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Board extends air‑quality monitoring near Florence landfill after six‑month study
Summary
County environmental staff reported six months of monitoring found no regulatory exceedances for hydrogen sulfide despite odor complaints; commissioners voted to continue monitoring for another six months and return with a comprehensive report.
After a six‑month monitoring program around the Florence (Sandy) landfill, Alachua County staff told commissioners Jan. 27 they found no regulatory exceedances for hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg odor residents report) though odor complaints continue and some particulate matter readings (PM2.5/PM10) were detected that appear related to non‑site events.
Steve Hofstetter of the county's environmental protection department said monitoring began in July after board direction and will conclude this week; initial contractor summaries show hydrogen sulfide levels did not reach permit-exceedance thresholds. Hofstetter said occasional particulate spikes appeared outside normal operating hours and likely stemmed from smoke or weather-driven dust events.
Commissioners voted unanimously to continue another six months of monitoring and to have staff return with a final summary, including any recommendations and the contractor's full report.
The extension aims to track changes as landfill activity varies and to provide continued data to inform any enforcement or mitigation steps.
