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City Cites Noise Complaint, Threatens Fine in Quieting Big Jim
Jacksonville, FL (June 7, 2004) - Big Jim is quiet.
The City of Jacksonville's Environmental Quality Division (EQD) informed JEA last week that the utility was in violation of the City's noise ordinance (Rule 4 for noise pollution) because of the noise created by Big Jim, a whistle that sounds in the Springfield area of downtown each day at 7 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 5 p.m.
The EQD took action based on a complaint from one citizen who lives in the Cathedral Towers, located on Ocean Street.
EQD officials also indicated it could impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day if JEA continued to operate Big Jim.
"We determined that the best course of action would be to shut down Big Jim until we can remedy the situation," said JEA Environmental Services Director Paul Steinbrecher. "We're looking at a number of options, including seeking a noise variance from the City, to allow us to turn Big Jim back on."
The formal "Notice to Correct" JEA received from the City states that decibel (dBA) readings taken by the EQD showed sound readings of 73 dBA from the source of the complainant. The limit established is 65 dBA.
Big Jim has operated for a century in the Jacksonville area and is considered to be a historical artifact. It was the desire of many in the community to relocate Big Jim from the Southside Generating Station, where it operated for many years, to its original location in downtown Jacksonville. Before the relocation to downtown, JEA conducted sound tests and surveys of residents in the Springfield area to obtain their feedback. As a result of very strong support reflected in the surveys, JEA proceeded with Big Jim's return to their neighborhood.
JEA also modified the old stream whistle so it could operate without steam power and provide the same sound as it did when it operated at the Southside Generating Station.
JEA is the eighth largest community owned electric utility in America providing electricity, water and sewer services to more than 750,000 accounts in Northeast Florida.
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