A spokesperson for Blue Origin told Gizmodo that it is seeking renewal of the existing permit, which has been in place for five years, and that the company is committed to maintaining responsible and compliant operations. But for many local residents and community leaders, this is the first time they’re seeing the details in black and white, and they’re not happy about it.
“The Indian River Lagoon is already fighting for its life,” says a petition posted on Change.org. “Decades of nutrient pollution, algal blooms, seagrass collapse, habitat loss, and record manatee deaths have pushed this fragile ecosystem to the edge. Now, it faces a new threat – and it’s one we can’t ignore.” As of Tuesday morning, the petition had 5,176 signatures.
The Brevard County Commission will discuss Blue Origin’s proposal during its regular weekly meeting on Tuesday evening, Fox 35 Orlando reports. The commission will vote on whether to request a public meeting from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) due to residents’ concerns.
Gizmodo contacted Brevard County Commissioner Katie Delaney and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The fight to save the Indian River Lagoon
According to Indian River County, the Indian River Lagoon is a 156-mile-long (251-kilometre-long) estuary that makes up 40% of Florida’s east coast. Home to more than 4,300 species – 50 of which are endangered or threatened – it is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the US
Local governments, including Indian River County and Brevard County, have been working for years to protect and restore the Indian River Lagoon. One of the main threats to this ecosystem is the degradation of water quality due to factors such as nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms and waste water pollution. Community members and leaders have expressed concerns that Blue Origin’s continued dumping could reverse the progress they have made.
“It’s really troubling to me, especially when we as a community are spending so much money on saving the half-cent sales tax and the Indian River Lagoon tax,” Brevard County Commissioner Katie Delaney told Fox 35 Orlando. These initiatives have helped the county raise $417.5 million to aid in the restoration of the lagoon.
Blue Origin’s controversial proposal
The permit Blue Origin is seeking would allow the company to operate an industrial wastewater treatment facility that would discharge 0.467 million gallons of treated wastewater and 0.015 million gallons of untreated wastewater per day into an onsite stormwater pond. This waste water will then be released into the Indian River Lagoon.
The good news is that the draft permit outlines strict prohibitions, limits and monitoring activities aimed at reducing the impact of blue on the ecosystem. Still, many Space Coast residents fear for the future of the Indian River Lagoon, not to mention the wildlife and industry it supports.
“Our homes, our wildlife, our water, our economy and our future depend on a healthy lagoon,” the Change.org petition states.
Florida DEP intends to issue the permits as drafted unless public comments lead to changes. The outcome will indicate how far Florida is willing to go to protect one of its most fragile ecosystems, even if it means imposing new limits on the high-profile Space Coast operator.
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