fox News story Kinder Morgan was “definitive” about not bringing coal into Fernandina. Mr. Schwec’s comment concerning the loss of the bridge is interesting. If the train bridge is lost by hurricane or flood, it is unlikely that anyone will be working. Rayonier and Westrock are waterfront industries. Both Rayonier and WestRock are able to utilize gas. And it would be difficult to believe that either industry would not have a contingency plan for the sudden interruption of any power source.
OHPA Commissioners
Thank you for listening to and acting on citizen concerns with the initial consultant developed Fernandina Beach Port Strategic 10 year Plan.
Also thanks to Kinder Morgan who has withdrawn their request for
a DEP Air Quality permit for Coal Transfer at the Fernandina Beach Port,
It is also reported Kinder Morgan has committed to not resubmit that request.
Also thanks to WestRock that has committed to use train for their coal deliveries in Fernandina Beach, still allowing for their option to use foreign coal to be delivered via Jax Port and then train to WestRock.
Business leaders and local citizens can work together here to meet the needs of both the business community the tourist industry and the residents.
“Business leaders and local citizens can work together here to meet the needs of both the business community the tourist industry and the residents.”
With this, Phil Scanlan has defined what a truly “vibrant community” really is. When I hear the pathetic lament that people don’t want to live and work in Fernandina/Nassau because the community isn’t vibrant enough, I wonder how the point is completely missed that citizen protest and public wrestling with issues of health/life/death/illness hoists the reputation of this community HIGHER, not lower.
Mrs Hunter, I thank you for your extremely thoughtful comments on our wonderfully vibrant City of Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. If the Nassau County Economic development Board, under the Leadership of Ms. DiBella would reach a little higher on the “Tree of Business” She would find Clean Industry that is comparable with our $500 million dollar Real estate and Tourist Industry could and would love to set up shop on Amelia Island. What a great place, for a business to Recruit for executives, engineers,and financial types. We have a Ready, Enthusiastic, and Trainable workforce. The quality of life for their families is what executives are always looking for. Amelia Island has that. For heavy industry Nassau County has 1,800 acres at Crawford Diamond industrial Park, which so far is, woefully under utilized. For the Big Box Stores, (God only knows why we would need any more) We have the Strip Mall Area along SR200. If their is not enough room in the existing Strip Malls, someone will build more. Zoning would be nice in Yulee, anybody thought of that?
Good to see all working together for the long term benefit of the community.