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Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. For more information on this project, contact Brande Kempf, PACE EH Coordinator, or Bill Sirmans, Environmental Health Director at the Santa Rosa County Health Department.

 SANTA ROSA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
July-August 2006 PACE EH Progress Report
 

The months of July and August have been fast passed and a bit challenging for the Santa Rosa County PACE program. In July a total of 4 CEHAT meetings were held. Committee members devised a health survey and an air pollution log in cooperation with the health department. The main concern of our CEHAT members is the permit for the landfill. Specifically the permit states that objectionable odor is not permitted. Residents are concerned that FDEP continues to allow operation while violating their permit based on the statement above. The residents state that they can not breathe at night when the humidity settles, they have duck taped their doors and windows, nor can they turn on their air conditioners. Members of the CEHAT and the PACE coordinator traveled door to door distributing air pollution logs with return addressed stamped envelopes. The health surveys were filled out on site to insure they were received in a timely manor. It was then that the health department put together an analysis of symptoms and complaints in an unscientific chart. Over 200 surveys were obtained with amazing results. Our results are below.

Holley-Navarre PACE Environmental Health Survey, Conducted June-July, 2006

• 115 completed surveys were analyzed. The results represented about 240 individuals.
• Respondents average number of years living in area, 18 years
• Average age of respondents, 47 years
• Home-distance from Coyote Landfill
  • Less than ¼ mile = 43 completed surveys + 39 children
  • ¼ mile to 1 mile = 59 completed surveys + 38 children
  • Over 1 mile or not indicated = 13 completed surveys + 6 children
• All report smelling odors from the landfill.
• All have public water available, but some also have wells and report using them for drinking water.
• Symptoms asked about and number of complaints included the following:
  • coughing and/or congestion - 86
  • burning eyes - 84
  • breathing difficulty/respiratory issues - 80
  • burning or scratchy throat - 77
  • headaches - 76
  • fatigue/restlessness - 74
  • sleeplessness - 68
  • sneezing problems - 66
  • upset stomach - 61
  • nose burning/bleeding - 58
  • eyesight problems - 54
  • dizziness - 46
  • inability to concentrate - 43
  • vocal problems - 39
  • nervousness - 37
  • feelings of confusion - 35
  • ringing in ears - 14
  • other - 8

Most of the persons who reported symptoms had onset of symptoms after the October and November, 2005, fires at the Landfill; and the symptoms persist.

PACE-EH continues to have meetings through out the months of July and August. Our focus is now to determine where our next step with our program. Through the PACE-EH program, Brande applied for a $25,000 grant at the beginning of July 2006 but at the end of the month we had heard nothing regarding the status.

At our July 24th meeting it was determined that we proceed to the County Commissioners meeting. We determined as a CEHA Team we would present our survey findings along with information members had studied with regards to landfills and possible toxins in the environment.

On August 7, 2006 we presented our project to the County Commissioners asking for funding to further study the Air, Water and Health of the residents surrounding the Coyote Landfill. CEHAT members give testimonials to their quality of life or lack there of in addition to their research on finding and suggesting an outside consultant coming in to interpret results from air monitors.

On August 9, 2006 SRCHD & PACE-EH received word that we were awarded our $25,000 grant from CEHAB.

On August 10, 2006 Commissioners criticized FDEP for not stepping up to the plate but they unanimously agreed to fund the project $15,000 with an additional money approved if necessary. The owners of Coyote Landfill also offered to front $5,000 for the studies as well. Coyote Landfill manager John Warren pointed out the fact that there were possibly other areas of concern that needed to be looked at as well and maintained that Coyote Landfill follows strict FDEP guidelines. He also stated that they are here to work with the citizens of Holley-Navarre. Wow, what a busy week $45,000 all at one time!

The Health Department will be utilizing the County Commissioners & Landfill funds for air quality sampling as well as hydrogen sulfide exposure testing on local residents. There is also a need to test residential irrigation wells to determine if there are additional areas being contaminated.

