In the News
Foley Cellulose Hosts Annual Field Trip to the Fenholloway River for Taylor County High School Students
March 24, 2023
On March 24th, leaders from the Foley Cellulose mill hosted another educational field trip to the Fenholloway River for Taylor County High School (TCHS) students and science teacher Leslie Maiullo. The event began in the high school library with Leslie Maiullo introducing the purpose and agenda for the field trip to the Fenholloway. Foley’s environmental team (Dean Ahrens, Brett Lundy, and Zach Webb) would teach the students how to test water quality at three different places in the river. The students would be Foley environmental scientists for a day!
Dean Ahrens, Foley environmental leader, provided the historical background of the Fenholloway water quality project and the efforts to achieve recreational water quality standards in the Fenholloway River.
Afterwards, the students boarded the bus to visit three locations at the Fenholloway River. The students were divided into groups to conduct water tests on specific criteria at each river location and then compared the results of the tests among the groups for consistency.
The trip concluded with lunch for all participants at Hick’s Landing, and a visit with a few special guests from the Tallahassee Museum. Wildlife expert Alison Ashcroft joined the students to discuss wildlife along the river corridor, and the students were given the opportunity see a live barred owl and an indigo snake up close.
“It was our goal for these students to receive a hands-on educational experience at the Fenholloway River,” said Scott Mixon, Foley Public Affairs Manager. “In addition to the environmental activities, we discussed the accomplishments with the restoration of the Fenholloway River. The Fenholloway River is a great example of how people in business, the community and government work together to improve the environment. On behalf of the Foley leadership team, I want to thank Leslie for her enthusiasm toward education and the tireless efforts on behalf of our students in Taylor County.”
Scientist for day. (left to right) Micah Shoplak, Kerry Stephens, Foley Cellulose Environmental Engineer Zach Webb, Truman Mayse, Foley Cellulose Environmental Engineer Brett Lundy, Faith Rowell, Katilyn Colson, Alexis Gagne, Marielvi Blanco-Acosta, Brailyn Omans, Kaylee Strickland, Georgia Woods, Landon Burford, Charlondria Williams, Sienna Moody, Kate Sullivan and Taylor County High School science teacher Leslie Maiullo.
Tallahassee Museum wildlife expert Alison Ashcroft with an indigo snake: (left to right) Charlondria Williams, Katilyn Colson, Brailyn Omans, Marielvi Blanco-Acosta and Faith Rowell.
Foley Cellulose Hosts Annual Field Trip to the Fenholloway River for Taylor County High School Student
May 18, 2022
On March 18th, the Foley Cellulose mill hosted another educational field trip to the Fenholloway River for Taylor County High School (TCHS) students and science teacher Leslie Maiullo. The event began in the high school library with Leslie Maiullo introducing the purpose and agenda for the field trip to the Fenholloway. The Foley Environmental team (Dean Ahrens, Brett Lundy, Eric Nzuki) would teach the students how to test water quality at three different places in the River. The students would be Foley Environmental Scientists for a day!
Scott Mixon, Public Affairs Manager, provided the historical background of the Fenholloway Water Quality Project and the efforts to achieve recreational water quality standards in the Fenholloway River. Afterwards, the students boarded the bus to visit three locations at the Fenholloway River. The students were divided into groups to conduct water tests on specific criteria at each river location and then compared the results of the tests among the groups for consistency.
The trip concluded with lunch for all participants at Hick’s Landing, and a visit with a few special guests from the Tallahassee Museum. Wildlife expert Alison Ashcroft joined the students to discuss wildlife along the river corridor, and the students were given the opportunity see a live barred owl and a banded water snake up close.
“It was our goal for these students to receive a hands-on educational experience at the Fenholloway River,” said Scott Mixon, Foley Public Affairs Manager. “In addition to the environmental activities, we discussed the accomplishments with the restoration of the Fenholloway River. The Fenholloway River is a great example of how people in business, the community and government work together to improve the environment. On behalf of the Foley Leadership Team, I want to thank Leslie for her enthusiasm toward education and the tireless efforts on behalf of our students in Taylor County.”
Foley Cellulose Hosts Field Trip to the Fenholloway River for High School Students
Author: Scott Mixon, public affairs manager
Fiberscope
June 2021
The event began in the high school library with Leslie Maiullo introducing the purpose and agenda for the field trip to the Fenholloway. The Foley Environmental team would teach the students how to test water quality at three different points in the River. The students would be Foley Environmental Scientists for a day!
