Residents Rally Against Blue Origin’s Proposed Wastewater Permit Near Indian River Lagoon

In the sleepy coastal towns of Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral, a sense of unease has settled over the Indian River Lagoon, like a thin layer of mist that refuses to lift. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been prompted by public pressure to hold a hearing on Blue Origin’s wastewater permit, a decision that will be made on January 30th in Cocoa, Florida. The permit in question would allow the aerospace company to discharge up to 0. 49 million gallons per day of treated industrial wastewater into a stormwater pond that drains into the lagoon.

According to enr. com, residents of Merritt Island, a community of approximately 34,500 people, and the nearby city of Cape Canaveral, home to around 10,000 residents, have been at the forefront of the growing public response. The Brevard County Commission and Cape Canaveral City Council formally requested a public meeting, and an online petition opposing the permit has stashed over 46,000 signatures. DEP Communications Director Alexandra Kuchta emphasized that “public input is an important part of our permitting process,” adding that agency staff, technical experts, and Blue Origin representatives will be available at the meeting to address questions.