City to start removing toxic sludge from Dunbar field

Residents in the Dunbar community received a letter on their doorsteps notifying them that trucks will be at the field to start removing the arsenic-tainted sludge that has been there since the 1960s.

Just last year, Dunbar resident Ruth Sapp found out this old contaminated dump site existed, just houses away from her after living in the community since the 1970s.

“I thought it was awful that they let us live in the community and they been dumping poisonous material over there, and we didn’t even know anything about it,” Sapp said.

As many residents in the community were concerned for their health, they came together and sued the city in federal court.

“I know a lot of people died from cancer, and it’s possibly attributed to the sludge,” Sapp said.

As that still moved through court, both sides have come to terms on getting the sludge removed.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Councilman Johnny Streets. “It’s been some heartaches and some headaches.”

Now, the city’s contractor plans to take the sludge straight to Alabama, and turn it into cement.

“Good riddance,” Streets said.

This comes after original plans to have it shipped to Citrus County first, met with resistance. Citrus County officials didn’t want the toxic sludge there and threatened to sue.

MORE: Citrus County fights Dunbar sludge shipment

“I think that’s a good idea, that’s a great thing that’s happening and I’m (sic), hope that you know, good can come over and maybe something good can come to the property,” Sapp said.

The city says the removal crew will work on site Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a weekly basis, and until all the sludge has been removed.