Chairman of Wekiva River Basin Commission calls for end to unpermitted mining in Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The chairman of a board meant to protect the Wekiva River plans on asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to step in and force the Florida Department of Transportation to stop buying fill dirt from unpermitted mining operations in Lake County.

It comes after 9 Investigates obtained a record showing FDOT has known since at least March that the pits supplying fill dirt for the Wekiva Parkway project were the subject of lawsuits from Lake County, and under investigation. That’s different from what FDOT told Eyewitness News in August after we first inquired about the contracts for dirt.

READ: ‘It’s unbearable’: Legal battle continues between Lake County, farm property owners over digging

So far, no neighbor complaints, lawsuits from Lake County, or even a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services petition to an administrative judge have been able to stop the digging, dust and trucks near Sorrento.

“I think we really need to get to the bottom of this,” Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine said. “This is not something I was aware recently was a problem.”

READ: Judge to rule on whether unpermitted mine can continue digging dirt in Lake County

Constantine is the chairman of the Wekiva River Basin Commission. That board is meant to provide oversight on activities that could impact the protected waterway, including the Wekiva Parkway project.

Channel 9 first reported months ago that Florida Department of Transportation subcontractors were buying fill dirt from what Lake County calls unpermitted mining operations to help build that beltway. At the time, FDOT told 9 Investigates it was investigating the issue. Now, though, an internal legal brief from Lake County’s attorney shows FDOT was part of a joint meeting way back in March “to discuss the unauthorized mining activities that were supporting the construction of the Wekiva Parkway.”

READ: ‘It’s all about the money’: Lake County farm owners sell ‘fill dirt’ for millions, while neighbors say they’ve been left in the dust

The legal brief describes a third pit in addition to the two actively being sued by Lake County, though it’s unclear if the third pit has also provided fill for FDOT. Neighbors say nothing has slowed the operations down, despite pleas all the way to the state level.

Constantine says the unpermitted operations are a black eye on an otherwise great road project.

“We’ve got to get to the bottom of this,” Constantine said.

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When 9 Investigates asked FDOT about the continued purchase of fill by its subcontractors, a spokesperson sent the following statement:

“Close coordination with a wide range of agencies is critical for the work FDOT does every day. This coordination includes working with local municipalities and regulatory agencies. The Department values these partnerships as they help play a vital role in delivering successful and quality projects to the public. FDOT’s investigation of the claims related to the mining operation have involved this same coordination with our partner agencies—not just with Lake County, but also with the regulatory agencies and the FDOT contractor. In fact, discussions and further evaluation into these claims have been underway for many months. While the Department takes these claims seriously, it is also important to fully evaluate this matter in order to take appropriate action. It is the Department’s understanding that the agencies are still working through a final determination and legal proceedings are still ongoing to officially resolve the dispute. The Department continues to actively monitor this matter and coordinate with these agencies towards a final resolution. The Wekiva Parkway was carefully planned through an environmentally sensitive area to ensure minimal impacts. FDOT remains committed to environmental protections and resource preservation, not just on the Wekiva Parkway, but on all of our projects.”

Judge to rule on whether unpermitted mine can continue digging dirt in Lake County Neighbors to a huge pit in Lake County hope a Judge will rule in favor of a complaint aimed at closing what county leaders call an unpermitted mining operation. (WFTV)