Environmental advisory council forwards County request to haul 77,000 cubic yards of excess fill from forensics site

County staff asked the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) to forward a petition to the Board of County Commissioners allowing off‑site hauling of approximately 77,008 cubic yards of excess fill from a Collier County Forensics facility site where a stormwater lake had generated surplus material. Jamie Cook, director of development review, said the excavation was part of the development excavation permit for the forensics complex and the county’s contractor needs to move excess fill to other permitted receiving locations.

Staff described five proposed receiving locations — three in Collier County and two in Lee County — and emphasized that the excavation work is mechanical (no blasting) and that dust and haul‑route controls are included in the existing excavation permit and inspected by county staff. A nearby resident asked about notice and meeting scheduling; staff acknowledged a mailed notice had limited distribution and agreed to provide additional contact information and follow‑up materials to neighbors.

EAC members asked about dust suppression, haul‑route traffic management and monitoring; staff confirmed standard erosion‑and‑sediment controls and construction inspection were in place and reported no dust control enforcement issues to date. The EAC voted unanimously to forward the petition to the Board of County Commissioners with a positive recommendation.

The Board will take final action at an upcoming meeting; staff said hauling and any on‑site controls will be inspected through standard construction and excavation permit enforcement.