Fear can be headier than whiskey, once man has acquired a taste for it. ~Donald Dowes

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

February 11, 2016 6:00 p.m.

SUVs tend to look pretty much alike these days. My silver Subaru Outback is no exception. But one of its distinguishing features is my bumper sticker, courtesy of a friend, that reads: Critical Thinking: The Other National Deficit. Sadly, the deficit is not just on the national level.

What started a couple of years ago as understandable outrage from a group of island residents over the ill conceived and even more poorly executed drafting of a new master plan for the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) now appears to be morphing into an attack on island industries that have been good employers and neighbors for almost 80 years.

How did this happen? Why did it happen? How do these attacks benefit our community?

While it is true that during their earlier days our mills were not particularly concerned over environmental issues, no other industries around the country were either. On those rare occasions in the 1950’s that our family drove into the big city of Buffalo, we kids always knew we were getting close when we could see the Technicolor skies, thanks to Bethlehem Steel and other industries on the south side of the city. There was the toxic dump known as the Love Canal north of Buffalo in Niagara Falls, NY. Lake Erie, the source of local drinking water for communities between Buffalo and Erie, PA, became so polluted that it was declared hazardous.

But times change. Thanks to both government regulation and citizen activists, industrial standards for emissions and handling hazardous materials have improved by quantum leaps. The environment has become cleaner, industrial operations safer than ever before. Industries that survived the switchover to newer, greener processes tout their concern for the earth and its two- and four-legged inhabitants. While there is a certain amount of altruism in developing a higher-level commitment to a clean environment, there is also a bottom line: profitability. Industries are not in business to be green; they are green to stay in business.

Dr. Robert J. "Skip" Livingston

In the late ‘90’s there was a local scare here in Fernandina Beach over the disappearance of phytoplankton and other nutrients required to maintain a healthy fish population in the Amelia River. Fingers began pointing to Rayonier as the culprit. Instead of stonewalling the critics, Rayonier contracted with Dr. Skip Livingston, a scientist at Florida State University, to do a study. Livingston bristled at any hint that his study would not be independent, indicating that it would take him where it would take him, whether Rayonier was happy or not.

At the conclusion of his study, Livingston briefed the community at a meeting held at the former Shoney’s on Sadler Road.

The following four paragraphs were taken from a publication of the Council for Sustainable Florida entitled: A Review of Outstanding Achievements and Business Practices in Sustainability in the State of Florida that listed the Rayonier study as one of the 2002 Best Practices in Outstanding Achievements and Excellence in Coastal Conservation Programs:

“Prior to renewal of Rayonier’s treated wastewater permit, FDEP sampled the Amelia River and concluded that phytoplankton levels were lower than expected, and that ammonia levels in the estuary exceeded those found in Florida’s other rivers. This discovery suggested that ammonia may be a factor as a toxic agent.

“Rayonier commissioned Dr. Robert “Skip” Livingston, a noted Florida State University professor and expert n the field of marine ecosystems, to study the Amelia River and nearby Nassau River as a control. The study concluded ammonia was the likely cause, and Rayonier developed and implemented a series of initiatives to reduce the discharge of ammonia. A follow-up study documented an 80-percent reduction in ammonia concentrations, and that there was no statistical difference between the plankton in the Amelia system and the non-industrialized Nassau system.

“This initiative combined the efforts of the academic community, state regulatory authorities and industry to leverage resources and enhance the water quality of the Amelia River Estuary. Every water quality parameter that could reasonably be measured was investigated during the studies, costing $1.3M. In addition to funding the studies, Rayonier spent $1.2M in capital costs for the new ammonia reduction system at the mill and incurred additional operating costs of $800,000 annually—no small investment considering the highly competitive economic environment in which the mill operates.

“This public-private collaborative effort is a success story at resolving complex environmental issues based on sound scientific investigation and was accomplished through an atmosphere of mutual trust and a willingness to work together to solve problems.” [my emphasis added]

The above reflects my experience, admittedly limited, with Rayonier during more than 20 years not just living locally, but living in the Historic District as a neighbor of both mills—and the Port of Fernandina. (A friend of mine who used to work at Rayonier said that Greenpeace had no need to sneak up on the mill in the dead of night, because Rayonier invited them in to see things for themselves.)

Such a study and investment hardly seems consistent with the view in some quarters today that Rayonier is “trying to pull the wool over our eyes” by promoting a related industry on its own industrial site to deal with their non-toxic byproducts.

So where is the “mill problem” that currently needs to be solved? And why does the prospect of adding another industrial operation (LignoTech) to a site currently zoned industrial bring out such vitriol against the mills from some quarters? Where is the record demonstrating that the mills cannot be trusted to keep their word? Where is the track record of industrial accidents and HAZMAT spills? The only accidents I can recall during my time in the city have involved the occasional log truck spilling its load as it turns onto Gum Street and one incident of a coal car derailing on its way into the city. I would hardly call these events indicative of a dangerous industry.

