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County staff urge strong comments and groundwater safeguards on DEP draft permit; public hearing extended to April 30
Summary
Taylor County staff reviewed an updated DEP draft permit for a mill discharge, said DEP added a 12-million-gallon-per-day limit and an option for discharge at Peterson’s Landing (D002), and recommended the county press for a full public-interest assessment and stronger groundwater monitoring before any move to the old D001 outfall.
County staff presented the county—ommission a high-level review of an updated Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) draft permit for the local mill and urged the board to submit detailed comments before the public-comment period closes.
The presenter told the board the DEP has extended the written comment period through April 30 and scheduled a public hearing April 23 at Forest Capitol Hall with information stations and an oral-recording option from 4 to 7 p.m. "The public—omment period has been extended to the end of April," the presenter said, urging residents to submit written remarks even after the hearing.
Why it matters: the draft includes both the older outfall (D001) and a new option at Peterson's Landing (D002). The presenter said the draft now includes a modeled limit of "12 million gallons a day" for discharge and allows D002 only if property-easement issues between private owners are resolved. He also warned that DEP has no authority to resolve private easement ownership: "They can uthorize discharge there in the water at Peterson's Landing, but they have no authority to authorize use of the pipeline," the presenter said.
Staff emphasized groundwater-monitoring concerns after the mill stopped pumping and noted the county should press for stronger monitoring language. The presenter said a retired DEP hydrogeologist, Dr. Rick Copeland, has been engaged to review the plan and will attend the public hearing.
Recommendations and next steps: staff recommended the county continue to assert that DEP has not completed a public-interest assessment necessary to justify moving the discharge back to D001, and to submit specific comments on limits and monitoring. The presenter offered to draft a list of recommended comments and return before the hearing for the board—ither to approve final edits or authorize staff to submit the county—omments that night.
The draft permit schedule included a possible notice of intent on May 25 and a permit-issuance date of June 18 if there is no administrative hearing. The presenter reminded the board the county may petition for an administrative hearing and said legal counsel would need to be involved if the county pursues that route.
Board members asked for clarity on hearing format and staffing at stations; staff said DEP typically staffs such stations with both DEP experts and company representatives and that attendees can ask questions and record comments.
The county will finalize its recommended comment package before the April hearing and decide whether to authorize staff to submit the county—omments after a board review meeting.
