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Titusville residents press board on decades-long gas-station leaks; ask city to act
Summary
Two residents told the Titusville Environmental & Water Resources Board they uncovered long-running contamination from Cumberland Farms and a Shell station that may already be migrating to the Indian River Lagoon; the board agreed to place the issue on the next substantive meeting agenda in January for staff follow-up.
Residents raised alarm about suspected petroleum contamination and historic drainage patterns that, they say, are threatening groundwater and nearby waterways.
Stan Johnson, who identified himself as a local resident, opened public petitions with historical stormwater maps and asked "where does the water go?" He described old canals and mapped drainage paths (including a feature he called "Bloody Mary Ditch") that he said connect the Baker Subdivision area toward the St. Johns River and wetlands.
Developer Jesse Wright presented a packet including an attorney's letter and an environmental report and said the Cumberland Farms parcel and a Shell station across the street have been leaking for many years. Wright said the site's infrastructure work has cost about "$7,100,000.0" and estimated contamination has affected "well over at least 9 acres" and at one time was a contiguous 22 acres. He told the board tenants and businesses near US 1 were unaware of conditions on the ground and that lenders are reluctant to finance affected parcels.
Members asked about timing of geotechnical samples and whether groundwater or vapors have reached the Indian River Lagoon. Wright and board presenters said testing and monitoring wells have been installed in the project area and that publicly shared data show migration eastward toward the river; Wright said the contamination is "definitely" entering the river. Board members and the public raised jurisdictional questions about FDEP, county natural-resources staff and the enforcement role of the city.
Chairman Majek said the board would move the matter to a future meeting agenda for fuller discussion; staff and members discussed scheduling the item in January because there is no December meeting. The board did not adopt an enforcement action at the meeting; it asked staff to prepare an agenda item and information for the commission to consider next month.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff to prepare materials on the contamination reports, monitoring data and applicable regulatory roles so the board and city can consider whether to recommend city action or seek county or state enforcement.
