PAGE 10 - December 16, 2009
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
Permitting Process Delays
Community Events
King officials have announced plans to delay the start date of construc-
Road Mine One Year
Parsons Memorial Church Christmas Party
Parsons Memorial Presbyterian Church will be having a Childrens Christmas
Party on Saturday, December 18th from 9am to noon in their Fellowship Hall at 5850
Tarmac America
Riverside Dr. in Yankeetown. All children are invited to join us for a fun filled morning
tion for the King Road Mine until 2011 in response to a longer than anticipated permitting
of music, tree trimming, decorating home made cooking, Christmas Story time, and Miss
and review schedule. Company officials had planned on a four-year permitting process but
Judy is planning a great lunch for everyone. A few other suprizes are on tap. Please plan
now expect the schedule may take five years; delaying the start date for construction by one
on joining us to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday! By the way, parents are also invited for the
year.
festivies too. For more info please call 489-5274. Looking forward to seeing everyone!
“The list of mandatory permits, along with the many studies and reports we’ve
Medicare 2010 Annual Enrollment For Part D Drug Plans Begins
completed on our own, is extremely lengthy and involved,” said Jeff Harris, Plant Manager
Do you know how much your current Part D Drug Plan is going to cost you next year?
for the King Road Mine site. “Much of the review is conducted by a third party reviewer
Do you know the cost of your drugs in the Deductible and in the Gap? Do you know when
so once the documents are submitted by Tarmac, the schedule for review and approval is
you will hit the Gap? Do you know if there is a less expensive plan out there that cov-
outside our control. We now realize our initial schedule may have been a bit ambitious.”
ers your drugs? Medicare Part D’s Annual Enrollment period runs Nov 15th to Dec 31st.
The King Road Mine, located in southern Levy County, had been scheduled to be-
SHINE, a volunteer Program with the FL Dept of Elder Affairs, is here to help answer your
gin construction in 2010, with plant operations beginning in 2012. Plans are now to begin
questions. Bring your Medicare Card, your current Part D Plan card, and your prescrip-
construction in 2011 with the mine opening in 2013.
tion drug bottles. There will be a worksheet to complete. To find a site near you or to be
Tarmac is currently pursuing a number of environmental permits required for the
referred to a volunteer, call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243.
King Road Mine project. An Environmental Impact Study (EIS), which examines the en-
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 at 11:00 AM Winter Solstice Ceremony
vironmental sustainability of the project, is now being prepared by the Army Corps of
FREE local Ceremony in the spirit of Native American traditions. Indian blood not re-
Engineers (USACE). The USACE 404(b) permit is the only federal permit required for the
quired, just the Indian Heart. All who come in a good way are invited. The Winter Solstice
King Road Mine project, and involves review from several other federal agencies.
is 12-21, the shortest day of the year.
Other environmental permits currently in the application process include those from the
A Ceremonial entry into the Wilderness Circle will occur and prayers will be offered. A
Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Southwest Florida Water Man-
fire will be built in the center. Mackie Sanford of Cherokee descent is in charge and will
agement District. The project will also need a Special Exception and Operating Permit
lead it. The Girl Scouts will raise the colors. (flags.) A pot luck dinner follows. Please
from Levy County. The Levy County application, according to Harris, will be submitted
bring a dish to share and your drinks. There will be afternoon music and your instruments
once Tarmac is further along with state and federal environmental permitting.
and guests are welcome. Call Betty Berger 447-2736 or e mail bberger@bellsouth.net for
In addition to the mandatory permits from state and federal agencies, Tarmac
directions.
has also completed a number of studies designed to show the viability of the King Road
Peace Lutheran Holiday Services
Mine. Completed studies – all of which are available for public review – include a Traffic
There will be mid-week services held through Advent, on Wednesday evenings,
Study, Accident Analysis (Levy County), Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Appraisal
December 16 and 23. These services will start at 7:00 p.m. Preceding the service a fellow-
of Mitigation Lands, Blasting/Vibrations Study, Wetlands delineation (FDEP & USACE),
ship meal, provided by the congregation, will begin at 6:15 p.m. The Candlelight Service
Karst Report, Historical & Archeological Study, Vegetation Survey, Wildlife Survey, and
on Christmas Eve will begin at 7:00 p.m., December 24.
Surface Water Quality Monitoring Report.
Christmas Day Service is at 10:00 a.m., and will be followed by a Christmas Day
Harris noted Tarmac has been evaluating and studying the King Road Mine site
Feast. Everyone is encouraged to make these special services a part of your holiday sea-
for more than five years in an effort to ensure the company has adequately addressed any
son. Peace Lutheran Church, the “Church On The Hill,” is located on US-41, 5 miles north
potential environmental issues prior to the mine’s opening. “Not only have we conducted
of downtown Dunnellon.
initial studies to confirm the suitability of the site, but we have corroborated these findings
email news to: news@thenewscaster.com
with secondary studies,” said Harris. “The bottom line is that we are moving through the
process in a very deliberate way to ensure we’ve answered every question and concern.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
Once open, the King Road Mine will produce about three million tons a year
of construction-grade limestone aggregate; a vital building resource used to build roads,
TOWN OF YANKEETOWN
bridges and other infrastructure in Florida. The mine site covers 4,800 acres, with plans to
mine about 25 acres a year. About 800 acres consisting of streams and flowways will be
INFORMATION ON THE 2010 ELECTION
protected. An additional 4,500 adjacent acres next to Waccasassa Bay State Preserve are
THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN QUALIFYING:
proposed for preservation.
QUALIFYING DATES ARE: Mon. Jan. 11, 2010 - Fri. Jan. 15, 2010
The King Road Mine expects to employ 60 people in the construction phase and
QUALIFYING TIMES ARE: 9:00 am - 12 Noon
35 full-time positions once mining operations begin. An economic report indicated up to
QUALIFYING LOCATION: Yankeetown Town Hall
200 spin-off jobs could be created throughout the region as a direct result of the King Road
6241 Harmony Lane
Mine. Tarmac will spend more than $100 million through permitting and construction, and
Yankeetown, Florida 34498
will contribute millions of dollars more each year through taxes and other financial contri-
SEATS OPEN: The Mayor’s Seat and Two (2) Council Seats (two year terms each)
butions to the community.
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE: Mon. Jan. 25, 2010
NATURE COAST WATER, INC.
ELECTION DATE / TIME: Tues. Feb. 23, 2010 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
ELECTION LOCATION: Inglis/Yankeetown Lion’s Club
Where Customer Service is our Priority
22 59th Street
Owned & Operated by the Vorisek Family
Yankeetown, Florida 34498
TO OBTAIN A REQUEST FORM TO VOTE ABSENTEE, YOU MAY:
Toll Free: 1-888-610-4947 Local: 352-447-6002
Go to our Web Site at: http://yankeetownfl.govoffice2.com
Email us at: yankeetownth@bellsouth.net
Enhance your Health
REMOVE Iron, Sulfur,
SERVICE
Call Town Hall at: 352-447-2511
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