ORDINANCE WRITTEN TO ALLOW GAS STATION

Editor, The Sun:

An open letter to the Wakulla County Commission:

Let’s be honest here, it’s clear that Ordinance 94-28 was rewritten with the intention of allowing a gas station at Bloxham Cutoff. Trying to suggest otherwise is simply a desperate attempt to deceive the people of our community. The new “Wakulla Springs Protection Regulations” section may sound impressive, but let’s not be fooled by the fancy wording. The reality is that the ordinance simply establishes some basic regulations to prevent the introduction of hazardous substances into the surface groundwaters and our Spring. These regulations are nothing new, and they are certainly not enough to justify the introduction of a gas station near Wakulla Springs. The Stormwater Management System Design Plan and Storage Tank Design Criteria Requirements may sound impressive, but they are simply standard requirements that are already in place for any regulated business. In short, this ordinance does not provide adequate protection for Wakulla Springs, and it is insulting to suggest otherwise.
Why are there no setbacks required in this ordinance? Surely the “experts” are aware of Chip’s Hole on the “subject” property. And the WKPP cave divers just proved with a dye trace and an exploration that water flows from Chip’s Hole at Bloxham Cutoff straight to the Wakulla Spring in just seven days. A gas station/ carwash will be using and storing hazardous chemicals or substances that could negatively impact the water quality in Wakulla County and the surrounding communities.
To my knowledge, at least 13 counties in Florida have adopted setback requirements to protect springs. These counties include Alachua, Citrus, Hernando, Leon, Marion, Pasco, Seminole, Volusia, Gilchrist, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, and Lafayette counties. The setback distances vary depending on the specific county and the magnitude of the spring, as well as the specific activity being regulated. Generally, setback distances can range from 50 feet to 200 feet or more. For example:
Alachua County has a Springs Protection Code that requires setbacks for certain activities within a specified distance of a spring or spring vent. Fertilizer application is prohibited within 200 feet of a spring or spring vent. Gas stations with car washes are required to be located at least 1,000 feet from the spring or spring recharge area.
Boulder County, Colorado: Gas stations with car washes are required to be located at least 500 feet away from water supply wells.
Brisbane, Australia: Gas stations with car washes are required to be located at least 150 meters from a groundwater source or aquifer.
Canterbury, New Zealand: Gas stations with car washes are required to be located at least 200 meters from a groundwater source.
Leon County has a Springs Protection Code that requires setbacks for certain activities within a specified distance of a spring or spring vent. Fertilizer application is prohibited within 75 feet of a first-magnitude spring and 50 feet of a second-magnitude spring. The county also has setbacks for septic systems, stormwater ponds, and other activities that could potentially impact groundwater quality and quantity. Gas stations with car washes are required to be located at least 500 feet away from first-magnitude springs.
Setbacks are important to protect Wakulla Spring because they provide a buffer zone around Chip’s Hole, located at Bloxham, that can help to filter out toxins, and pollutants and prevent contamination. This buffer zone can help to protect the quality and quantity of the water that flows into Wakulla Spring, as well as the ecosystem that depends on it.
So, if the intention of the ordinance is to prevent the introduction of hazardous or toxic substances into surface or groundwaters, then why are setbacks not being implemented?
Why does the Proposed Ordinance dedicate one-third of its content to new installations of Underground or Aboveground Storage Tanks for Regulated Substances, without considering the existence of an already mapped submerged cave system?
Shouldn’t the Proposed Ordinance include provisions for “Sensitive Karst Areas” particularly land areas above or in close proximity to the mapped submerged cave system, and prohibit new underground or aboveground storage tanks in those areas?
What is the reason for the Proposed Ordinance’s lack of critical language for Environmental Management Plans and Karst Management Plans, and shouldn’t such plans be included in the ordinance?
Why is there a lack of attention paid to the mounting science and data on the country’s longest underwater cave system in the areas where growth is occurring, and what is the impact of treating all development with a status quo approach?
What was the consultation process for karst topography, and were any state agencies or relevant scientists consulted? Why does the Proposed Ordinance fail to acknowledge that Wakulla County, Florida is located in the unique Woodville Karst Plain? What is the reason for the Proposed Ordinance not referencing the Wakulla County Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment which is a requirement in the Wakulla County Comprehensive Plan?
Where does it address how people would be impacted by the potential danger posed by a gas station car wash in the area of the Chip’s Hole Cave System and the Wakulla Cave System?
In my opinion, the actions of the authors and staff who created this document are disingenuous and it is concerning. Their actions could put the health and safety of our drinking water and the people who live here at risk. In my opinion, the county has a responsibility to prioritize the protection of its citizens over anything else, including the interests of an oil company. The fact that this may not be the case is worrying.

Sue Damon
Crawfordville