Blue Origin Seeks Permit To Dump Hundreds Of Thousands Of Gallons Of Wastewater Into Protected …

Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has set its sights on discharging massive amounts of wastewater into Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, a protected ecosystem that has been the focus of extensive restoration efforts. The aerospace company is seeking to renew a permit that would allow it to dump up to half a million gallons of wastewater daily into the lagoon.

According to a Blue Origin spokesperson, as reported by Gizmodo, the company is merely seeking renewal of an existing permit that has been in place for five years, and it ___ committed to responsible and compliant operations. However, local residents and community leaders have expressed concerns, as this is the first time they have seen the proposal in detail.

The Indian River Lagoon, spanning 156 miles along Florida’s eastern coast, is a vital estuary that supports over 4,300 species, 50 of which are threatened or endangered. As a highly biodiverse ecosystem, it is one of the most valuable in the U. S. The Brevard County commission will discuss Blue Origin’s proposal and potentially vote on requesting a public meeting with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Gizmodo’s reporting on the issue highlights the tension between economic development and environmental protection.