Odor Reports 3/25-3/27, 2020

The Daily Sludge Report

March 25-27, 2020

Zero Days Without A Smell Report

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Odor Reports

3/25/20zz5🎤 t's a beautiful day in the 🎷🎼💩💩PoopyHood, 🎹🎺A beautiful in the 💩💩PoopyHood....... Won't you be my Neighbor?!? Documenting 7-8 out of 10. 5:45 pm 3/25/2020
3/25/2020 Let's see if there is an improvement. I've been in touch with Anuvia recently. I can text Barbara of Shelley's but other than a phone long conversation a couple of weeks ago, I haven't been in as close of contact. She is defensive and seems to think they're being singled out.


3/27/2020 I just got off of the phone with Maria Repass of Orange County 407-836-1468 and we had a 25-minute phone call. I told her that we are fed up and feel that nothing is being done.

1. 1. We are fed up
2. 2. We can't go anywhere due to the Stay at Home Order
3. 3. We can't work in our yards or go outside due to the odor (8 on a scale of 1-10)
4. 4. She says they have data collected from us and know that there is a problem
5. 5. She brought up the possibility of having an online report on the Orange County website for all odor complaints


6. I requested that we have a dedicated odor report form on the website for Zellwood, Tangerine, and Surrounding Neighborhoods
7. I have been unable to obtain a copy of Anuvia's Consent Agreement with the state through official channels and know that Orange County has it
8. They are aware of our blog and that we are organized
9. One of the Jerry Demmings assistants was planning a meeting with him on this issue but that's up in the air due to the Coronavirus situation
10. We want action NOW

Responses: 

I called and left voicemails to two for the mayor's assistants before I was able to talk Maria Repass 407-836-1468 Elizabeth “Liz” J. Roby Special Assistant to Mayor Jerry L. Demings
E-mail: elizabeth.roby@ocfl.net Phone: 407-836-7370
Shally Wong Special Assistant to Mayor Jerry L. Demmings
E-mail:shally.wong@ocfl.net Phone: 407-836-7370

I just spoke with the secretary for John Weiss of the Orange County Department of Planning, Environmental Protection, and Development Services. I told her that we're documenting our contact with his office and that this is a long-standing problem. He was in a conference call regarding the Coronavirus and I don't expect him to hear back from him today. I also said that the respiratory irritation caused by the particles coming out of their stack makes us more likely to contract the virus. She will pass our message on. 
E-Mail: Jon.Weiss@ocfl.net Phone: 407-836-5393

Thank you for your good work. Though I often suffer from the stink, today so far, not so much. The winds must be in my favor just now. Taking advantage of it while it lasts.-- It isn't as bad right now but when I smelled it this morning at 9 am, it was thick enough to be cut with a knife.-- Very disturbing-- Spoke too soon. Hubby came inside. Said about a 3 on 1-10 scale. Thankful for AC while quarantined.-- Thank you for the follow-up. Another neighbor said it went away and then came back so strong that she got a headache.

It's coming and going all day on East Jones Avenue-- Please call Maria Repass. Her number is posted at the top of this thread. This is unacceptable-- Will do thank you

They need to force all those businesses on Jones to shut down they are doing nothing but causing more people too have breathing issues its ridiculous that they let this continue too be our way of life every day.

It is really great what you are doing. Thank you

Thank for persistence  We really appreciate it.

Comment made "Mmm gotta love those biosolids"

Responses cont.

I was just curious what other more well-known fertilizers had in their ingredients: So I looked it up.
MIRACLE-Gro
15% nitrogen
30% phosphorus 
15% potassium 
Ammonium phosphate and other chemicals that can be toxic to your soil and plants.
These fertilizers are also highly soluble, so they can leach away and pollute our water systems.

This last part is very important. These are the ingredients they claim helps with the growth of red tide because on the runoff from lawns and etc. Anuvia fertilizer in comparison is slow release. It doesn’t cause the same problem.

They say that it's more environmentally friendly. We're not against their product. Our problem with what they're putting into the air.

I understand.

..........

3/27/2020 Friday, March 27th at 8:30 AM I walked outside with my dogs and felt like I'd stepped into a Sewage Processing Yard. The smell is an 8 on a scale of 1-10. Lake Ola Drive.

