We, the residents of Charlotte County, Florida, urgently call on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and our local and state officials to deny sand mining permit MMR_452990-001. This MASSIVE 293 acre industrial mining operation threatens our air, water, homes, health, and long-term safety — and it has already caused significant harm in our neighborhood.

This permit would allow sand mining to continue and expand dangerously close to residential homes and ecologically sensitive areas. We cannot afford to let that happen.

This is not just a nuisance — it is a serious public health and environmental threat.
We have already suffered from the existing mining operations and know exactly what an expanded permit would bring:

Silica dust exposure: Sand mining releases fine crystalline silica particles, which are known to cause severe and permanent lung diseases, including silicosis, COPD, and even cancer. These airborne particles can travel for miles, putting entire communities at risk, not just those next door. Children, seniors, and those with preexisting respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable.
Air pollution: Residents have experienced increased coughing, allergies, and breathing problems due to continuous dust and diesel exhaust from trucks and machinery. Air monitoring has not been implemented or enforced, despite repeated complaints.
Water contamination and sinkhole risk: Sand mining operations draw down groundwater, destabilize soils, and alter the underground flow of water. In Florida’s limestone-rich geology, this greatly increases the risk of sinkholes — sudden collapses that can damage roads, homes, and aquifers. It also threatens the safety and quality of our drinking water.
Fire hazard: A fire has already broken out on or near the mine site, placing nearby homes and lives in danger.
Noise and vibration: Heavy machinery and truck traffic operate from early morning to evening, shaking homes and disturbing peace and quiet.
Property value decline: The presence of an industrial mine makes it difficult to sell homes, and when buyers walk away, our equity is destroyed. Many residents have already lost substantial value on their investments.
Wildlife and wetland destruction: The area is home to sensitive habitats that are being degraded by excavation, runoff, and habitat fragmentation.
Many residents were never notified.
The permit application process has lacked transparency. A large number of residents affected by this project received no formal notice and had no chance to object before operations began. This violates the basic principle of public participation in decisions that affect our health and environment.

This mine does not belong in a residential area.
We are not against development or responsible resource use. But industrial-scale mining does not belong near homes, schools, wetlands, or groundwater resources. It belongs in remote areas with strict safeguards and oversight.

Charlotte County’s zoning and environmental protections must put people and ecosystems first — not private profits.

We demand:
Immediate denial of sand mining permit for Waterside Restoration MMR_452990-001
A full geological, hydrological, air quality, and health impact study, with particular attention to silica dust and sinkhole vulnerability
Public hearings and community consultation, with legally required notice to all affected residents.
Enforcement of existing environmental regulations, including Florida Statutes § 403.412 (Florida Environmental Protection Act)
An end to sand mining operations near homes and protected lands
Stand with Charlotte County residents.
We cannot be ignored any longer. Our air, water, property, and well-being are not disposable.

Please sign and share this petition to tell FDEP and Florida leaders: deny the permit, protect our homes, and stop the sand mine before more harm is done.

Stop Permit MMR_452990-001. Protect our air. Protect our water. Protect our community.