Coronet Superfund Site
The Improvement League of Plant City has hired an expert in environmental science to review reports and studies on the status and current clean up condition of the former Coronet Mine.
Mr. Barnes works on behalf of the Improvement League and the community. As we work jointly with EPA and the clean up effort; having our own personal expert will allow us to better understand the terms, terminology and break down the various studies into a format easily understood by residents.
Since 2010, the Improvement League has made great strides in ensuring the community residents are equal partners in the clean up and resuse of the former Coronet and Lakeside Station. Our goals are health, wellness and education, NOT legal. Empowering residents to better manage their health, their family's health and health awareness of descendants is the key objective.
We are in search of the truth, plain and simple. Residents have a right to know and see for themselves the possible exposure descendants and residents may have had from natural or man made materials.
So what do we need from you?
Spread the word and have anyone and everyone who has either worked, or related to someone who worked at Coronet Mine contact us and attend our meetings held at the Plant City MLK Recreation Center. During the 2011 year we will be collecting information on this history of health, and causes of death to residents living in Plant City and surrounding unincorporated Plant City (Bealsville, Keysville, etc.). How many family members in your family lived near Coronet or worked there? Are they still living? When did they pass? What was the cause of death?
How did we get the opportunity to research Coronet?
The Improvement League was awarded a grant to hire an expert so the community residents would have someone who would give an honest and up close review of the studies that have been done at the Coronet Site. So far we've been successful in showing that "further" studies can be conducted and past testing has questionable source data such as using data from the entire county versus the immediate area to determine cancer rates.
Coronet Mining Facility as an Employer
Respectfully we must all recognize that Coronet employed and hired blacks during an era where very few opportunities existed. A large number of blacks were able to have careers and raise their families; sending children to college, and have a reasonable retirement working at Coronet. Therefore we are working closely with the various owners of the Coronet Mining Site that utilized the facility since the early 1930s.
Bing Rooming House Black Museum
During the past two years as part of the Bing House Oral History Project, numerous residents have been interviewed on life during the era of segregation. What we discovered was that a number of residents indicated they worked at Coronet and recall living conditions such as ash on cars, burning stacks, and fishing in ponds. This information on video allowed us to present an opportunity to revisit the Coronet Mine Clean Up. Do you have a story to tell?
Our expert's qualifications
Mr. Barnes is a registered professional geologist with more than 25 years experience in groundwater resource management and contamination assessment/remediation. As President of BFA, Mr. Barnes is responsible for the overall management of business operations and strategic planning, client liaison and market development. He also manages the water resources needs for several of BFA's clients. Mr. Barnes has extensive experience in aquifer modeling, hydrogeological testing and regulatory permitting for water supply and contamination projects. He has supervised the implementation of contamination assessments and remedial investigations at several CERCLA facilities. Mr. Barnes has also served as science advisor to several environmental justice communities.