Responses:

Creeping uphill to Martin’s Preserve. It’s the sulfury kind...I’d say 6-7 since there is a slight wind.

Yes, I actually just went out and decided that it's an 8 too. Great minds think alike. I'm calling Anuvia and then I'm writing e-mails. This is not right. We're basically trapped in our homes. (Anuvia was called and a message was left with a secretary. She took my number but I've had no call back yet. 

It’s 10am, and stink is still there 🤢 We jailed by Corona and poop smell

That is so well put!

[Name redacted] please go to the list and start making calls and sending emails if you can, the people that complain are making it public record. Anuvia should not be operating today.

It smells all the way over here at Mt. Dora Middle this morning! [poop emoji, the blog doesn't like emojis and sometimes they can't be put in because of the formatting interference that happens]

..........

People, if you are getting the smell today, please go to the list and call and email everyone! Anuvia should not be in operation today and the only way they will be shut down is if we complain.

Responses:

I'm calling everyone with a phone number on this list. Then I will follow up with an e-mail. I've called Anuvia and asked to have Chris Larson, the head of operations. I also called Elizabeth Rory and Shally Wong at the mayor's office. This is unacceptable. https://www.facebook.com/notes/that-smell-in-tangerine-florida-and-nearby-neighborhoods/contact-addresses-for-thatsmell/1052736198416121/

..........

Letters

This is an e-mail that was sent to Ashley Gardner and forwarded to me. I tried to call Ms. Gardner and ended up leaving her a voicemail.

Date: March 27, 2020 at 12:00:02 PM EDT
To: Ashley Gardner <ashley.gardner@dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: Tangerine smell

Ashley,Thank you for taking my call. Here is the information regarding my experience Sunday 3/22/2020 that was documented in the Tangerine Facebook group With a call to Annuvia and Commissioner Moore’s office.
8:32 pm: wind ESE 4 mph: 78 degrees: 58 percent humidity. Walked outside, bad smell: eyes started burning. Took a ride down Jones avenue, no smell along the road but faint smell at the gate of Anuvia and the gate was open, cars inside and lights on. Had the windows down and eyes really bothering me. Took a ride down Willow Street: at the corner where the road takes a turn smell intensified: took the turn and turned the car around in the subdivision on the left. Stopped the car with the work does down on Willow street directly behind Annuvia— very bad smell and eyes stinging and burning. back at my house 9:05 Faint smell still. Eyes stopped burning After several minutes in the a/c. This cannot be good to breathe!!! [Lake Ola Drive, Jones Avenue, Willow Street]The smell started this morning: 3/27/2020 at 8:32 am when I tried to go outside but smelled the “bad smell” and started to get a headache immediately which stopped when I went back inside my house. The wind was from the S at 3 mph, temp 72 and 93 percent humidity. The smell lessened until 11:45 when I went outside and the smell was back. Temp 83, wind s3mph, return of headache.I will forward my email from Mr. Larson at Annuvia regarding their permission to operate around the clock.Thank you again for attempting to find a solution to this increasing issue. I know that smell is the most pressing issue currently but it appears that there is a health issue associated with the smell as well.

.........

Date: Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 11:22 AM
Subject: Subject noxious odors in Tangerine Florida and surrounding areas
To: <GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com>

Dear Governor Desantis,

I know you are overwhelmed with the coronavirus these days, but I am hoping that once things quiet down you can help us people in rural Orange County.

This problem has been ongoing for several months.  We have contacted the county mayor, our commissioner, the department of environmental protection and every other person whom we thought might help to no avail.

A company named Anuvia built a plant in Zellwood which is more than two miles away from my home.  Anuvia makes fertilizer and one of the components is ammonium sulfate which is a respiratory irritant.  Next door to Anuvia is Shelley's Septic which has been cited numerous times for violations.  Many days our neighborhood reeks of the strong smell of human feces.

Please go to the Facebook page That Smell in Tangerine, Florida, and Nearby Neighborhoods to see an overview of what we have been dealing with for months.

We are now under orders to stay at home.  Because of the noxious odors, we cannot even go outside!  I went out with my dogs this morning and in less than five minutes my eyes and throat were burning and I started coughing.  This is a daily occurrence here.

There is a daycare center on Willow Street that backs up to the offending businesses.  There are small children that are exposed to this every day they are there.  This cannot be good for their health.