Some of the people who are pushing for tougher land use regulations against the mills will acknowledge that there has not been a serious problem to date despite almost 80 years of mill operations. However, they add, that does not mean that there couldn’t be one. That’s true. But examining the track records—including the fact that both mills appear to be in the process of converting to natural gas to reduce their carbon footprint even more—should provide some level of comfort, not cause for alarm.

And as far as what could happen, well, where should we start? There could be a nuclear accident just across the river at Kings Bay, one of those low-flying Navy helicopters or civilian airplanes could crash into our houses, a terrorist could blow up the Shave Bridge … where do we stop? And even more important, how do we protect ourselves from every danger whether conceivable and probable or not?

My husband and I have only lived here 22 years, which means that in the eyes of some we are still newcomers. Be that as it may, I have come to understand the importance of our long established industries to this community’s history, prosperity and future. Our Old Families in many cases arrived here with the mills and owe their prosperity and that of succeeding generations to the mills and mill-related businesses.

One of the reasons that Fernandina escaped much of the turmoil of the 60’s with respect to racial unrest is that the mills were early promoters of integration and provided good employment opportunities to African Americans as well as Whites. Unlike resort communities such as Hilton Head, where African Americans have either been pushed off the island or relegated to cleaning houses and mowing lawns, Fernandina has a Black Middle Class that has been able to purchase and keep homes thanks to the mills. The mills have generously helped City and county non-profits over the years, when there was little or no help coming from local government for social or cultural improvements.

When people accuse Rayonier of trying to pull the wool over our eyes in adding a new industrial operation to their property, I must wonder whether these people have ever visited with any current or former millworker or read up on local history in an attempt to understand the importance of these industries. Should these operations close down—and I hope they never do—our taxes will go through the roof. If you need any further proof, visit St. Marys, GA, where the closing of the Gilman Paper Mill put most of the town out of work, leaving behind a hulking, abandoned factory to grace their waterfront. Efforts to recover and return to a level of prosperity have occurred in fits and starts. But the town has never recovered to its previous prosperity. Reusing an industrial site is costly and challenging.

Some of the mills’ opponents have expressed opinions that the time for industry on Amelia Island has passed, that the era of tourism and residential real estate development are the way of the future. I would remind them that tourists are fickle folks, who always seem to be seeking newer experiences. While Amelia Island has done an exceptional job of creating a full range of activities and experiences to attract ever more tourists, most of the tourism-related jobs are in the service industries and not high wage opportunities. As more and more people move here as a result of their tourism experiences, more and more trees are cut down to provide for additional residential development, which also require a need for more government services, or what we call “tax revenues.” And the economic pressures on those who work in the service industries make housing on the island increasingly unaffordable for them and their families.

I’m not sure what others thought when they first drove onto the Shave Bridge and saw Amelia Island laid out in front of them. We saw smokestacks and cranes to the north and an airport and high rises to the south. When we decided to buy a house in the Historic District, we did it with full knowledge that we would be living between two paper mills and near an industrial port. We knew there was a railroad that would probably operate at night, and it was impossible to hide the log trucks. It didn’t take long for us to figure out that given the right wind conditions, we would be treated to industrial smells and noise, along with train and ship horns. But we wanted to live in a city, not the suburbs, and even more importantly, we wanted to live in the Historic District. All of those so-called negatives quickly became part of the urban fabric of Fernandina Beach that we enjoy so much.

My question to those who can’t sleep at night because of the noise from the mills, or who built or purchased houses here in the shadow of the mills and the port is this: what were you thinking when you moved here? Your peace of mind is certainly critical to your happiness. But instead of trying to close the mills, you might better achieve the peace of mind you crave by living somewhere else, where the risks that you consider so unreasonable do not exist.

And when you find that perfect place where there are no hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards or earthquakes; where the weather is fine all year; where natural beauties and manmade attractions rival each other in excellence; where all the people are beautiful and the children well above average; where people live well without an industrial base and enjoy paying the taxes or home owner association fees that make it all possible … well, when you find that place be sure to let the Fernandina Observer readers in on your discovery.

In the meantime, I am happy to be a part of this community, risks and all. We have found our paradise, and I wish you the best of luck in finding yours.

Please try to find time to attend the Rayonier Open House this Friday at their plant on Gum Street between 3:-00-6:30 p.m. There you will be able to ask your questions and get answers from folks with industrial and scientific backgrounds. Perhaps if enough people take advantage of this opportunity, we will be able to lower the critical thinking deficit.

Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.