Last week I was contacted by two local community activists about possible contamination at Biscayne Landing. One was from North Miami and the other from North Miami Beach. Apparently they have joined forces in an attempt to fight what they believe is a dangerous problem. I’m no environmental scientist or expert on biohazards, but the information they gave me was intriguing to say the least.
The gentleman from NMB reminded me that the area now being developed as Biscayne Landing, has a history of pollution problems. I wrote about this issue as recently as last month in North Miami’s … Water-Gate?, stating, “This property, formerly known as the Munisport Landfill, which has already had serious environmental issues with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“Site investigations initially identified contamination in ground water that could potentially harm people in the area. Ground water contamination resulted from the leaching of landfill material.”), is still facing contamination issues. It never ends.”
While that column had to do specifically with a ruptured pump station pipe, and the passing of the buck between the contractor and subcontractor of the development, it seems that the toxic history of this huge chunk of land in our midst keeps coming back to haunt us.
The latest problem was detailed in a Miami Herald article on October 29, 203, City Council wants Biscayne Landing developer to pay to use soil with aluminum. According to the article, the developer “Oleta Partners brought to the site mounds of soil containing levels of aluminum above cleanup levels set by Miami-Dade County environmental rules. But it’s not dangerous to human health, according to two county regulatory agencies and a toxicology expert.” Instead of removing the allegedly contaminated soil at a cost of “millions,” the city agreed to accept “a fee that Oleta Partners would pay the city for the extra work its groundwater system would do to divert water containing potential aluminum runoff away from nearby wetlands.”
Again, I’m no expert on the environment, but this whole thing just sounds too weird to me. Instead of moving a mountain, they’ll re-route the river.
For some reason, a tag line from an old commercial about a long forgotten product comes to mind, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.”
Here’s the thing. While no one denies that the stuff contains aluminum, “The County’s Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) Department gave the developers approval to reuse the material after determining the metals and chemicals within it are not harmful to humans.”
So goes the famous quote by President Ronald Reagan, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
Just saying.
But according to the County’s RER and the Environmental Quality Control Board, along with “Westhorp and David Krause, a consultant who has a doctorate in environmental and occupational health and a master’s degree in public health and toxicology,” even high levels of aluminum are safe.
Oh, really? Hmmmm. If they say it, it must be true.
Just in case you are, ahem, skeptical, you can surely believe David Krause when he told Herald Reporter Philippe Buteau, “Our bodies don’t absorb aluminum very well when ingested. Less than one percent of aluminum ingested is actually absorbed.” The reporter also wrote, “And there being “high levels” of aluminum, higher than the county’s normal limits, does not make it contaminated, Krause said.”
I don’t know about you, but I feel better already.
However, fear not, residents of North Miami and North Miami Beach! There is a groundwater system in place at Biscayne Landing, with an injection well that “sucks out water and sends it about 3,000 feet into the ground where it’s supposed to stay indefinitely and never return to the surface” that is meant to divert ammonia, but could possibly, maybe, also divert the aluminum. Kinda, sorta.
That’s also assuming the pipes don’t rupture again.
Considering all the crazy shit that keeps happening at Biscayne Landing, I’m not too crazy about the odds here.
On the one hand, there’s the questionable dealings between the former mayor of North Miami, Andre Pierre, and his crony Faustin Denis, Jr., whose company, IMECO, Inc. was given the no bid contract to construct the deep injection well in the first place. This is the same Mr. Denis who is currently awaiting … and awaiting … and awaiting trial for felony racketeering and fraud, and who was barred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from receiving federal environmental contracts. In an article dated October 18, 2012, North Miami Gives Hundreds of Thousands to a Racketeering Suspect, the Miami New Times questioned the wisdom of North Miami’s granting Denis any contracts. I apparently was not alone in my suspicions. DUH!
The bigger issue, however, is whether or not the soil is, in fact, contaminated. In my research, the name Frank Wolland (the former mayor of North Miami and a lawyer) popped up. While I have been uber critical of Mr. Wolland, who likes to dress up as a clown on occasion, my sources provided me with an MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet that was apparently given to them by Mr. Wolland. This document claims that the material known as “Hanson Slag Cement” is a dangerous substance. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever if the soil at Biscayne Landing contains this substance, but my sources believe this is the case. Apparently, Mr. Wolland does, too.
