Walton County Advances Environmental Assessment at Coyote Landfill East in Freeport
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners approved a site access agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on June 9, 2026, authorizing environmental assessment activities at the Coyote Landfill East property in Freeport.
The agreement, approved as part of the consent agenda during the BCC’s regular meeting at the DeFuniak Springs Boardroom, grants FDEP access to the county-owned parcel identified as Parcel ID 08-1S-19-23000-003-0014 for the purpose of conducting environmental assessment activities. The item was one of 15 consent agenda items approved in a single motion without separate discussion, reflecting the routine procedural nature of the authorization while underscoring the county’s ongoing obligation to monitor and remediate the former landfill site.
The Coyote Landfill has been a focal point of Walton County’s environmental services division for several years. The county has been working with FDEP on a formal closure process for the old Coyote Landfill, which includes environmental monitoring, surface-water sampling, and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. In late 2025, county environmental staff recommended a targeted surface-water sampling program near the landfill sites after agency water-quality data showed elevated metal concentrations in surrounding areas. The board subsequently approved third-party surface-water testing to verify the extent of the contamination, and the June 9 site access agreement represents the next phase of that ongoing assessment effort.
For Freeport residents, the Coyote Landfill assessment is more than a bureaucratic line item. The landfill site sits within the Freeport area, and environmental assessments there directly inform decisions about groundwater safety, property values, and future land use in the surrounding neighborhoods. Walton County has also moved forward with closure activities at Coyote Landfill West, including a recent bid for sod delivery and installation as part of the capping process. The combined closure effort signals the county’s commitment to remediating both landfill sites and returning the properties to safe, productive use.
The full agenda and supporting documents for the June 9 BCC meeting, including the site access agreement request, are available through the Walton County CivicWeb portal. Residents with questions about the environmental assessment or closure process can contact the Walton County Environmental Services Department through the county website.
Originally reported by Walton County CivicWeb, MyPanhandle (WMBB), and CitizenPortal.ai.
