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Commission schedules public meetings after consultant says Georgia Pacific’s DEP filing is incomplete
Summary
A county consultant told commissioners Georgia Pacific’s October response to DEP’s information request did not fully address anti‑degradation concerns. The board agreed to advertise questions, invite public comment, and hold a county public meeting on Dec. 11 with a Dec. 16 follow-up to collect and distill comments for DEP.
A Taylor County consultant told commissioners on Nov. 18 that Georgia Pacific’s October submission to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection did not fully answer DEP’s Request for Additional Information (REI) related to an anti‑degradation review, and recommended the board host a public meeting to gather local input.
Chuck Thompson, the consultant, said Georgia Pacific filed a partial response by the Oct. 10 deadline but failed to address key anti‑degradation questions. DEP issued a second REI on Oct. 24 with a Dec. 29 response deadline and, Thompson said, can accept public comments on what GP submitted. Thompson recommended that the board publish DEP’s questions and the DEP contact for comments, and—if GP does not organize public outreach—sponsor a county meeting so the board can collect public input and, if desired, submit a county resolution with its comments.
Commissioners discussed timing and publicity. Staff proposed advertising in the county paper and convening a public meeting on Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m., with a follow‑up session and staff summary on Dec. 16. Commissioners asked the consultant to draft potential responses and said a one‑page resolution to reflect the board’s position would be appropriate.
During the discussion, commissioners and members of the public raised environmental concerns cited in DEP’s letter—examples included requests for GP to describe existing wastewater treatment and to address floating debris and other habitat impacts—prompting calls to hold GP accountable to DEP requirements. Commissioners also noted that once the permitting process advances it can be harder to reverse momentum, and urged timely public engagement.
The board agreed to advertise the questions, invite comments to DEP’s Northeast District contact, hold the county public meeting on Dec. 11 and a staff/board follow‑up on Dec. 16 to prepare potential comments and a draft resolution.