Chet Thompson, Environmental Leader for Foley Cellulose, provided the historical background of the Fenholloway Water Quality Project and the Foley Cellulose mill’s plan to achieve recreational water quality standards in the Fenholloway River. Afterwards, the students boarded the bus to visit three locations at the Fenholloway River. The students were divided into groups to conduct water tests on specific criteria at each river location and then compared the results of the tests among the groups for consistency.
The trip concluded with lunch for all participants at Hick’s Landing, and a visit with a few special guests from the Tallahassee Museum. Wildlife expert Alison Ashcroft joined the students to discuss wildlife along the river corridor, and the students were given the opportunity see a live barred owl and baby alligator up close.
It was our goal for these students to receive a hands-on educational experience at the Fenholloway River. In addition to the environmental activities, we discussed the accomplishments with the restoration of the Fenholloway River. The Fenholloway River is a great example of how people in business, the community and government work together to improve the environment. On behalf of the Foley Leadership Team, I want to thank Leslie for her enthusiasm toward education and the tireless efforts on behalf of our students in Taylor County.
Fenholloway Project now completed, operational
Author: Perry Newspapers
January 2021
Capping a monumental environmental improvement process that began more than 25 years ago, the Fenholloway Water Quality Project is now “complete, successful and operational,” according to Georgia-Pacifc (GP) officials.
The process to change the Fenholloway River’s official classification from “industrial” to “recreational” began in 1994, and GP recently reached an important milestone in 2020 by completing the construction and testing of its 15.3-mile Fenholloway River pipeline – a major part of the Fenholloway Water Quality Project.
“The Fenholloway Water Quality Project, including the new 15-mile pipeline, is one of the most important projects in Foley’s future sustainability,” said GP- Foley Public Affairs Manager Scott Mixon.
“The mill upgrades, wastewater treatment system and pipeline have a design life to last for the next 50 years,” Mixon added.
“We are confident that our continued investment will strengthen the long-term viability of the Foley mill,” Mixon stated.
After acquiring the Foley mill from Buckeye Technologies in 2013, GP committed to eliminating the Fenholloway River’s Class V “industrial-use” classification and restoring the river to Class III fishable and swimmable standards.
On March 6, 2014, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued a renewed NPDES discharge permit to Foley Cellulose, along with an administrative order requiring complete implementation of required task within seven years.
To accomplish their pledge and satisfy the administrative order, GP has undertaken more than $300 million in internal mill process upgrades and environmental upgrades, which have resulted in improved water quality in the river and Gulf of Mexico.
The project was completed ahead of schedule.
Construction teams performed initial system testing in July, completed pressure testing in August, and began the process of gravity filling the pipeline as part of the “operation testing” phase of the project on Sept. 3.
The team reported there were “no leaks” and that all systems were working properly.
“We have reached a long awaited milestone in our efforts to restore the Fenholloway River to Class III, acceptable for fishing and swimming,” said Chet Thompson, Environmental Engineering Manager. “Foley’s treated process water is no longer discharged at river mile 24.”
Based on a thorough review by an outside engineering firm, GP’s Foley Mill will soon provide a certificate of “functionally complete” to FDEP.
“In March 2021, FDEP’s administrative order will be officially satisfied,” Mixon stated. “We will continue to monitor specifc water quality criteria and operate in accordance with our permit from FDEP.”
From start to finish, the Fenholloway Water Quality Project team included over 15 Georgia-Pacific employees from different areas of expertise. In addition, 10 contractors and more than 300 of their employees were associated with work on the project.
Foley Cellulose has reached a milestone to celebrate with the Fenholloway Water Quality project.
Author: Thomas Kicklighter, Vice President and General Manager of Foley Cellulose
Foley Cellulose
September 4 2020
I am pleased to announce that Foley Cellulose has reached a milestone to celebrate with the Fenholloway Water Quality project. This week, our Fenholloway pipeline startup team began gravity filling our new 15 mile effluent pipeline and began the “operation testing” phase of the project. We are well ahead of schedule to complete the project by March of 2021.
