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Commissioners weigh response as Heart Of Florida landfill begins exploration for leachate injection
Summary
County Administrator Moneer told commissioners Heart Of Florida Landfill is drilling exploratory wells for potential leachate disposal and has not yet applied to DEP; commissioners expressed concern about direct injection without pretreatment and generally agreed to monitor and to respond during the DEP application and public‑input process.
County Administrator Moneer told the board that Heart Of Florida Landfill (in Sumter County) is drilling exploratory wells for possible leachate disposal and has not yet submitted a permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). "They have not applied for a permit yet," Moneer said, and staff told the board that a public‑input period would follow any application.
Commissioners expressed concern about proposals to inject untreated leachate. Chair (S1) said he would oppose untreated injection, and Commissioner (S10) urged the board to inform Heart Of Florida that the county was likely to oppose such an application. Several commissioners recommended waiting for the formal DEP application before launching a formal objection while others asked staff to notify DEP that the county wants to be informed when an application is filed.
Moneer said the county had received citizen messages from neighboring counties and that staff would monitor the matter. "We are waiting for an application to be submitted, then there will be a public input period, and that will be the time ... we will have to state our position and send a letter," he said. Commissioners directed staff to watch for an application and to return details when the DEP process begins.
What happens next: staff will monitor DEP filings related to the Heart Of Florida Landfill exploratory work and will advise the board when an application is submitted so the commission can decide whether to send formal comments or a letter of opposition.
