The December 2024 Newsletter describes the toxicity in International Paper's effluent and how IP got a new air permit which allowed IP to discharge material from their wet scrubbers into their wastewater treatment system which goes into Perdido Bay. IP needs an air permit for each place it discharges pollutants into the air. There are at least 10 wet scrubbers where the effluent goes into the wastewater treatment system. This is IP dumping air pollutants into Perdido Bay via the wastewater treatment system.

The October 2024 Newsletter discusses how the environment in Perdido Bay appears to have been manipulated all these years. It also asks where have the menhaden gone which used to appear in Perdido Bay in the summers.

The August 2024 Newsletter looks at the chemical, chlorine dioxide, and examines how its break down products of oxygen and chlorate, a powerful herbicide, would certainly help the paper industry with its excessive discharges of oxygen consuming discharges. But chlorine dioxide did not help the previous owners of the mill, Champion.

The June 2024 Newsletter examines the class action lawsuit which was filed in 2000 and how the stipulation, filed in 2006, in which all attorneys said that there was no class present, allowed International Paper to expand and stay in Perdido Bay without fear of lawsuits. The stipulation is on the webpage. The article also discusses how "carbon capture" has led to increasing pH in Perdido Bay and increasing dissolved oxygen.

The April 2024 Newsletter looks for an improved bay with the closure of one of IP's pulping lines. We look at the future of monitoring our bays and IP's shareholders.

The February 2024 Newsletter gives the history of some of the old papermills which have closed recently. We also look at why our bay has been polluted so long.

The December 2023 Newsletter has a letter from a lawyer written 50 years ago about how hard it will be for the paper mill to get a permit to discharge to Perdido Bay. The newsletter also explains how the bleaching chemical, chlorine dioxide, adds oxygen to the Perdido Bay water but also adds an herbicide, chlorate, as well. This would explain the supersaturated dissolved oxygen all the way to the bottom. Also the newsletter asks the question - Was there a local conspiracy to keep the paper mill discharging into Perdido Bay.

The October 2023 Newsletter looks at the Bayou Marcus domestic wastewater treatment Plant and asks if this plant is adding too many nutrients to Upper Perdido Bay. It was under a Consent Order to close in 1983.

The August 2023 Newsletter discusses how lack of management laws has led to development in places which are not able to handle the increase in people and also how IP's chemicals are manipulating certain parameters in Perdido Bay. Our studies show something toxic coming out of the IP site into Elevenmile Creek. See study on this site.

The July 2023 Newsletter has an article about who owns the woodlands from which IP gets its timber and an article about global warming. The newsletter also asks where is the smoke from IP's recovery furnace.

The April 2023 Newsletter again sees a lifeless bay. The EPA says that dioxin is a chemical of the past, this is not true. IP is permitted to discharge it. Chlorine dioxide should never have been permitted as a bleaching agent. It breaks down into toxic and herbicidal products.

The February 2023 Newsletter explores why the percent saturation of dissolved oxygen in the surface waters of Perdido Bay is constantly elevated. It was not always this way. Chlorine dioxide in an alkaline medium breaks into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. This is a useful reaction for papermills

The December 2022 Newsletter wonders why the Bayou Marcus wastewater treatment plant has not shut down as it was supposed to in 1983 and talks about the very high dissolved oxygen readings which are being found in Perdido Bay. Also sign the Florida referendum form

The October 2022 Newsletter has an article written by one of our members who helped get the state to buy the Pitcher Plant Prairie and looks at the herbicidal qualities of Perdido Bay water

The August 2022 Newsletter gives the history of how Friends of Perdido Bay was formed for our new members. The newsletter shows how International Paper has failed to meet the regulatory orders and instead has operated on regulatory lack of oversight. The conclusions of UWF oyster study are changing. This is an updated Facebook address

The June 2022 Newsletter gives a summary of the UWF talk about oysters being historically present in Upper Perdido Bay and about people complaining that paper mill effluent had killed them. Also takes about shellfish accumulating poisons. Also gives latest IP plan.

