FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 8, 2013
PANAMA CITY DISPOSAL FACILITY CLEANUP COMPLETE
~Nearly 20,000 cubic yards of waste have been removed from the Coyote Disposal Facility ~
 Before and after photos of the former Coyote Land Co. Waste Disposal Facility that is now clean and no longer an environmental hazard.
PANAMA CITY – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection declared the cleanup of nearly 20,000 cubic yards of solid waste at the former Coyote Land Co. Waste Disposal Facility complete today and the site is no longer an environmental hazard or source of health concerns for area residents.
The cleanup was the result of a “pollution
prevention project” with an expected value of more than $500,000 that would satisfy a penalty
agreed upon by Phoenix Construction in an unrelated 2010 consent order. In lieu of paying a monetary penalty for
those previous unrelated violations, Phoenix Construction chose to submit this
pollution prevention project to offset those penalties. Phoenix Construction removed and
properly disposed of the estimated 19,300 cubic yards of waste within the
Coyote Land Co. property.
The
Coyote Disposal Facility, located at 2101 East 9th St. Panama City, was
previously permitted as a transfer station for solid waste. The
property had been an environmental hazard and community concern for
years, particularly since the station closed in 2011. Coyote
Land Co., Inc. had a history of compliance issues at the site and an
application for permit renewal was first denied on Sept. 17, 2010. Although the company petitioned the denial,
the Department's decision was upheld by an administrative law judge and an
order to close the site in accordance with Florida Administrative Code was
issued Aug. 22, 2011. The site was later abandoned by the owner.
“I’m pleased to see this
cleanup complete and that
this site is no longer a threat to the environment,” said DEP's Northwest District Director, Shawn Hamilton. “The cooperation we received from
the City and the County was crucial to this success.”
There are numerous environmental benefits associated with cleaning up
this disposal site. Benefits include the elimination of a potential
groundwater contamination source, removal of the source of odors,
elimination of a source of wind- or water-borne contaminants and the
removal of a significant fire risk, among others.
Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnick
said, “the City and the residents of Millville are certainly appreciative for
the cooperation of DEP and the area municipalities that led to this site
cleanup.”
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