In 2018 Orange County loaned Anuvia 53 million dollars.  I feel this is part of the reason they are not doing anything to resolve this problem.  It is a conflict, how can they regulate a company they loaned 53 million dollars to?

PLEASE, PLEASE help us!  I realize you are more than overwhelmed at this time, however, when you do get a chance, please come to visit and experience the lovely smells we are forced to live with.

Stay safe and keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

NAME REDACTED

..........

Here is what I got from Maria Repass

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: REDACTED Date: Fri, Mar 27, 2020, at 10:09 AM Subject: Re: Subject unbearable air quality in Tangerine To: <EPDcomplaints@ocfl.net>

COMPLAINT RESPONSE TO MARIA REPASS- I disagree, Anuvia merely processes the waste material into fertilizer.  I guess we will have to take this further up the chain.  I have a heart condition and I cannot go to the gym, the only exercise I can get now is to walk, which I cannot!  I wish you people would come out here to see how bad it is!

REDACTED

On Fri, Mar 27, 2020, at 8:28 AM <EPDcomplaints@ocfl.net> wrote:

Hi REDACTED,

Thank you for your call today, it was nice to be able to talk to you directly. I did record your concern regarding Anuvia being operational today and the thought that they may not be considered essential business under the Emergency Executive Order regarding COVID-19.

The executive order was reviewed to check if Anuvia would fall under the definitions of Non-Essential Business or Essential Business. We believe that Anuvia would be classified as Essential Business, Section 2; (b), #31 and #35.ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA EMERGENCY EXECUTIVEORDER NO. 2020-t1(/ regardingCOVID-19Section 2. Non-Essential Businesses and Essential Businesses.(b) The following retail and commercial businesses are deemed essential, and may remain open:(31) Waste management services, including collection and disposal ofwaste; and(35) in addition to essential businesses listed above, any individuals that are employed in orworking to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors as more particularlydescribed at http://www.cisa.gov/identifying­ critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19. This link identifies anumber of critical infrastructure sectors as vital to the United States including (1) healthcare and public benefits, (2) transportation systems  and logistics, (3) communications, (4) water and wastewater, (5) food and agriculture, (6) nuclear reactors, hazardous materials and waste, (7) other governmental facilities,operations and essential functions, (8) energy, (9) financial services, (10) commercial facilities, (11) emergencyservices, (12) defense industrial base,  (13) critical manufacturing, (14) chemical, and (15) information technology.  This exception only applies to individuals working in one of these critical infrastructure sectorswhile or during the course of employment in and performing their work in that sector.For your reference, I’ve attached a copy of the full executive order for you to have and review fully.As we discussed over the phone, I am understanding of your concerns, and will continue to document this and future reports to the FDEP, Orange County Code Enforcement and our EPD complaint database for our continued investigation into these complaints.Maria RepassCitizen Services CoordinatorEnvironmental Protection

DivisionCompliance and Waste Management Section3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200Orlando, Florida 32803Office:  407-836-1468Fax:  407-836-1499Email:  EPDComplaints@ocfl.netWeb:  www.ocepd.org

Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 10:51 AM To: EPD Complaints Subject: Subject unbearable air quality in Tangerine

Dear Sir/Madam,I live in Tangerine.  According to the Mayor all non-essential businesses are to be closed for two weeks.  Our community has been complaining for months about the toxic smells coming from Anuvia Biosolids and Shelley's Septic.

This morning when I let my dogs out and went outside with them the smell was horrendous!  My eyes started watering, my throat was burning and I had to immediately come inside.I do not believe that a fertilizer plant is an essential business to be operating at this time, especially when they are spewing toxic chemicals into the air!  We are supposed to be home bound at this time and it is not fair that we have to breathe in these harmful toxins.

We have been complaining to Orange County for several months now.  I believe it is a conflict for the county to be regulating a business that they loaned 53 million dollars to, so that may be why it is taking so long to get this matter resolved.Since Anuvia is not an essential business, they need to be ordered to shut down during this crisis.  I hope that you will see that this is done.

Thank you for your assistance.

REDACTED

PLEASE NOTE: Florida has a very broad public records law (F. S. 119). All e-mails to and from County Officials are kept as a public record. Your e-mail communications, including your e-mail address may be disclosed to the public and media at any time.