The April 2022 Newsletter again describes a Spring bay which is lifeless - no baby crabs, no baby shrimp, not even barnacles. The newsletter explains how International Paper can dump cancer-causing dioxins and not be illegal and more.

The February 2022 Newsletter gives some of the history about the first permit challenge in 1986 and how Florida DEP tried to give Champion a permit while they were violating rules in 11 Mile Creek. Also we will discuss how International Paper is manipulating dissolved levels in Perdido Bay by dumping sodium hydroxide.

The December 2021 Newsletter attacks our environmental agencies as not doing anything to protect our little Perdido Bay but then explains why this has happened - old paper mills have been grandfathered in. Paper companies simply continue to maintain these old mills without adding any new technology.

The October 2021 Newsletter includes articles about why Perdido Bay residents were thought not to care about the pollution in Perdido Bay and discusses why we have never received help from other environmental groups or politicians.

The August 2021 Newsletter discusses some of the late summer hurricanes which have impacted Perdido Bay. This newsletter gives an update on the April 2021 benthic sampling of Upper Perdido Bay. Very little life; worse than 2018.

The June 2021 Newsletter describes a new project in the bottom of Perdido Bay where the islands are being restored. There is also discussion about legacy pollution in Perdido Bay and why this was never brought up in any of the studies on Perdido Bay.

The April 2021 Newsletter asks how the environmental agencies can allow IP to continue to destroy our bay. Also it looks as if IP is managing Perdido Bay to appear to have no problems like algae blooms. IP's effluent is herbicidal.

The February 2021 Newsletter informs people that our members have contributed enough money so that Friends can proceed with the benthic study in April 2021. It also gives the status of the Consent Order and tells of more dioxin in the sludge

The December 2020 Newsletter is asking for donations to fund a benthic study at two upper stations in Perdido Bay including testing for dioxin and heavy metals. The study will coat $10,000. The Newsletter explains how important these studies are since our politicians don't want to know how bad Perdido Bay is. Also the status of the Consent Order challenge is updated. Also dioxin results of muck found on our beach after Hurricane Sally are given

The October 2020 Newsletter explains some of the issues with the current Consent Order which we are challenging and looks at the "fake" toxic algae blooms which were blamed on too many nutrients when it was really paper mill chemicals. Also we are trying to educate our politicians that International Paper's permit has expired.

The August 2020 Newsletter describes the cause of the very turbid conditions in Perdido Bay this summer - IP's 6000 plus pounds of solids which are dumped into the bay. The wetlands burned in May and now the solids are not being trapped. IP never did biological sampling of Perdido Bay which was required by the 2010 Consent Order.

The June 2020 Newsletter has an article from a Perdido Bay citizen who was involved in an early attempt to make St. Regis (former owners) clean up. Also there is a discussion of why IP's effluent may be toxic and also the deals made between IP's and Perdido Bay's attorneys.(See Homepage for the relevant documents) .

The April 2020 Newsletter discusses how Perdido Bay, after 30 years of not meeting environmental standards, is an example of failed environmental regulation. We think lawsuits are not the answer either. IP is seeking lowered standards in the discharge wetlands We will opposed this. DEP has given IP 60 more days to make their petition complete.

The 2020 Newsletter gives our new address and tells what International Paper is now doing to our beautiful bay. They are dumping sodium hydroxide from the de-inking process into our water bodies. It is making everything very alkaline.

The December 2019 Newsletter explains why IP's effluent is toxic and also talks about why Friends ecological study done in 2018 was so important and shows that Perdido Bay is very degraded.

The October 2019 Newsletter explains how IP's unions and the local pinetree growers have all the political power to keep the paper mill running inspite of the damage to Perdido Bay. Also IP toxicity report and proposed Consent Order are discussed.

The August 2019 Newsletter re-publishes a letter which was sent to several of our elected officials. It appears that they believe that if IP is following their permit then they can't be polluting. The newsletter also describes the toxicity which has been found in IP's effluent since 2012 and before.

The June 2019 Newsletter describes the polluted environment of Escambia County Florida due to emissions of Ascend chemicals and International Paper. The newsletter gives the huge and toxic air emissions from IP for 2017 and 2018 which is also posted on this website in a spread sheet. The IP wetland is not doing well.

The April 2019 Newsletter reports that EPA is saying that International Paper's permit to operate their plant has EXPIRED. Also some of the history with the mill and the regulation is examined and how production has increased so that today the mill is making over 2500 tons of pulp a day.

The February 2019 Newsletter looks at how globalization has impacted Perdido Bay and discusses how the biology has changed on the bay. The Pensacola/Perdido Bay Estuary program is up and running.

The December 2018 Newsletter explains how paper making is not a sustainable endeavor. The newsletter also looks at how IP responds to its stock prices and how the 2005 lawsuit on Perdido Bay "encouraged" IP to convert to brown paper.

The October 2018 Newsletter explains who supports the paper mill and why their supporters are so powerful. It is the landowners who grow timber for the paper mill. Discusses the report done on the ecology of the Upper bay and which shows how little life is found in the Upper Bay.

The Ausust 2018 Newsletter talks about the wastewater permit which was issued for the Bayou Marcus treatment plant. The newsletter also discusses the results of testing for dioxins and PCB's in the marsh lakes into which IP dumps. The lakes are settling ponds for IP's sludges and contain heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins. See the tables on the website.

The June 2018 Newsletter announces a meeting the Florida DEP is having on the ECUA permit for Bayou Marcus on July 12, 2018 from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM (Upper Perdido Bay is no longer impaired for Chlorophyll a) and the newsletter talks about the IP permit and how it has always been given with a promise to clean up in the future.

The April 2018 Newsletter looks at some of the things you can do for Earth Day 2018; discusses the impairment for algae and bacteria in Upper Perdido Bay; and discusses lack of foam and life in Upper Perdido Bay

The March 2018 Newsletter looks at global warming and the news media and considers the odd outbreaks of toxic algae, Heterosigma, as a cover up for toxic chemicals .

The December 2017 Newsletter examines the problem with septic tanks along adjacent waterways and discusses the dioxin which was found in the clams in the summer 2017 sampling and where it comes from.

The October 2017 Newsletter announces that Perdido Bay along with Pensacola Bay were selected for the National Estuary program. Upper Perdido Bay was also found to be "impaired" for chlorophyll a and bacteria. This puts it on the TMDL list

The August 2017 Newsletter is thankful for all our members and their support. The newsletter also explains why we have never gotten support from either political party and it looks at the recent chemical analysis of clams fromthe bay.

The June 2017 Newsletter describes how dark and dirty and dead Perdido Bay has been since IP began full operation. The most recent TRI from EPA shows that 75% of the toxic emissions are in the air. IP's Chemical Oxygen Demand which is toxic is going up as well with highs of 52,000 pounds per day.

The The April 2017 Newsletter gives some tips on being a good steward of the environment for Earth Day; reports that International Paper is back in full operation; and the need for a functioning EPA.

The The February 2017 Newsletter describes the Jan. 22, 2017 explosion at the IP mill and also considers the draft 2017 SWIM plan for Perdido Bay of the Northwest Florida Water Management District

The December 2016 Newsletter gives an overview of the recent permitting activities for IP on Perdido Bay and examines the huge amount of wastes which are allowed to be discharged into our bay .

The October 2016 Newsletter looks at the new pipeline which is going in along U.S. 98 in Alabama and carries wastewater from Lillian north to a small creek. Also more information on nutrients entering Perdido Bay from ECUA and IP

The August/September Newsletter explains how the upper and lower bay differ after much rain. The Newsletter also looks at the spirit of the Clean Water Act which allows pollution.

The June 2016 Newsletter examines how much domestic sewage is coming into the Perdido Watershed. The newsletter asks why we do not have algae blooms especially because the nutrients are high. The answer must be herbicides.

The April 2016 Newsletter thanks all our members who have continued to donate money all these years. The Newsletter also looks at how the RESTORE money will benefit International Paper and reports on IP's latest progress report which found that 90% of the trees in the wetlands had died.

The February 2016 Newsletter looks at IP's permit which expired in 2015. The newsletter also gives values for International Paper's December discharge monitoring report - a chemical oxygen demand of 36,000 pounds per day!

The December 2015 Newsletter considers our small world and some solutions to control world-wide pollution. The newsletter also discusses the "fake" science which was used in Perdido Bay to support a nutrient rule.

The October 2015 Newsletter publishes the results of our members' survey where the majority of our members consider life in the bay to be less than in the past years. We also summarize what we hope to accomplish by continuing to exist.

The August 2015 Newsletter contains a survey for our members to fill out. It also has an article about what Perdido Bay meant to families in the 1950's. A second look at PCB profiles and dioxin found in sediments of Perdido Bay reveals that this is material from scrubbers dumbed into wastewater treatment ponds.

The June 2015 Newsletter explains why IP's wetland discharge may help them get different limits so that they may be able to get a permit without a Consent Order, and it looks at an ally of paper mills, the forestry industry.

The April 2015 Newsletter examines an old lawsuit filed in 2000 and explains why the coal/biomass fuel which IP uses is very polluting.

The February 2015 Newsletter looks at the recent health of Perdido Bay and describes the new International Paper permit application which contains information about toxicity of IP's effluent.

The December 2014 Newsletter discusses how the environmental agencies are hiding the truth about the health of Perdido Bay; announces that chlorine was found in 11-mile Creek; and gives preliminary results of our dioxin testing.

The September 2014 Newsletter explains why old polluting paper mills continue to exist; it looks at the St. Joe Company and the new 2nd largest landowner in Florida; tells why you should support Amendment #1 on the Florida ballot; and gives tribute to Joy Morrill .

The July/August 2014 Newsletter looks back at some old decisions of Friends of Perdido Bay; discusses how all the wastewater in Escambia County ends up in Perdido Bay and discusses the injustice in Florida's nutrient rule; and looks at the toxic algae Heterosigma.

The May 2014 Newsletter looks at some of the damage from the recent floods; shows an aerial photo of IP's aeration stabilization basin with aerators which are not operating at complete horsepower; prints a dissenting opinion about climate change; and talks about the faulty science we have seen on Perdido Bay.

The March 2014 newsletter looks at changes which are being made in insurance and policy due to climate changes and rising sea levels; discusses the flushing of duckweed into the bay after heavy rains; and asks for volunteers for a crab watch program.

The January 2014 Newsletter reaffirms that the major source of pollution into Perdido Bay is the International Paper mill in Cantonment FL; looks at some heavy metal testing in the sediments, and describes what the northern end of Perdido Bay looks like.

The October 2013 Newsletter contemplates what Friends of Perdido Bay's direction for the future will be; looks at an old lawsuit filed in 2000, and discusses the increased premiums from the flood insurance.

The August 2013 Newsletter identifies the IP paper mill as the dominant polluter of Perdido Bay; looks at the water quality in Perdido Bay this summer; and revisits wetland protection in Escambia County, FL.

The May/June 2013 Newsletter contains additional comments on the historical article in the last newsletter. There is also an article on how the DEP is twisting the truth on Perdido Bay - lies into truths. An article describes how IP is increasing production at the Cantonment mill and more.

The March/April 2013 Newsletter is a copy of an article which appeared in "The New Harper's Magazine" in 1874. The article talks about the logging industry on Perdido Bay just after the Civil War and describes the little railroad which carried logs and lumber from Perdido Bay to the Port of Pensacola. Interesting history!

The January/February 2013 Newsletter discusses how the Florida DEP is twisting the science on Perdido Bay. The lies by the government agency which is charged with protecting the environment of Florida is disturbing. An example, is the statement that there were never any grassbeds in Upper Perdido Bay. This is a lie. Also discussed, are the new nutrient standards which have been set for Perdido Bay.

The November/December 2012 Newsletter talks about the huge "black liquor tax rebate" which the IRS has given to the paper companies. The mercury problem in fish and the weakening of environmental rules is also discussed.

The Sept/October 2012 Newsletter gives a testimonial to Jim Lane, one of the founders of Friends of Perdido Bay, who died recently. The newsletter also discusses an article in the Pensacola News Journal about IP's clean-up. The newspaper made it seem like IP spent $60 million to clean up Perdido Bay when in truth they spent $60 million so that they could expand production.

The July/August 2012 Newsletter discusses how dilution makes a difference in Perdido Bay. The newsletter also looks at the new nutrient rule DEP is proposing for Perdido Bay and mentions heavy metals found in the sediments.

The May/June 2012 Newsletter discusses why Friends' support for the paper mill to run a pipeline to Escambia Bay was a mistake. The newsletter also looks at the recent permits issued to IP for approximately 27 wells to withdraw process water from the ground and more.

The March 2012 Newsletter looks back over the strange events which have occurred over the years which Friends of Perdido Bay has been involved. The newsletter also discusses the massive pollution contributed by the paper mill.

The January 2012 Newsletter gives you an update on the nutrient rule Florida is trying to pass. Wonders if you will remember a clean Perdido Bay. And more

The November 2011 Newsletter gives you an update on IP's progress on their wetland and treatment projects. We also explain why there is an increased risk of infection by swimming in Perdido Bay..

The August/September 2011 Newsletter asks why the paper mill is still dumping in Perdido Bay when it was found to be very susceptible to harm from pollution. There is also an article about Emerald Coast's pipeline around the IP treatment ponds to the wetlands surrounding Perdido Bay..

The June/July 2011 Newsletter has an article about the latest round of "Impaired Water" meetings for Perdido Bay. The Florida DEP is proposing taking the bay off the impaired list for nutrients. There is also an article about the nutrient rule the environmental agencies are trying to pass for Florida....

The April 2011 Newsletter looks at all the pipelines which are headed for Perdido Bay. The newsletter also explains how International Paper Company is putting more and more of their costs onto us, the public, in order to save money.

The February 2011 Newsletter includes articles about how the EPA has declared a once beautiful creek permanently polluted, why the bay water is clear in the winter, and more

The December 2010 Newsletter informs our readers about the building of the pipeline to the wetlands in spite of the fact that the permit has not been approved in the appeals court. It also explains why biomass is a bad source of energy. And more

The October 2010 Newsletter gives you the latest update on the appeal of the IP permit. The newsletter revisits the dioxin issue in Perdido Bay and summarizes our views on two amendments to FL and AL constitutions.

The July 2010 Newsletter discusses the oil spill and how it has impacted Perdido Bay and local waters. The July newsletter also looks at the regulatory failures as regards the oil spill and Perdido Bay. The insert of Blowout prevention legislation is also included

The January 2010 Newletter again looks at recent attempts by state and federal environmental agencies to weaken environmental rules and make pollution legal; the newsletter also highlights the local utility's attempt to increase the effluent going to wetlands surrounding Perdido Bay.

Read the entire January 2010 Newsletter

The November 2009 Newletter looks at recent attempts by state and federal environmental agencies to weaken environmental rules and make pollution legal; the newsletter also explains why we think IP is fudging their results which they report to DEP

Read the entire November 2009 Newsletter

In the May Newsletter, we discuss how Florida is changing their standards to allow more pollution. Also we look at how the government ignored a problem with chlorine dioxide bleaching.

Click here for the whole newsletter