Public Comment on Air Force GRASI Environmental Impact Statement for Tate's Hell State Forest
INDEX TO INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS AND LINK TO ADDITIONAL VIDEO FOOTAGE MAY BE FOUND BELOW DESCRIPTION.
This is a video recording by The Half Shell of two Public Comment Meetings held for the review of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the U.S. Air Force's proposed GRASI airspace activities and ground troop training in Tate's Hell State Forest, 200,000+ acres on Apalachicola Bay in Franklin County & Liberty County, Florida. The Forest was purchased 20 years ago by the State of Florida, with the expressed goal of To restore, protect and manage Tate's Hell ecosystems, while integrating public use. (Northwest Florida Water Management District website). A direct relationship has been established between the natural hydrological function of surface waters in Tate's Hell, and the health of Apalachicola Bay. A National Fisheries Disaster was declared for the Apalachicola Bay in 2013, largely due to the collapse of the oyster harvest.
The video is divided into three parts. Part 1 is the public comment submitted in Carrabelle, FL. on June 3rd, 2014. Part 2 is comprised of the Air Force's presentation and slideshow regarding the EIS process and an outline of their proposed actions, as recorded during the Apalachicola Public Comment meeting the following evening, June 4th. Part 3 is the public comment submitted on June 4th in Apalachicola, FL. At the end of the video, The Half Shell has provided the 143 seconds of video footage that was disallowed from submission at the Carrabelle meeting by Mike Spaits, Eglin AFB Public Affairs, allegedly because it did not meet the criteria for public comment under Federal guidelines. The footage simply shows the noise impact from some of the proposed airspace activities as recorded on 2/19/14 by a Carrabelle resident at his home and business on Pine Log Creek, in Tate's Hell State Forest.
TO OBTAIN INFORMATION AND SUBMIT COMMENTS BEFORE JUNE 23, 2014, GO TO:
grasieis.leidoseemg.com
or contact:
Mr. Mike Spaits, Eglin AFB Public Affairs Office, 96TW/PA, 101 West D Ave., Room 238, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5499; (850) 882-2836; michael.spaits@us.af.mil
The following is an index to public comment speakers in the video (Click on blue numerals to navigate to that point in the uploaded video):
Part 1 - Carrabelle Public Comment:
Serge Letour, Ecotour operator, Carrabelle - 5:30
Mike Vroegop, Florida Geotourism Assocs., Apalachicola - 10:40
Jim Cummins, P.E., Sound engineer, Alligator Point - 11:36
Gathana Parmenas, Panhandle Citizens Coalition - 17:44
Sue Early, Wakulla County Ochlocknee Rvrfront. Prop. owner - 21:42
Mark Nobles, Carrabelle Airport Manager - 26.45
Robert Siedler, Sopchoppy Resident - 31:43
Lesley Cox, Pres., Florida Green Guide Assoc. - 33:28
John Waldron - Florida Outdoor Recreation Coalition - 38:01
Carole Butler, Apalachee Canoe and Kayak Club - 40:30
Bruce McCormack, Gulf Unmanned Systems Center - 43:12
Jennifer Bowers, Carrabelle Property Owner - 44:24
Gary Service (?), Carrabelle resident - 46:08
James Bryan, Korean War Veteran, Carrabelle Resident - 49:28
*Serge LeTour, Ecotour Operator, Carrabelle - 51:38
Betty Cummins, Resident of Franklin Co., FL - 53:48
*Jim Cummins, P.E., Sound Engineer & Franklin Co. resident - 57:11
For the Florida Forest Service:
James R. Karels, Director - 1:01:19
Part 3 - Apalachicola Public Comment:
Betty Cummins, Franklin County resident - 1:38:04
Serge LaTour, Ecotour Operator - 1:42:42
Margherite Williams, AL Res., Tate's Hell Camper, Birder - 1:50:27
*Serge Letour, Ecotour Operator, Carrabelle - 1:54:25
Charles Brannen, Pres., Florida Doghunters Assoc. - 1:54:51
Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper - 1:56:04
Lisa Spooner, Gulf Unmanned Systems Center (video interruption)
Barrian Turey, Oyster Harvester - 1:58:42
Guy Hogan, Eastpoint resident, Tate's Hell hunter, fisherman- 2:00:13
Anita Grove, Exec Dir. Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Comm- 2:00:44
Cheryl Sanders, District 2 Franklin County Commissioners - 2:03:19
Frank Venable, Eastpoint Resident - 2:06:43
*Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper - 2:12:17
DISALLOWED VIDEO OF CV-22 (OSPREY) Tate's Hell Training over Pine Log Creek and the Crooked River on March 19, 2014 may be found on The Half Shell Channel at this link: