In response to the Cantonment Digester Incident that occurred Sunday, Jan. 22, a Unified Command has been created to oversee response and remediation efforts. The Unified Command includes International Paper, Escambia County EMA/Public Safety, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Unified Command’s top priority is the safety of Floridians and our environment. Responders have been on scene and in the surrounding community since the incident occurred to ensure proper remediation of the affected area.
To keep the public informed of the latest response activities and most recent data, the Unified Command will issue daily updates on this issue.
Remediation Efforts
- The Unified Command is working to deal with the impacts of the incident, including taking action to protect residents near the facility and assessing the extent of the damage and possible health and environmental effects.
- The mill remains closed while the structural damage is assessed by International Paper. Communications with employees has been maintained.
- The timetable for completion of remediation is yet to be determined.
- Remediation resources will be in place until this process is complete.
Community Outreach
- As of Wednesday afternoon, approximately 120 neighborhood households have been contacted by the outreach teams.
- IP teams continue to go door-to-door in the immediate area to provide information on resources available for community members regarding clean-up, temporary housing and potential medical concerns.
- The Unified Command Team is furnishing information regarding remediation timelines and providing numbers for residents to call with their questions.
Potential Health Impacts
- As was reported yesterday, the most noticeable effects of the incident were the odor and presence of byproducts of the pulping process.
- Prolonged skin contact with these materials could cause minor irritation. People are encouraged to avoid coming into contact with these materials. If they do, washing with soap and warm water should provide relief. The same applies to pets.
Environmental Impacts
- Environmental monitoring and sampling is underway until cleanup is complete.
- As mentioned in yesterday’s news conference, this material may cause impact to vegetation or aquatic life.
- An environmental assessment is being conducted to determine what areas may be impacted. Once the assessment is completed, full-scale remediation actions will be implemented.
Residents with any questions concerning the incident, please call the Joint Information Center at 1-850-968-4208.
