Statement from DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. Regarding Angelo's Aggregate Materials Class 1 Landfill Permit Application

“After a careful and thorough review, DEP reaffirms its intention to deny the pending Angelo’s Aggregate Materials application for a Class I Landfill permit. DEP staff concludes that the Angelo’s permit, despite presenting substantial engineering safeguards, does not provide reasonable assurance that environmental and human health will be protected.

“While we appreciate Angelo’s efforts to provide design and engineering safeguards, the proposed landfill is located on an active karst area, where much of the specific geology and hydrogeology is unknown. If an engineering failure did occur as a result of verified sinkhole activity, contaminant migrating to the Floridan Aquifer could potentially impact the environmentally-sensitive Green Swamp and sources of drinking water.

“As part of DEP’s permitting process, this application received a fair and thorough review by a team of engineering and geological experts. DEP’s staff is knowledgeable and committed to ensuring a certain and consistent regulatory process that is fair to applicants and protective of the environment....more