Residents press commissioners over Heart of Florida landfill odors and proposed injection well; board authorizes letter requesting FDEP local hearing

Several residents from Lake Panasoffkee, Webster and surrounding parts of southern Sumter County urged the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners during the Oct. 14 public forum to take action after recurring odors, sanitary concerns and the proposed installation of an underground injection well at the Heart of Florida landfill were raised.

Residents described recurring foul odors, reported irritation and livestock/pet effects, and asked the board to block further permits and seek a local hearing from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Multiple speakers asked county leaders to press state regulators for transparency and to support a local public meeting by FDEP; one resident said Nov. 2 was a public-comment deadline for a related administrative action.

What the board said and did: County staff and legal counsel described jurisdictional limits and ongoing enforcement activity. County Administrator Bradley Arnold and legal staff explained that the Heart of Florida municipal solid-waste landfill is located inside the City of Bushnell, which issues and oversees its operating permit; the city has issued a notice of intent to revoke the operating permit and retained Arcadis for third‑party technical review. FDEP also maintains an enforcement case and oversees permitting for injection wells; an exploratory well request by the landfill operator would provide data to FDEP but does not itself authorize long-term disposal.

After discussion, commissioners agreed the board should publicly oppose further injection-well development at the site and request that FDEP hold a local public hearing. The board directed staff to draft a letter for the chairman’s signature expressing opposition to moving forward with the injection-well process and requesting a local FDEP hearing; the chair asked staff to coordinate with the City of Bushnell on whether the city wants to join the letter. County officials said the city has set a deadline in early December for the landfill operator to complete corrective actions tied to the city’s notice of intent to revoke the operating permit.

Why it matters: Residents characterized the odors as a continuing quality-of-life and potential public-health concern. The proposed injection-well option — which would move landfill leachate into deep subsurface formations — was described at the meeting as a longer-term disposal alternative that, if approved, could have regional groundwater implications. Commissioners said that while the county cannot directly control issuance of FDEP permits for injection wells or the city’s permitting decisions, the board can weigh in, request hearings, and coordinate with the City of Bushnell and state agencies.

Details and context from the meeting - Jurisdiction: County staff said the Heart of Florida MSW landfill sits inside the City of Bushnell, which issues the landfill’s operating permit; the city has the authority to revoke or modify that permit. FDEP enforces state environmental rules and has an active enforcement case. - City action: City of Bushnell issued a notice of intent to revoke the landfill’s operating permit; the landfill operator pursued a mitigation plan and the city contracted Arcadis to provide technical review of the operator’s mitigation steps. County staff said the city has set a corrective-action deadline (described in the meeting as a December timeframe). - Injection-well process: Staff said FDEP’s exploratory-well approval would provide geological data and does not mean a leachate-disposal permit is guaranteed; if FDEP later approves disposal, the board could pursue administrative comments and potential legal remedies at that stage. - Resident request and board response: Residents asked the county to send letters to FDEP and to press for a local FDEP meeting; commissioners authorized staff to draft a letter opposing continuation of the injection-well process and requesting a public hearing, and to coordinate with the City of Bushnell on a joint approach.

What remains unresolved: The city’s enforcement process and any appeals by the landfill operator could extend into administrative or judicial proceedings; residents requested that commissioners keep pressure on regulators and seek transparency. Staff said that if the City of Bushnell revoked the operating permit and the landfill appealed, that appeal process could keep operations in place for a period while legal proceedings continue.

Ending: Commissioners said they would prepare a letter, coordinate with Bushnell on joint action if desired, and continue to monitor FDEP and city actions; residents were encouraged to submit public comments to FDEP and to attend any scheduled local meetings.