Recent hydrogen sulfide odor levels from the Rolling Hills Construction and Demolition Landfill have been high in the Wedgewood Community. While elevated, the levels did not meet the thresholds of a health advisory for landfill hydrogen sulfide advisories as recommend by the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County. Health advisories are issued when two consecutive readings (or two readings in one hour) of greater than 200 parts per billion are recorded.
Hydrogen sulfide levels exceeded 200 parts per billion on:
- Sunday, Nov. 29 at 3 a.m. the 6000 block of Rolling Hills Road monitor detected a hydrogen sulfide gas measurement of 290 ppb
- Monday, Nov. 30 at 1:30 a.m. the 6000 block of Rolling Hills Road monitor detected a hydrogen sulfide gas measurement of 220 ppb
- Monday, Nov. 30 at 3 a.m. the 6700 block of Rolling Hills Road monitor detected a hydrogen sulfide gas measurement of 270 ppb
Escambia County has installed four hydrogen sulfide monitors in the Wedgewood neighborhood that capture levels every 30 minutes. If levels had exceeded the thresholds of concern, a health advisory would have been issued to residents who have signed up to receive notification via text messaging, email or phone and via the media.
Escambia County is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to bring nuisance odor levels to a halt. Due to South Palafox Properties, LLC’s failure to perform final closing in accordance with Rule 61-701.730, Florida Administrative Code and the Final Order dated May 29, 2015, DEP is currently working to use the funds from the facility’s financial assurance policy to close the site pursuant to the state’s closure rules.
DEP solid waste engineers from Tallahassee and Pensacola have completed the initial site evaluation needed to develop a scope of work that will be used to design a comprehensive closure plan for the facility based on current site conditions. Once the closure plan design is completed and approved, the department will move forward with procuring the services required to complete the closure. The department is working to execute this final closure process as quickly as possible.
In addition to the administrative process regarding the permit revocation, the department filed a lawsuit in circuit court against South Palafox Properties. The circuit court case includes various aspects of compliance and long-term care at the site, including South Palafox Properties’ failure to implement the required Remedial Action Plan to address groundwater impacts at the site and odors. The circuit court case is scheduled for hearing on Feb. 26, 2016. Escambia County joined the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff/plaintiff-intervener.
