Landfill plan under fire

Landfill plan under fire

Lincolnville residents petition against return of material to inactive dump site

KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 01/07/08
For roughly 150 days, residents have stymied the city's agreement with the state that would fix its illegal dumping of old landfill material.
"I want to know what is the recommended thing to do, not the cheapest thing, like the city wants," said Judith Seraphin, a Lincolnville resident, where the landfill is located. "(Lincolnville) residents need reassurance."
Judith and Tony Seraphin joined five other residents to file a petition with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection against the city's plan. As soon as the document was filed on Dec. 29, the project was frozen, Mike Fitzsimmons, DEP Northeast District Waste Program administrator, said.
Residents are angered that the city is proposing to put back the landfill material taken from the inactive dump site on Riberia Street and bring it under Environmental Protection's control. That plan would cost $800,000, as opposed to $1 million to $2 million if the city took the material to a landfill.
The petition against this plan goes to the state's Division of Administrative Hearings, where a judge is assigned to review it, Fitzsimmons said.
Hearings such as this are usually scheduled 90 to 120 days after the petition is filed.
"The hearing may rewrite the consent order (the city has with the state for its plan)," Fitzsimmons said. "Or, it could stay where it is. The judge may like it or he might not."
The judge then gives a recommendation and sends it to Environmental Protection, which can make some changes in it. That process takes about 30 days, Fitzsimmons said.
John Regan, city chief operations officer, remains hopeful the project is delayed and not nixed.
He said the city will still hold an educational meeting for the public Thursday, which Environmental Protection representatives will attend.
"Even though there's a petition, we feel it's important to work with the community on this project," Regan said. "Outside from a few individuals, we're not hearing from the public on this, and we really want to make sure the public understands the project."

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