Again, not my area of expertise, but my source from North Miami copied me with a letter she sent to Miami Herald reporter Philippe Buteau, in which she wrote, “The developer states that the materials are about 30% Slag. The documents submitted to DERM and the EQCB include 3 pages of information entitled “Hanson Slag Cement, MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet.” Under Federal Law this stuff is defined to be a “hazardous substance” with delayed health effects.”
If she is correct in her assessment, I’d say, Houston, we have a problem.
I’m not here to tell you to run out and buy a Haz-Mat suit or equip your kids with gas masks. The soil at Biscayne Landing is allegedly “uncovered but watered down to keep wind from blowing dust from the soil,” according to Howard Tillman of Oleta Partners.
Frank Wolland, however, says otherwise. He told the Herald that “he sees white roofs on the nearby homes when wind blows.”
Hmmmm. I See Dead People.
Okay, not really.
All kidding aside, the contaminated history of Munisport/Biscayne Landing is well documented. The latest rumors of Toxic Troubles should not be discounted, either. I have no earthly clue if there is something to be concerned about, but I do believe it warrants further investigation. If there is even the most remote possibility that the soil at Biscayne Landing poses a threat to humans or wildlife, it should be removed immediately. At ANY cost!
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
Where in the world is the EPA?
I wrote to my contact at the EPA, who was on vacation, er, I mean Government Shutdown Holiday. When he returned on October 13th, he wrote back that he’d look into the pipe bursting issue. I guess I’ll send him this information now and see if he responds.
Mark my words. This shit is going to turn into something serious. My intuition says the scenario is a lot worse than we know
“Much Ado About Nothing?”
Steph, I’m confused. Parts of your research resulted in conclusions that aluminum in soil is not harmful, even at “high” levels. Nowhere in this report do you show that aluminum in the soil is harmful, or at what levels it would be harmful. You use words like “contamination,” “pollution,” and “slag,” but absent these kinds of words, you do not provide a compelling argument that Houston really does have a problem. Some of your sources believed aluminum in soil is a problem, some did not, one document you reviewed merely “claim[ed] that the material known as ‘Hanson Slag Cement’ is a dangerous substance[, you] have absolutely no idea whatsoever if the soil at Biscayne Landing contains this substance, but [your] sources believe this is the case.” That’s an argument? Add to that the local concern and activity, like about fees, penalties, interventions, or whatever, and you have a situation that is all dressed up with nowhere to go. Further, and I don’t mean to insult you, you’re sounding like a liberal. You want government to act even when it’s not clear what the problem is, or if there is one. You’re arguing like Ronald Reagan’s worst nightmare: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” Help with what? The non-problem? And what do you want to do with Frank Wolland? Ridicule him, or invoke him? When the wind blows, he sees white roofs. Does this mean something? You say it doesn’t mean you’re advising people to purchase HazMat suits and gas masks. So where are we going with this?
This matter is worth some study. There is an argument that aluminum in the system is associated with pathology. It’s a little less clear how or in what chemical form it got there, and what can be done to clear it. But I’m not sure CNM’s management, or mis-, of Biscayne Landing, is an important factor. Unless you’re being more pervasively cautious, which is the kind of approach against which Reagan railed. I myself do not mind protective government regulation and intervention, but I would agree with Reagan and the normal Stephanie Kienzle that government action should be about something. It’s not clear we reached that standard about the issue in question in this post.
Fred
Her opening was pretty clear. Here it is again in case you missed it:
Last week I was contacted by two local community activists about possible contamination at Biscayne Landing. One was from North Miami and the other from North Miami Beach. Apparently they have joined forces in an attempt to fight what they believe is a dangerous problem. I’m no environmental scientist or expert on biohazards, but the information they gave me was intriguing to say the least.
It means that people have concerns and she spelled them out for the readers. That’s it. Man, some people just can’t seem to take something in without making a convoluted mess of it.
Wow! All that and psychoanalysis, too!
Dude, seriously?
I’m not sure how to make it any clearer that I have not come to any conclusion whatsoever. I merely wrote about an issue that was brought to my attention and threw it out there to see if anything would stick. In case I didn’t mention it enough times in my column I’ll say it again: I am no environmental expert. In fact, I never claimed to be an expert about freaking anything except maybe real estate transactions (see previous blogs). And even then, I sometimes have to consult an actual lawyer.
