BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to request a public meeting with state environmental regulators over Blue Origin’s controversial plan to discharge industrial wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon.
The commission chambers were packed with residents opposing the aerospace company’s permit renewal request, which would allow discharge of approximately 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater daily into an onsite retention pond that drains into the lagoon.
“This is Jeff Bezos. I’m sick and tired of billionaires playing the power game and we are insignificant. They throw us aside cause they don’t care. They get rid of us, they’ll go someplace else,” said Brevard resident Elizabeth Michaelman. “So I’m fighting for my home, as should all of you.”
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) holds sole authority over the permit decision. County officials acknowledged their limited power extends only to requesting a public meeting with state regulators.
The permit would allow wastewater discharge from several operations at Blue Origin’s facility. The industrial wastewater flows from buildings where parts are tested and rinsed, and includes discharge from carbon filter rinses, storage tank dumps, line purges and cooling tower blowdown operations.
While the permit requires testing for pollutants and prohibits direct discharge into drinking water supplies, recent developments have heightened public concern. FDEP recently fined Blue Origin for improper water testing procedures.
Resident Julio Torrez raised concerns about retention pond management and the presence of “forever chemicals” in the discharge. Other residents questioned why industrial wastewater should be treated differently than other forms of pollution.
“If I want to go wash my vehicle, the place that washes it has to filter the water, clean it, and reuse it. They don’t get to simply dump it in the local waterway,” Brevard resident Michael Myjack told commissioners.
The county will now submit its request for a public meeting to FDEP. While state regulators are not required to grant the meeting, Tuesday’s strong turnout suggests significant public interest in addressing concerns about the permit renewal.
County officials emphasized they will continue monitoring the situation within their jurisdictional limits while awaiting FDEP’s response to their meeting request.