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ORDINANCE NO. 2024- 001 WHEREAS, in 2018 there were blue green algae blooms (Mycrosystis) at Blue Cypress Lake; and WHEREAS, Jones Edmunds Associates, after analyzing historic St. Johns River Water Management District data, identified a relationship between the increase in land applied Biosolids in the Blue Cypress Lake watershed and an increase in phosphorus levels in Blue Cypress Lake; and WHEREAS, on November 29, 2018 at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Biosolids Technical Advisory Committee, the St. Johns River Water Management District staff presented information that showed a clear correlation of increased phosphorus levels where land applied Biosolids were spread at FDEP permitted sites within the Upper St. Johns River basin; and WHEREAS, the land application of Biosolids has been restricted in neighboring counties and ecosystems to the south, such as the St. Lucie River watershed and the Lake Okeechobee watershed, leaving Blue Cypress Lake and the St. Johns River watershed as the cheapest alternative for the disposal and land application of Biosolids generated in South Florida; and WHEREAS, in 2017, 73% of all the land applied Biosolids were spread in Indian River, Osceola and Brevard Counties; and WHEREAS, adding to the present nutrient loading in the St. Johns River Basin may further inflict damage to the health, safety, and welfare of humans and wildlife in Indian River County and the State of Florida; and WHEREAS, Indian River County has existing zoning regulations pertaining to the practice of "sludge spreading" as provided in Chapter 971.08(10) of the Indian River County Code with codified criteria for sludge spreading such as designated setbacks, reporting requirements, and the need for obtaining approvals; and WHEREAS, however, the existing Indian River County requirements do not provide for regulatory setbacks or for mandatory distances of Biosolids from waterbodies; and WHEREAS, on July 17, 2018, the Board determined that a temporary moratorium of 180 days was needed to study the effects that the disposal and land application of Biosolids has on the water resources of Indian River County and to protect water quality in the St. Johns River watershed, Blue Cypress Lake, and surrounding water bodies, from adverse impacts potentially caused by the land application of Biosolids; and WHEREAS, County staff had met with owners of properties currently permitted through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to land apply Biosolids and such owners indicated a good faith willingness to voluntarily cease Biosolids land application activities for the duration of the 180 -day moratorium; and