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Pasco Landfill Foes To Make Their Case Tonight

Seek Support from Dade City Commissioners

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By JEFF SCULLIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

DADE CITY -- Opponents of a planned landfill in northeast Pasco County plan to lobby city commissioners here tonight in hopes of landing a formal resolution opposing the project.

In recent months, the debate has cooled somewhat over Angelo's Aggregate Materials' plans to open a 90-acre landfill off Enterprise Road, a mile and a half southeast of the city limits, though not the feelings of nearby residents. Drive down Old Lakeland Highway or U.S. 98, and you'll still see the big signs decrying the evils of the landfill.

It's unclear just what impact a resolution from Dade City commissioners would have on the landfill. The city has no regulatory authority over the project, which must be approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the county.

But a resoultion from the city closest to the proposed landfill would carry symbolic value. Considering both sides have been trying to line up support from local governments and civic groups for months, that's a good indicator Angelo's and its critics think public opinion could influence the final decision.

Tonight's meeting also is meant to let people know that critics of the project haven't gone away, according to Carl Roth, spokesman for Protectors of Florida's Legacy, the group that's organizing the opposition. The group sent out an e-mail this week to supporters, urging them to show up in force tonight, though Roth said it's hard to say how many people will actually show up.

In September, Dade City commissioners sent a letter to the DEP voicing its opposition to the landfill. Zephyrhills and Tampa did the same.

Specifically, the Dade City commission expressed concern about the proposed landfill's proximity to the Withlacoochee River and potential effects on the Floridan Aquifer and the nearby Green Swamp, which provides critical habitat for various birds and other species and serves as a vital part of the region's natural water system.

City leaders also expressed concern about the potential for sinkholes to develop on the property.

Tonight's meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the city commission chambers, 14150 Fifth St.

Jeff Scullin can be reached at (813) 779-4614 or jscullin@tampatrib.com.

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