What You’ve Missed

Feb 2009

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issues an “Intent to Deny” memorandum against a proposal by Angelo’s Aggregate Materials to build a landfill in East Pasco adjacent to the Green Swamp.

Angelo’s quickly appealed the decision, asking the DEP for a court date.

As of now, the hearing still hasn’t taken place.

June 2010

Instead, Angelo’s submitts a new set of plans to the DEP, which would reduce the clay liner system meant to protect the ground from the waste from 5 feet to 2 feet in thickness. Although the initial overall footprint is significantly smaller, Angelo’s left room to expand to the entire property, and still made no significant enhancements that would protect the landfill against sinkholes.

Angelo’s has repeatedly delayed a DEP appeal hearing.

2010

Pasco County approved rules that would require companies wanting to construct a landfill to obtain a comprehensive plan change instead of looking for much simpler conditional land use approvals. Angelo’s filed suit against the county in May 2010 to challenge those rules.

Last June, an administrative hearing judge with the Department of Community Affairs upheld Pasco’s new rules, meaning that landfills can only be placed on property zones for public/semi-public use. Angelo’s proposed landfill is slated for land currently zoned for agricultural use, meaning they would have to rezone through the comp plan process to move forward. Rezonings are decided by the Pasco County Commission.

Summer 2011

As of now it could finally take place in August. Among those opposing Angelo’s landfill right now are: