JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A meeting between the state and Murray Hill residents frustrated about a lingering chemical-like odor is in the works.
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Residents are blaming industrial plant International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) as the source of the stench.
“It’s a beautiful area, we love it, it’s just living next to them can be quite miserable sometimes,” Jack Perras said.
The Florida Department of Environment Protection will meet with Murray Hill residents as details for a new permit are being considered.
There’s been a cease-and-desist, a study, and complaints, but IFF said they’re not the cause.
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Councilman Jimmy Peluso’s district includes Murray Hill and he said he hears a lot from his constituents.
“I’ve had people say they have major allergic reactions, really puffy faces, they can’t sleep,” Peluso said. “They’ve got bad headaches, so I think there’s some very real implications on this.”
He added that a public meeting with the state and residents will give them a chance to voice their concerns and hopes their concerns will be addressed with a new permit.
“For those of us that have big noses like mine, I sometimes smell it too,” Peluso said. “I know a lot of our residents that live closer are really affected by it and I want to make sure the community that is affected most gets the most out of this.”
You can read the draft permit below.
An email from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) read in part:
“Public input is an important and valued part of all DEP decision-making and permitting activities and we are committed to analyzing these comments and how they may affect the draft permit,” DEP said.
Neighbors said they’re hopeful this could lead to something that works for everyone, but others including Angela Mann remain skeptical.
“I’m not holding my breath,” Mann said. “I’m not very hopeful, partially because I don’t really understand what it would take to actually make them really change their ways.”
IFF said it takes odor complaints seriously in a statement made to News4JAX:
Data from the City’s study has confirmed that IFF is not the source of odor complaints in Jacksonville. In addition, sensors located near IFF showed air quality results consistent with background levels, and most results showed that air quality near IFF was better than near other manufacturing facilities. IFF is also in ongoing discussions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. We are all working to discover the actual source of the odors.
International Flavors and Fragrances
The meeting between DEP and Murray Hill residents has not been set, but Peluso said updates will be on social media and emails will go out.
