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Environmental Advocates Are Concerned About The Possible Impact Of A Proposed Service Station On Wakulla Springs Waters

An overhead view of the intersection and the proposed project site
Clean Water Wakulla
/
used with permission
An overhead view of the intersection and the proposed project site.

A large combined gas station with car wash at a major Wakulla County intersection is drawing fire from environmental groups. The project goes before the county planning commission this coming Monday, Feb. 14.

The 16-pump station and car wash would be located on the northwest corner of the Crawfordville Highway/Bloxham Cutoff intersection.

Former Wakulla Springs State Park Manager Pete Scalco worried the project would be located nearly on top of the underground cave system feeding the springs.

"It's only about 5 miles away as the crow flies and dye tests have shown that anything that would be found in the water at that spot would be in Wakulla Springs within a week."

He also was concerned about the possible contamination of much of the county's drinking water.

Clean Water Wakulla Member Gil Damon said the idea isn't to completely derail the project.

"There are plenty of safer places a gas station can be built. And all we're asking is that the gas station be built someplace safer."

The Wakulla Planning Commission takes up the matter at 6:00 p.m. Monday evening. The issue goes before the County Commission on Feb. 22nd.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.