Escambia County staff added a second air quality monitor in the Wedgewood neighborhood on Aug. 11. Photo credit: Gloria Horning.

Escambia County has added a second air quality monitor near a Wedgewood area landfill that has drawn concerns from residents.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, county staff installed a monitor in Annie McWIlliams back yard,the second such device near the Rolling Hills Construction and Demolition Debris Landfill that will check the level of hydrogen sulfide in the air.

Gloria Horning, who has been advocating with the Wedgewood residents, said McWilliams yard backs up to Rolling Hills Landfill.

Escambia County staff added a second air quality monitor on Aug. 11 near the Rolling Hills landfill in the Wedgewood neighborhood. Photo credit: Gloria Horning

“On hand for the set-up are Lafanette Soles Woods, Aaron Wiley and Brent Wipf, the Escambia County Environmental Programs Manager,” Horning wrote in an email.

County officials plan to put two more hydrogen sulfide monitors up in the neighborhood to help determine when sulfide gas levels exceed the thresholds of concern.

Data collected from the additional monitoring stations will supplement data already being collected at the existing station located at the Marie K. Young Wedgewood Community Center.

At a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 13, County Commissioners will discuss finalizing a new ordinance governing land clearing debris and CD&D pits, a move inspired by the problems at Rolling Hills. Read the agenda here.

Escambia County has added a second air quality monitor in the Wedgewood neighborhood, with two more to come to track hydrogen sulfide levels in the area.The new ordinance would establish new, more strict monitoring rules. All of the facilities in the county would need to get new permits, County Attorney Allison Rogers said, with limited grandfathering for setbacks and acreage.

The county has a moratorium in place in permitting new pits that will expire on Aug. 21.

Click here to read more about how that ordinance has been revised.