I would like to congratulate Chet Thompson and the Fenholloway Water Quality Project team for all of the successful efforts thus far to restore the Fenholloway River to a Class III river, acceptable for fishing and swimming. The Fenholloway Water Quality Project is just one of many projects that will sustain Foley’s operation for years to come.
There is still work to be completed and celebrated with this project. The project team is on schedule to re-open Peterson’s Landing to the public on October 1, 2020. The lower portion of Hampton Springs Road is being rebuilt and we will repair the portion of Hampton Springs Road below Prison.
I want to encourage everyone to attend one of our Town Hall meetings scheduled on September 9th, 16th and 24th. My update on the Foley mill will include an update about the status of the pipeline and Fenholloway Water Quality project. Attendance in person is encouraged. But if you are unable to attend, you can join us through Microsoft Teams.
In the meantime, we are glad to share more if you have questions. Feel free to contact Scott Mixon at 1275 or go to www.fenholloway.com.
Christian Fischer, CEO of Georgia-Pacific, visits Taylor County
Author: Scott Mixon, public affairs manager
Fiberscope
September 2019
On Aug. 21, Christian Fischer, CEO of Georgia- Pacific, was the keynote speaker at the Tallahassee Rotary Club. Fischer’s visit to Tallahassee, and his presentation at the FSU Alumni Center, was just one of many visits to regions where GP has facilities. It is an opportunity for Fischer to engage the community and talk to influential community leaders, decision-makers and the media about GP.
Following his visit to the Tallahassee Rotary Club, Fischer joined a group of lawmakers, state officials and community leaders at the Back Door Bistro to discuss the Fenholloway River and pipeline project. The group was given an update by Chet Thompson on the progress of the Fenholloway Water Quality Project.
Fischer and the group were originally scheduled to take a 45-minute boat tour on the Fenholloway River while discussing investments and improvements made to the Fenholloway River, as well as progress on the pipeline project. However, the boat tour was canceled due to high water and flooding associated with recent heavy rains.
While in Taylor County, Fischer made a point to thank the community for the role it has played in the Foley mill’s long-term success.
“There is a mutual benefit that arises when a strong community helps support a business,” Fischer told a group of local, state and federal officials gathered at the Backdoor Bistro’s private meeting room downtown. “And, if a good business reinvests back into the community, you get into this virtuous cycle of mutual benefit that is both tactical and long term. I think this project is one example of this. When communities and businesses cooperate with each other, it’s simply practical. The important thing is to bring people together to talk, listen and understand how we can best help each other. And then — plain and simple — work together. I think this project is an example of different people in the community and stakeholders coming together and making something really good happen,” Fischer said.
“I can tell all of you first-hand, having grown up in Port St. Joe with a paper mill, that when that mill closed down, it devastated our community and our region,” said Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Florida. “That is why this is personal for me to help you with whatever you need. Some realize how important it is, and others don’t, but I hope everyone opens their eyes and appreciates the business you bring here and supports you. I know I certainly will,” said Shoaf.
FOLEY’S NPDES PERMIT RENEWED
At the conclusion of the meeting, FDEP Northeast District Director Greg Strong presented a hand-delivered notice renewing Foley mill’s environmental operating permit to local Foley Mill General Manager Thomas Kicklighter.
“The discharge permit for the mill’s industrial wastewater treatment system has to be reviewed and renewed every five years,” said Kicklighter. “The mill was operating under an extension to the previous permit. Thank you all for the level of support we have received. I have been here four months now and have been to various civic and governmental meetings, and the level of support we enjoy leaves me in awe, and we really do appreciate that,” Kicklighter said.
FISCHER PROMOTES FOLEY’S NEW VISION
“I feel excellent when I know that the things that we ask our employees to think about and act upon show back up when they create their own vision statement,” Fischer said. “We get the actions that you see taking place here because of that.” Fischer read a recently-created vision formed by local Foley mill team members that states: “We will create value by making superior specialty grade cellulose for customers worldwide. Our guiding principles and commitment to keep each other safe will define who we are: A successful business that values family and partners with our community.”
“We are spending almost another $100 million to get this mill to produce specialty cellulose for customers around the world,” Fischer added. “That is exciting news for the mill, our employees and the jobs that will make this mill that much more profitable, which will give us the backbone to be successful for years to come. We need a successful business because that will be an advantage for the families and partners within our community. These are simple words, but they echo what we are about and what we are trying to do.”
Posted September 2019