The truth is, all I ever wanted to do was entertain people. Since I missed the train to Broadway, I’ll have to settle for writing this blog in the hopes that some of my readers are entertained. If they get my humor, great. If not, oh well. I’m not responsible for that. I don’t get paid for this gig anyway, so it’s no skin off my back.
Furthermore, you certainly didn’t insult me by calling me a liberal. I’d tell you to try harder next time, but the truth is I almost never get insulted by name calling. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and what people think of me is none of my business.
As for whether or not Biscayne Landing is contaminated, I’ll leave that up to the real experts. But in the end, I really don’t give a crap because I don’t intend on hanging around here much longer. Sooner or later I’m moving north of the border to Broward, where even the fast food is better. I do not intend to miss that train!
Applications for this blogging job are now being accepted.
stephanie, from one old broad to another, that guy is not worth responding to…. but you are the blogger not me so I will go now! (I hope you dont!! without you these issues would be “buried”….)… have a delightful day, thanks again for your work! (and frankly knowing a bit about this issue or more than a bit, he is speaking silliness to begin with…). Gotta REALLY dash now. tata!
Living in Highland Village (NMB) since 1968, I would watch U.S. Military Vehicles with TARPS & signs saying: “DANGER STAY BACK 1000 FEET, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS”… line up from the dump to 163 street, and eastward to the bridge’s, waiting for the dump to open on Monday mornings. Nobody believed me. About 25 years ago, The dump produced smoke from terrible fires -that- burned underneath the ground for over a month. As toxic smoke spilled into the air, people started to DIE, but the Fire Department wouldn’t put it out, because they don’t DO toxic waste sites.. Begging Senator Gwen Margolis for help, SHE didn’t believe me either, (even though her Senator Building office was/IS a few blocks from the Dump. And if it wasn’t for NMB Mayor & Council sending their dump trucks filled with sand to put out the fire, it would have killed many more innocent people! Now, today, I am an old man, North Miami is doing the same thing, (Dumping Hazardous Materials for a profit) & nobody believes me.. (OR Stephanie). Well Your WRONG! The ones doing it believe it, and will do anything to SHUT HER UP! I have ONE Question to any doubter’s, or morons who believe Stephanie is imagining the dangers of dumping toxic materials next to Schools, and residential neighborhoods…
“When was the last time anyone dumped waste next to a School, a Town, Village or City? Three, Four, FIVE hundred years ago? NOPE, Ask North Miami, they’re doing it today! (And will continue, for a PROFIT).. SO, You keep yelling your head off Stephanie! We who have grown too old to fight, and those not born yet, who will SUFFER MOST.. Thank You!
Hi again, this is a very serious matter I know something about from people in the community. I mentioned this in another post which was talking about some other issue (maybe the broken pipe.) You should please Stephanie try to get your hands on the transcript from the meeting of the dade county “environmental control board” when this issue first came out. It is public record and very revealing as they say. (And actually truth be told without mr wolland none of this would have ever come to the public, he was the one that himself brought it out to attention — not that it matters but it is worth getting a hold of that transcript — and which I had seen a bit of as it was on possession of some people at a council meeting.) THANK YOU FOR REPORTING.(and also you can listen to the meetings of the council they are online for mor facts including that the groundwater remediation is NOT all in place yet….and DERM People said they would not allow that stuff to stay there if there was not remediation….and also there should have never been unclean fill brought on… Celestine is also to be commended, please try to get that transcript – many thanks… sorry for not proofreading, got to dash for the day, )
Been trying to post a PS from the old guard watching over this issue – a woman who has been involved in this for decades – but maybe I cannot post from links to other websites. PLEASE see Letter to Editor of the Miami Herald on the Eye on Miami Blog today. Very important to get out there too!
You can post anything you like. I usually do not censor unless it’s really inflammatory or threatening. I think I’ve only censored one comment since I started this blog.
My error. I had the very distinct impression you were indicting a situation and a variety of people, whom you named, as being responsible for a threat to local citizens. But you have corrected me and pointed out you are merely offering entertainment, and in the interest of providing it, you have thrown out to readers a collection of disjointed assertions coming from various and contradictory sources, and you make neither claim nor effort to turn this mess into a conclusion. I misread you and failed to understand where you were really coming from.
