This photo was taken right after I received my advance copy of “Altamaha”. It is beautiful and I hope it adorns many coffee tables, but I really would prefer that it be an experience for children that are not as fortunate as I.
View more photos in the April 2012 photo gallery.
Eyeballing the lens.
The ocean’s butterfly.
Nature’s art.
View more in the March 2012 photo gallery!
For my first article on this from February 13th, click here.
“James:
The Division has investigated your complaint against Brunswick Cellulose, in regards to them discharging foam into the turtle river and the color of their discharge. On February 13, 2012 the Division started the complaint investigation at 12:30 by contacting Brunswick Cellulose and informing them about the foam that was seen by you. Mr. Wright investigated your concerns of them discharging foam by observing the inlet sumps of the pumps that discharges the effluent and observing the river. No foam was identified in the inlet sump containment for the pumps. The “foam” or air bubbles that are seen in your photographs are due to air entrainment from the empty discharge line being pushed through the diffusers. Brunswick Cellulose has advised the Division that they are continuing to investigate potential causes for the entrained air. Brunswick Cellulose routinely reports their effluent color; the day of your complaint the effluent color was 872 platinum cobalt units. Our contact at Brunswick Cellulose is Jay Wright, phone number 912-265-5780. We appreciate your concerns.
Christopher Beranek
Environmental Engineer
Coastal District – Brunswick”
“Mr. Beranek, please answer one question for me and please give me a “simple yes or no”; did the Environmental Protection Division do an on site investigation of my complaint at the time of my complaint? I am anxiously awaiting your response. Thank You. James Holland”
Even the muddy river water can’t hide the ugly water Rayonier discharges into the Altamaha everyday.
View more from this sequence in the Bad Stuff photo gallery.
See more on the Rayonier Discharge Pipe problem in my previous blog posts:
Copied from e-mail:
“Good Afternoon Bruce,
This is the follow up from my earlier call to EPD regarding this situation at the pulp mill on the Turtle River this morning. I tried to call from the plane about 11:00 A.M. but the connection was terrible so I called this site in a little while later after returning to the airport.
Bruce, this plant was discharging the most foam I have ever seen coming from an industrial waste water pipe any where. I believe the EPD tracking records will show that I have reported this pulp mill on several different occasions for this same problem. My photos also indicate the waste water flowing from these pipes was a dirty gray or black color. I have also reported this plant for nasty looking waste water in the past several months.
I would also like to mention that this mill some times stinks like all get out, it almost compares with the Rayonier Mill at Jesup.
Would you please have this site investigated and stop this pollution from entering the Turtle River. The photo flight I did this morning as a volunteer on behalf of the Altamaha Riverkeeper®, Inc. (ARK). Thank you and your staff for your attention to this very serious concern.
James Holland, Retired Altamaha Riverkeeper® (Emeritus)”
View larger versions of these photos and more by going to the Bad Stuff photo gallery.
My recent photo flight revealed nothing really new in the nasty waste water discharges into the Altamaha River by the Rayonier Pulp Mill at Jesup. Please don’t quit complaining about this mess because it will never stop if we keep quiet about it. We also need local news papers and television stations to continue carrying this message for us. The Altamaha River belongs to all of us including our neighbors so tell them about this problem also.
View this and more in the Bad Stuff Photo Gallery.
Also, More photos have been added to the 2011 Year End photo gallery. Check em’ out!
A comparison of the Clematis reticulata fruit and the Clematis crispa fruit. Click here to see full size photo.
2011 is coming to a close, so check out the final compilation of photos before we roll on into 2012!
View the 2011 Year End gallery
The Rayonier Incorporated(the company) located in Jesup, Georgia is a paper pulp mill that has been located on the banks of the Altamaha River for more than 50 years. All through the life time of this plant it has discharged a dark smelly waste water liquid into the Altamaha River. The Altamaha River is Georgia’s largest and most famous river with an amazing diversity of plants and wildlife.
The company and the State Environmental Protection Division (EPD) claim that there are no negative impacts to the Altamaha River from the waste water discharges (50-60 million gallons per day)of this company to the Altamaha River. Both entities claim the company is not in violation of their waste water discharge permit. After reviewing the images and video in this program I will let you, the audience, decide for yourself whether or not these dark smelly discharges impact this most beautiful river in a negative way.
