Petition from the Residents of Flora Parke
in
Fernandina Beach, Florida (Nassau County)

This petition is intended for city, county and state officials to understand our demands in regards to the construction of petroleum refueling stations being constructed near our homes.

We recognize the following risks associated with this type of establishment and state these reasons below:

-       Risk of fire and explosion

·      Petroleum refueling station Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and associated refueling pumps have a well documented record of risk related to fire and full explosion. We additionally understand that normal fire extinguishers and chemicals used by the fire department and home are not adequate for putting out chemical and fuel based fires. These fires require HALON which is typically used at airports due to the increased risk of explosion. Gas stations are not equipped with high quantities of HALON extinguishing tanks and the Nassau County Fire Rescue trucks are red (Non Halon) which means that the fires will need to exhaust the fuel and vapors before it can be put out. During that time, The Explosions and Fires will immediately impact nearby housing and forestry.  

Current takes recently installed(3) hold a capacity of 24,000 gallons each which are only marked for Unleaded fuels. This does not include the future installation of Diesel tanks prior to completion of the project. Since gasoline is estimated to weight 6.7 pounds per gallon, so far that is a whopping 160,000 pounds of fuel per tank. If we just figure the capacity of 3 USTs, that is 482,000 pounds of fuel within 100 feet of the first residential property in the neighborhood.

 

-  A natural gas pipeline is located along A1A / State Road 200 within 10 feet   of USTs, In the event of a UST Breach / fire / explosion this natural gas pipeline runs an extremely high risk of being penetrated / damaged causing a much larger explosion than the regular UST explosion.

 

- Risk of exposure to chemicals through air and ground pollution as identified by EPA and Material Safety Data Sheets and OSHA standards.

o   Toluene –

Toluene (methylbenzene, toluol, phenylmethane) is an aromatic hydrocarbon (C7 H8)

Toluene is found in gasoline and is a colorless, sweet smelling, and volatile liquid.

Toxicity can occur from unintentional or deliberate inhalation of fumes, ingestion, or transdermal absorption.

o   Xylene –

Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon widely used in industry and medical technology as a solvent. It is a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid or gas occurring naturally in petroleum,

Exposure to xylene can occur via inhalation, ingestion, eye or skin contact. It is primarily metabolized in the liver by oxidation of a methyl group and conjugation with glycine to yield methyl hippuric acid, which is excreted in the urine. Smaller amounts are eliminated unchanged in the exhaled air. There is a low potential for accumulation.[4,5] Xylene causes health effects from both acute (<14 days) and also chronic (>365 days) exposure. The type and severity of health effects depends on several factors, including the amount of chemical you are exposed to and the length of time you are exposed for. Individuals also react differently to different levels of exposure.

The main effect of inhaling xylene vapor is depression of the central nervous system, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. The effects listed below can begin to occur with exposure to air levels of about 100 ppm.

 

Long-term exposure may lead to headaches, irritability, depression, insomnia, agitation, extreme tiredness, tremors, impaired concentration and short-term memory. This condition is sometimes generally referred to as “organic solvent syndrome.” Unfortunately, there is very little information available that isolates xylene from other solvent exposures in the examination of these effects.

EYES, NOSE AND THROAT

Irritation of the nose and throat can occur at approximately 200 ppm after 3–5 min. Accidental splash in the eye may damage the surface of the eye, which will heal within a few days.

LUNGS

Exposure to xylene at levels of 200 ppm or greater can irritate the lungs, causing chest pain and shortness of breath. Extreme overexposure (e.g., in a confined space) can result in pulmonary edema, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the lungs fill with fluid. However, there is no evidence that repeated, low-level exposure has any long-term effects on the lung.

LIVER AND KIDNEY

At very high levels of exposure, xylene can injure the liver and kidneys, but this is extremely unlikely to happen without noticeable effects on the nervous system. Generally, such damage is reversible. Low-level occupational exposure does not affect the liver and the kidneys.

BLOOD

There is no evidence that exposure to xylene affects the blood cells in humans. Earlier reports of low red blood cell counts (anemia) may have been due to contamination of xylene with benzene.

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

Symptoms of nausea, vomiting and gastric discomfort were observed in workers exposed to xylene vapors (unspecified concentration), which were reversible.

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

Workers exposed to xylenes (TWA 14 ppm) reported reduced grasping power and reduced muscle power in the extremities more frequently than the unexposed controls. This is due to the neurological effect rather than a direct effect on the muscles.

 

SKIN

Xylene, like other organic solvents, can dissolve the skin’s natural protective oils. Frequent or prolonged skin contact can cause irritation and dermatitis, dryness, flaking and cracking of the skin. Damaged skin may allow greater absorption of chemicals. Xylene easily penetrates most ordinary clothing and can become trapped in ordinary gloves and boots. Xylene trapped in the clothing can cause burns and blistering.

