- December 4, 2025
Dear Editor:
Here we go again with another proposed environmentally controversial project in our town. A few months ago residents faced and thankfully defeated a troublesome oil tank farm. Now we have a concrete producing plant on the table for City Council consideration.
The projects are similar in that they both rely on hazardous elements to exist. And both raise questions of environmental risk irrespective of each company's sales pitch claims and promises of safeguards.
An oil spill was the major concern with the oil tank farm while the airborne release of toxic particulates is the main worry with the now proposed concrete plant. Both companies have been cited by the EPA for environmental problems for varying reasons with the concrete company as recently as three months ago for polluting Hutchinson River in New York's Westchester County.
Although both companies made risk mitigation and operational safeguard promises that sounded credible and high tech, there is one old fashioned but universal truth in play … “stuff” happens. Regardless of the sophistication of any system, no matter how state of the art it is, ultimately it will be susceptible to failure due to a variety of possible causes including a design flaw, human error or a number of unpredictable external reasons. You can only reduce the likelihood of failure, never eliminate it. So, in time, for whatever cause, it’s reasonable to conclude it will happen, and with possible dire consequences.
The concrete company vying for a presence in Palm Coast relies on crystalline silica as an integral and very substantial component of their product. Crystalline silica dust, produced during concrete production, is a known human carcinogen and any failure of their claimed high tech filtration system could be a serious event. Such a potential failure, with the release of a cancer causing airborne element, especially near a populated area, should be of major concern and consideration in the City Council approval process. The concrete plant will be only 4,000 feet from local neighborhoods.
In the past, the City Council, and especially the mayor, who promoted the oil tank farm, were remiss in their vetting and due diligence responsibilities. That should not happen again.
The council is appearing way too desperate to find companies to locate in our town. We can do much better, much safer and much cleaner. We shouldn't ever have to worry about the environmental risks posed by any hazardous material companies seeking to locate in Palm Coast. The concrete company idea and all such risky proposals should see the same justified fate of the oil tank farm fiasco.
Ethan Kantor
Palm Coast
