The St. Johns Riverkeeper, together with the Florida Public Trust, has taken legal action against Jacksonville’s Keystone Terminal, accusing the privately‑run port of breaching federal safeguards that protect the St. Johns River.
Background of the spill
In 2021 a barge carrying coal ash from Puerto Rico ran aground about a mile south of the river’s mouth on Northeast Florida’s coast. The incident released roughly 9,300 tons of coal ash into the water, according to Lisa Rinaman, executive director of the St. Johns Riverkeeper. Rinaman said the spill revealed a “high volume of coal ash” being imported into the river’s watershed without adequate public knowledge.
How the ash reaches Jacksonville
The ash from that barge was destined for Keystone Terminal’s Talleyrand site, where it is temporarily stored before being shipped north to a private landfill in Folkston, Georgia. The lawsuit alleges that the terminal’s storage practices violate the Clean Water Act, which governs pollution discharges, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates hazardous and solid waste treatment.
Alleged violations
John November, executive director and general counsel for the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida, says his research uncovered multiple infractions. Keystone Terminal was granted an exemption by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) that allows it to store coal ash on a lined surface without a permit, provided no pollution is discharged.
November’s satellite‑image analysis shows ash piles extending beyond the permitted lined area. In February, state regulators inspected the site and found that stormwater runoff from the unlined piles was not being directed to the treatment pond, potentially entering groundwater and the river. The FDEP issued a warning letter in May, noting the failed inspection.
Citizen lawsuit
After waiting three months for a response from Keystone Terminal and receiving none, November filed a citizen lawsuit, invoking the citizen‑suit provisions of the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The suit seeks enforcement of the federal statutes and remediation of any contamination.
Potential environmental impact
Rinaman warns that coal ash can release harmful chemicals, such as selenium, into aquatic ecosystems. “Studies have documented high levels of chemicals in fish tissue where coal ash has been discharged,” she said. “When the ash settles, it smothers aquatic organisms and plants essential to a healthy river.”
Local residents have also reported dust problems. One neighbor shared a photo of a vehicle coated in ash, while another noted that dust from the piles adhered to freshly painted house walls.
Looking ahead
November remains hopeful that discovery will clarify the extent of environmental damage. “During discovery, we’re actually going to be able to better understand what the impacts have been to the environment and what the continuing impacts are,” he said. He expects the FDEP to continue monitoring the site and to pursue enforcement actions over time.
Keystone Terminal has not responded to requests for comment.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