As for my concern about insulting you, I myself am a “liberal.” My impression is that you’re not, and I didn’t want you to take the characterization the wrong way.
Humbly, Fred
PS: I think you’re a terrific blogger and writer, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to follow your blog, even though I don’t live in NMB. Having met you once, I also think you’re a very nice, charming, and interesting person. And super smart. Remarkably good-looking, too, for what it’s worth. No, there was no offer of psychoanalysis. I re-read my original comment and couldn’t detect any.
Hello Mr Jonas, truth be told this was a nice thread before you started spilling your anger here — please act like an adult, as my kids say”Namaste” – or “peace” – really we all need and want peace and good things around here. Nobody acts like you in this blog community and I hope you will consider looking at your often aggressiveness (in whatever form it takes including blowing up then apologizing) or not – that is up to you — but what I would like to ask is you act with some kindness and decorum and respect. It used to be a joy coming to Stephanies blog (except for the horrible news) and maybe you can join us and make it stay that way. I is no fun reading vitriol. Now I REALLY must dash. And how good looking are you? Peace and good things! And by the way if you yourself did any research into this issue (instead of just replying to blog posts) you would find it is sadly much more than entertainment. We all need to work together and ANYONE such as stephanie bringing this to light of day should be commended. Happy Weekend to all.
Sir or Ma’am,
I am not and was not angry. I pointed out inconsistencies in Stephanie’s blog. It was she, not I, who said the blog was merely meant to entertain. Read her response to me.
I’m sorry you were made so uncomfortable by my comments. Lacking other input, I will certainly take your advice and butt out. I have no need to spoil the party.
Not good-looking at all.
Thank you for the good wishes.
Fred
PS: Read comments to Stephanie’s blog more carefully. I think you’ll find there are people who are not in complete harmony, with everything Steph says or with each other. As it happens, I, too, do a blog, for a nearby municipality. Not only do I welcome disagreement with what I say, I practically prefer it. It’s easy to find people who think the same things and the same ways I think. I’m happy for the confirmation, but I don’t learn anything from it.
Oh puh-leeze.
Just Go Away
Far, far, away.
and never return to make dumb comments again.
Where is DERM in all this?!
I don’t get it. Folks try to get a permit for a simple boat lift and DERM is all over them with fines, regulations and red tape.
DERM is notified of hazardous runoff into the environmentally sensitive Oleta wetlands and they do nothing.
Other than my rant above, I am concerned about the kids at Alonzo Mourning HS being so close to those hazardous materials. I believe they are trying to “entomb” the site by dumping tons of fill on top of it but that is just a simple observation.
They story about the military trucks lining up with waste and the fires burning is disturbing.
At the end of the day, that site needs to be properly remediated. I have little faith in the current NoMi leadership to do it correctly.
In case you were wondering what’s lies in the site, here is a bit from the dept of state HWC #019:
The Western portion of the Munisport Landfill site was backfilled with solid waste consisting of trash and municipal garbage. However, twelve drums containing tricresyl phosphate, ethylcyanoacetate, and acetate were discovered on the site and later removed. (how much of this seeped out?) Infectious hospital waste was also seen on several occasions. Leachate has been sampled and lead, chlorobenzene and ethylbenzene were noted in the analysis….Sampling has revealed that on-site groundwater, soils and surface waters are contaminated with ammonia, low levels of lead, VOCs and pesticides.
It’s no wonder North Miami buys its water from Miami-Dade.
Let’s hope this site gets cleaned up correctly.
First of all, Do not leave, You are the only person who lets the public know what is going on. Second of all you can take Frank Wolland very seriously. Many years ago he and I went to examine the property that e speak of and were not happy with it even then.Frank knows what he is talking about.
Thank you for your blog entry. It has alerted me to a possible health hazard for inhabitants of the area. I don’t think it is even safe to send my kid to the ATM high school there. If the toxic stuff is in the soil it is in the air as well.
Truthfully, you couldn’t pay me enough to live there or on any “former” landfill. I don’t trust DERM or the EPA to really clean up any contaminated property. Maybe it can be done, but it’s not worth the risk to me.