Since our County Commissioner meeting FDEP has fined Coyote Landfill stating that they were in violation of environmental laws for operating a construction and demolition debris disposal facility where open burning emitted objectionable smoke and odor and where debris was in contact with water and there was a failure to maintain a small working face and provide weekly cover.

Additional meetings are forth coming in the next few weeks with the county manager, grant administrator, Santa Rosa County Health Department and CEHAT members. We will be distributing additional flyers as necessary along with determining a protocol that will be used for further studies though out the PACE process.

Some of the difficult issues that have been presented for this particular project were getting across to the CEHAT members that there was a process we needed to follow. And the fact that the county health department did not have funds to address these issues in the environment, which was why PACE-EH was perfect for this community. Working with other agencies has been challenging due to the fact it’s difficult in the beginning to know what agency should be involved. However, we now know more of who need to be involved.

Media! That is a challenge in itself. Many of our articles never mention the PACE program. We had several publications at the beginning but since more legal actions have been taken by the residents the media has forgotten about PACE. Even though I have sent several updates to local media outlets, they have chosen not to include the purpose of PACE and had it not been for PACE-EH that this may not have gotten to this point. As for addressing this issue, it is not known at this time how we are going to try to steer the media. It’s important for them to understand that SRCHD does not support legal actions. We are still working closely with the residents and the medical staff to help address these issues further.

Additional goals for future months are to continue the pursuit of finding an agency that can support our need for air quality testing and interpretation of data once it is collected. We are working with the county manager and commissioners to determine the best path for the community. SRCHD will also be working on researching and testing area irrigation wells. Other testing that may be done are those tests for animals. Many residents feel their livestock and pets are being affected by the toxins as well. Final challenges are those that involve human testing. SRCHD is working on developing protocols in accordance to state guidelines. Human testing will be the final process of this program.

On a positive note, we have now gotten the attention of local government officials. We are a constant present in the community and are developing trusting ties among the residents. The attention is only the beginning. Commissioners are very passionate with regards to helping the community. The County Commissioners are considering changing landfill regulations regarding in Santa Rosa County. They have also voted on a moratorium regarding landfills in Santa Rosa County. There has also been mention of bring this attention to the state level. Insuring other neighborhoods do not have to endure the types of environmental dangers that are surrounding landfills. PACE-EH will continue to strengthen the grassroots of the community by involving all members of local and regional governments. Our CEHAB grant will allow us to utilize the monies awarded to give back to the community. This will not only create a strengthened Holley-Navarre community but also build upon community outreach programs involving the health department in the future.

June, 2006

May, 2006

April, 2006

Media Coverage  (All files are pdf <1mb and open in a new window)

January 25, 2007 - Santa Rosa proposes landfill reforms(pdf,1mb)

January 18, 2007 - Coyote Landfill to be monitored  (pdf,1mb)

December 10, 2006 - Landfill company under fire across panhandle (pdf,1mb)

December 10, 2006 - Freeport landfill continues dumping despite revoked permit (pdf,1mb)

September 15, 2006 - Officials ban new debris at landfill (pdf,1mb)

August 31, 2006 - Navarre residents file suit against Coyote Landfill (pdf,1mb)

August 24, 2006 - Residents file lawsuit against landfill (pdf,1mb)

August 23, 2006 - Editorial: Area landfill problems being discovered too late (pdf,1mb)

August 23, 2006 - Residents want landfill 'fixed' (pdf,1mb)

August 22, 2006 - Lawsuit filed against Coyote Landfill (pdf,1mb)

August 17, 2006 - Landfill causing health concerns (pdf,1mb)

August 11, 2006 - Santa Rosa health study money OK'd (pdf,1mb)

August 8, 2006 - Residents seek funds for tests of landfill (pdf,1mb)

July 28, 2006 - Landfill neighbors complain of illnesses (pdf,1mb)

July 16, 2006 - Coyote Landfill draws fire: Residents complaining about smells, illness they say the dump site caused (pdf,1mb)

June 15, 2006 - Landfill controversy prompts emotional citizens meetings (pdf,1mb) 

June 1, 2006 - Health Program to tackle Coyote Landfill (pdf,1mb)