Monday, January 2, 2012

Welcome To Live Oak's Garbage Dump





Live Oak Florida was hoodwinked into allowing a Garbage Dump right at its entrance. The people don't like it, the businesses don't like it, and the city commissioners don't like it, so why can't it be STOPPED? Dump future still possible

Misty Ward Suwannee Democrat
Live Oak —DUMP UPDATE:

The president of Cross Environmental Resources Management LLC told the Democrat Wednesday that he still intends to file an application for the purpose of locating a class I landfill north of Live Oak.

The Democrat reported Monday that the landfill agent for the company withdrew the application for a special permit for the landfill, and thus canceling the public hearing that was to be held Dec. 6 on the matter.

An email message dated Dec. 5 from the agent, Frank Darabi, to an attorney for the company, W.O. Birchfield, that was also sent to Cross President Clyde A. Biston, stated that "They will concentrate their efforts on the currently approved C&D (construction and debris) site, and upgrade it."

However, Biston stated Wednesday morning that it's only an option.

"That's between them, that is something that Frank sent out," Biston said by phone Wednesday in response to that email. "I am not abandoning the class I landfill on the 158 acres but we will be exploring our options. I am concentrating myself on building the class I landfill."

When asked by Darabi, who is no longer Biston's agent, he said the discussion on the C&D site was "just what I heard."

Biston wrote in a one and a half page letter to the Democrat Wednesday that while he does plan to make a new application sometime in the future, "we felt that a delay was appropriate. Because it will provide us with an opportunity to better address some of the concerns that have been raised and also to correct some 'information' which we think is incorrect," Biston wrote. "We hope that the last minute timing of the withdrawal didn't inconvenience people too badly."

One issue Biston wanted to correct pertains to land that fronts US 129, just north of I-10, that has been cleared of trees. Biston claims the land is not part of the proposed landfill site and is privately owned.

Biston said the process was moving too fast and that issues that should be dealt with through the Department of Environmental Protection were being discussed prematurely.

According to Commission Chairman Wesley Wainwright, those issues will have to wait until a possible application by Cross is filed again and would have to be approved by the county commission.

"The county commission has to approve zoning change that would allow a class I landfill before they can proceed with a DEP permit," Wainwright said by phone Thursday. "If the county commission does not approve it and if they want to move forward, they could take it to court to fight the decision if they felt the ruling by county commission was unjust."

Biston said he understands the county's role.

"What we want is the county's vote. We don't want to fight the county," Biston said Thursday.

Biston said he wants to educate the public more about modern landfills and clear up any misconceptions.

Regarding the C&D landfill located near the proposed landfill site and possibly converting it to a class I landfill, Biston said that's not his intention.

"We still have to go through DEP and they would decide. I want to build a new state of the art, class I landfill, start fresh. I want to push forward," he said.

Biston gave no timeline on when his company will file a new application.

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