 

o   Trimethylbenzene –

Trimethylbenzene exposure occurs mainly in the occupational setting. Trimethylbenzene can enter the body either by inhalation of air containing trimethylbenzene, ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by dermal contact with trimethylbenzene. Inhalation of air containing trimethylbenzene can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract, sore throat, headache, wheezing, vomiting, anxiety, tension and may affect the blood. Ingestion of trimethylbenzene may lead to health effects similar to those for inhalation. Dermal contact with trimethylbenzene can irritate the skin. Eye contact can cause irritation.

 

 

o   Benzene-

Benzene is very poisonous. Poisoning can cause rapid death. However, deaths have occurred as late as 3 days after the poisoning. This happens because:

•                Permanent brain damage occurs

•                The heart stops (cardiac arrest)

•                The lungs stop working (respiratory arrest)

People who have regular exposure to low levels of benzene can also become sick. The most common problems are blood diseases, including:

•                Leukemia

•                Lymphoma

•                Severe anemia

 

o   Ethylbenzene

Ethylbenzene is mainly used in the manufacture of styrene.  Acute (short-term) exposure to ethylbenzene in humans results in respiratory effects, such as throat irritation and chest constriction, irritation of the eyes, and neurological effects such as dizziness.  Chronic (long-term) exposure to ethylbenzene by inhalation in humans has shown conflicting results regarding its effects on the blood. 

o   Naphthalene –

Naphthalene is a white solid substance with a strong smell. Poisoning from naphthalene destroys or changes red blood cells so they cannot carry oxygen. This can cause organ damage and death.

 

-       As part of the ground pollution / ecological poisoning includes the nearby private fishing pond with a fountain in the center. When this pond gets polluted, the fish will be killed and poisoned. Additional risk includes the fountain which will take pollutants through it’s piping and expelling and atomizing ground pollutants into the air for nearby Residents.

o   In the woods (wetlands) near this property are various types of wild life which will suffer from pollution of the land and air nearby this gas station installation.

 

-       Risk of Increased Crime

·      Petroleum refueling stations are associated with various types of crime including but not limited to:

o   armed robberies

o   prostitution

o   drug trafficking

o   theft

o   vandalism

-  Increased Traffic in out neighborhood and near the entrance to the neighborhood along State Road 200 / A1A

- Value of Homes will be drastically damaged by having a petroleum refueling station (Gas Station) attached to our community and constructed in it’s current placement of 50 Feet to Property line.

- Noise pollution from the refueling will be 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This will cause a serious problem for nearby Residents who have set working schedules. Local surveillance videos show construction workers with construction activities involving heavy machinery starting at 6:30AM EST. Operations of a full time gas station will increase noise and traffic into the neighborhood at all hours of the day and night.

The construction of this gas station was concealed from the homeowners by SEDA as a tactic of deception, suggesting a possibility of doctor’s offices would be constructed. They trusted SEDA and the owners and directors of the Home Owners Association to not allow something of this magnitude to happen. This was definitely the most unethical act that the owners of SEDA (John Semanik and katherine Carpenter) as they not only were fully aware of the deception but also the ones who stood to gain financially as a result using a second company to conceal activities under the name of SEMANIK Investments.

We are petitioning that the EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Environmental Health to check all the necessary documents, data, permits, standards and measurements for a permit for construction of filling stations in addition to having a FULL investigation by the departments, and providing a copy of the full report with all evidence collected by Department Investigators to all of the Residents of Flora Parke subdivision.

Additionally we are petitioning against the construction of any petroleum related establishment (Currently RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.) within 800 Feet of our subdivision and request that construction operations related to this action cease and desist and demand removal of all related materials near the Flora Parke properties.

Additionally, by signing, you provide your vote in recognition of a conflict of interest by owners / operators of SEDA Construction in the related sale of this property joining the Flora Parke Subdivision and hereby request their immediate removal from influential positions including the board of Directors from the Flora Parke Homeowners Association for this conflict of interest and actions that can negatively affect the values of the homes in Flora Parke Subdivision, items that can endanger residents of the subdivision, and items that can become a nuisance to members of our community.

Additionally, by signing we petition for a statute to be voted on by Residents of Nassau County to not allow any refueling station (including Above Ground or Underground Storage Tanks) to be constructed or installed within 800 feet of any residential property in Nassau County that has not already completed installation prior to the year 2016 without the explicit written permission of all residents within that distance.  (Whereby no Homeowners Association company may vote on behalf of the actual residents).

Additionally, if construction is stopped for this RaceTrac Petroleum service Station at the entrance to Flora Parke Subdivision we seek the immediate removal of all construction materials including associated storage tanks at the cost of the RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc.

Additionally, by signing this  we swear or affirm that we signed willingly without any reservation and we understand the contents of this petition and are in agreement with statements made herein.