Nature Walk in Chumuckla

I walked the woods of the Panhandle today. It was quiet, peaceful and relaxing. The temperature seemed just right, and the cloud cover was almost too perfect.

As I began to walk, I realized that it was not so quiet alone in the woods, and as a matter of fact, I was not alone at all. Life was all around me and it was quite amazing. I could hear birds chirping like I have never heard before. The wind was rustling through the trees, making sounds almost as if the trees were talking to me, telling me stories of the sights they have seen. I could hear a dog howling in the distance, letting everyone know about the things he has gone through. It seemed as if my ears were in an entirely different place.

But that was not all; all of my other senses began to become more active, as well. I could smell things that others in their everyday lives cannot smell. The wind had a unique smell, a fresh smell of a new day and new season. The trees smelled so fresh and inspiring. And I began to see things that not just anyone can see. It was nature at its best, untouched and pure. The trees seemed alive, almost as if they were walking with me. The birds seemed as if they were at home, as they flew from tree to tree, not having to worry about anyone or anything interfering with their everyday lifestyle. Ants were marching in a straight line, each doing their job and not one swayed from the line.

That brings me to feeling, and it was a feeling that everyone gets, but it is rare. A feeling of pureness, freshness, cleanness and a feeling of being alive, all at once. Being with nature in its habitat, not my habitat. Letting nature do its work as I watched, not it watching as I did my job. I felt as I was part of nature, and I belonged right there in the woods. Now, I know whenever I need to get away from the stress of everyday living, all I have to do is take a walk in the quite, peaceful, wonderful woods of Chumuckla.

 

Legal Ad Story - Title V Revision for IP

As of March 16, residents of Escambia County may notice some new, different smells circulating in the air.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Northwest District approved a Title V Air Operation Permit Revision to International Paper Company for the Pensacola Mill in Cantonment.

The mill has been converted from a hardwood and softwood facility to a completely hardwood facility, increasing the mill’s pulp and paper production to a peak level of approximately 2,500 air dried tons of unbleached pulp per day.  

This conversion to completely softwood facilities will result an increase of 109.40 tons of toxic emissions into the air.

These emissions include volatile organic compounds, mono-nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric oxide mist and particulate matter.

Volatile organic compounds and particulate matter are suspected to be carcinogens, while all of the chemicals are suspected to be respiratory toxicants, according Scorecard.org, a pollution information website.

Softwood is used to make a harder, thicker paper, such as cardboard, that is generally dark in color and not bleached to turn white, while on the other hand, hardwood is used to make smooth, soft, white paper, which requires bleaching.

“They are in business to make money,” said Jack Fleck, an Engineering Specialist for the Florida DEP. “And I assume that this is a cost cutting move.”

IP is a global paper and packaging company that is ranked No. 93 among the Fortune 500 companies. The company operates 16 pulp, paper and packaging mills, including the Pensacola location, which has been in operation since 1941. Through 2007, IP has over 51,000 employees worldwide, with just over 31,000 of those being employed in the United States.

IP failed to comment on the Title V revision after numerous contact attempts were made.

The process to convert the Pensacola Mill to a completely softwood facility began in November 2006, with IP submitting a request for an application for construction that explained the process and how things were supposed to occur during the revision.

After the DEP approved the construction application, IP began the conversion, which began physically in September 2007 and was completed physically early in 2008.

As usual with any Title V revision, the long, drawn out part of the process begins after the construction, according to Fleck.

“After the actual construction, things get bogged down,” Fleck said. “Tests are run on the emissions, which can take up to three months depending on the difficulty of the tests and the size of the tests.

“After the tests are run, the company then gets 75 days to receive and report the results, along with their application, to the DEP. Then the DEP begins their review of the results and questioning process, which can take anywhere from 30, 45, 60 days.”

Once the DEP approves the results, the company must publish a public notice of the change. At times, the notice comes months after the DEP approves the results.

IP published their notice for a revision in The Pensacola News Journal on December 19, 2008.

Once the notice goes public, the community has 30 days for public comment. If there is no public comment, the DEP approves the revision.

No public comment was made on the revision for IP, resulting in the approval.

IP’s current Title V Air Operation Permit expires October 27, 2011 and they must apply for renewal by March 16 of the same year.