MIAMI (AP) — Miami-Dade is facing a nasty controversy over where to build a primary waste incinerator to upgrade the one that burned last year in Doral.
Currently, air quality testing is underway at 3 proposed sites; the Doral site where it was located, the defunct Opa-locka West Airport and a commercial site in Medley.
Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam said he doesn’t need the county to dump its trash in Broward’s yard, which would happen if they decided to build waste control next door, at the airport.
“If you’re west of I-75, you’re going to get hit. There are probably over 200,000 to 300,000 people in Broward County who would be within the boundaries of this facility,” Messam said. .
The owner of the Medley site needs this and has made an offer to the county that he believes will not be rejected.
“This is the economic opportunity for everyone in Dade County,” said Lowell Dunn II, CEO of D3 Energy.
The Dunn family owns the land for the proposed Medley site. He sent a letter to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other county officials explaining why he believes the Medley plant will be chosen.
For one thing, Dunn said, it’s already zoned for waste throughout the town of Medley. Second, if the county needs to buy the land, Dunn said it’s necessarily a no-down-payment agreement.
“It’s a five-array relief on the costs of ownership, and then paying off the principal of the product once profits are generated through the waste-to-energy facility in the future,” Dunn said.
He added that all proceeds from the sale would be donated to a charity that supports many charities.
CBS News Miami’s Betty Nguyen spoke with Levine Cava earlier this year about Medley’s site. At the time, the mayor said there were certain things to consider.
“They are promoting these assets to us instead of the West Airport site, which is owned by the county, and the Doral site, which is owned by the county. So that’s a factor,” he said.
If the county doesn’t need to buy the land, Dunn’s proposal says the county could simply create a contract to outsource waste disposal from the Medley site.
Dunn said special attention should be paid to the damage any incinerator could cause to wetlands.
“Our project doesn’t involve any wetlands,” he said.
The airport site, however, is right next to the Everglades, which is another explanation for why Miramar officials don’t need the county to bring trash into their yard. Miramar Commissioner Winston F. Barnes said there are more than 30 endangered species living in the Everglades and about 60 species of endangered birds in the Miami-Dade and Broward domain that would be affected by wind emissions from the proposed incinerator that would be about a mile from city residents.
“It’s just inconceivable that a nuisance would be placed right outside the back door,” Messam said.
The city of Miramar has introduced a “Stop the Incinerator” campaign.
Miami-Dade’s chief operating officer said once it’s complete, they will provide advice to the county board of commissioners for consideration.