This daily update from the Unified Command Team keeps the public informed of the latest response activities following the Cantonment Digester Incident that occurred Sunday, Jan. 22. The Unified Command Team is comprised of 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 Team’s top priority is the safety of our friends, neighbors and response personnel while ensuring the environment is fully protected.
Community
- The Unified Command will host a community town hall meeting Thursday, Feb. 2, at J.M. Tate High School cafeteria. There will be an incident response overview followed by a question and answer session for residents and businesses in the local area. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 6 p.m. J.M. Tate High School is located at 1771 Tate Road in Cantonment.
Cleanup work continues
- As a result of the Jan. 22 digester incident at the Cantonment mill, partially digested wood pulp material was released in the surrounding area.
- Cleanup work is progressing, with cleanup crews engaged with approximately 70 percent of the affected properties.
- Residents should not confuse the “percentage of cleanup engagement” with the “percentage of cleanup completions.” The Unified Command has directed that soil samples be taken at each residence at the conclusion of cleanup operations. In turn, “cleanup completions” will not be known until these results have been received and analyzed.
- Crews in the field are wearing clean-up clothing as they complete their work assignments. It should be noted these are not hazmat suits.
- Unified Command representatives are collecting daily air, water and soil samples from various locations in the impacted area and presenting the data to the environmental unit, which is comprised of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Escambia County, the Florida Department of Health and International Paper.
- A long-term environmental monitoring plan will be implemented after active cleanup efforts have been completed.
Outreach continues in affected areas
- Representatives from the United States Environmental Protection Agency canvassed the area, interacting with the residents.
- Teams continue to operate in the field, maintaining open and direct communications with all property owners impacted.
- Residents who believe their property may have been affected by the material released as a result of the incident and would like further information should call the Joint Information Center available 24/7 at 1-850-968-4208.
- Nearly 200 individuals are working the clean-up site. Approximately 100 homes and businesses have experienced varying degrees of impact.
- Please be aware International Paper, through the Unified Command Team, is not currently coordinating with any businesses other than Cotton and CTEH, who are managing the community cleanup. All community questions and concerns should be coordinated directly through the UC’s Joint Information Center available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-850-968-4208.
