Exhibit_1_-_GT_Report.pdf

NGT1

Typewritten Text Exhibit 1-Addendum 4

MEMO

05/2014 Page 1 of 2

Date: January 15, 2026

Project No. R250946.00

To:

Mehran Beladi – Jacobs Engineering; Mateja Vidovic-Klanac – Jacobs Engineering;

From: D.J. Silverberg cc: Donna Henley – Jacobs Engineering

Subject: Ecological Tech Memo for Brevard County Central Disposal Facility (CDF) – Cell 3 Improvements – Gopher Tortoise Survey

GAI Consultants, Inc. (GAI), as the ecological consultant to the Jacobs Engineering Group and Brevard County’s Solid Waste Department, conducted a review of site conditions and a pedestrian survey of the

Brevard County Central Disposal Facility (CDF) Cell 3 Expansion project (Project) site for the presence of gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in accordance with the guidelines provided within the

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) FWC Non-game Wildlife Program Technical Report No. 4 and Appendix 4 of the FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines (April 2023).

Species Description

Gopher tortoises are long-lived herbivorous reptiles that dig deep burrows in a variety of habitats.

Gopher tortoises are considered a keystone species because their deep burrows provide shelter to more than 350 other species, some of which are permanent residents of the burrows while others take shelter in the burrows only in case of the forest fires that frequently burn through their habitat.

Habitat

Gopher tortoises are found within several states in the lower coastal plain of the southeastern United States, but Florida accounts for both the largest portion of their population and the greatest area of their habitat. The animals inhabit a wide range of upland habitats including xeric oak scrub, sand pine scrub, sandhill (longleaf pine-xeric oak), pine flatwoods, and palmetto prairie. Tortoises may also be found inhabiting disturbed lands such as improved pastures and abandoned citrus groves.

Protection Status

Gopher tortoise is listed as “Threatened” by the state of Florida. The species is not listed by federal agencies in the state of Florida. Both the animals themselves and their burrows are protected. State regulations require that, prior to development of tortoise habitat, any tortoises inhabiting the land must be captured and relocated to a suitable approved relocation site. Property owners must obtain a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) before capturing, disturbing, or relocating tortoises.

Project Site Description

The Project site covers approximately 88.65 acres of the overall CDF site west of the city of Cocoa in

Brevard County, Florida (Figure 1). Cell 3 covers 50.97 acres, and the remaining 37.68± acres immediately south of cell 3 will serve as the construction staging and laydown area. The project area consists of lands that have been cleared of woody vegetation and partially graded. The project area appears to be regularly mowed, and vegetation consists of turfgrasses, weeds, and vegetation typical of disturbed sites.

MEMO

05/2014 Page 2 of 2

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map (Sharpes, Florida Quadrangle) indicates that the siter is relatively level at an elevation of approximately 20 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum

(NGVD). Drainage of the project site occurs through soil percolation and sheet flow to perimeter ditches (Figure 2).

Soils on site have been mapped by the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS). Soils mapped as occurring within the project corridor include Anclote sand, frequently ponded; EauGallie sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes; Malabar sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes; and Myakka sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes (Figure

3). Notwithstanding the mapping designations assigned by NRCS, current soils conditions may differ from those mapped due to past grading and construction of the existing landfill, associated roadways and infrastructure, and drainage activities.

The project site is mapped as a single land use (Figure 4). Existing land cover mapping was provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the FWC. Land cover types were classified using the Florida Land Cover Classification System, Level IV (FLCCS), 2018.

The Cell 3 project site and the laydown area are categorized as Solid Waste Disposal (FLCCS 8350). As noted previously, the Project area appears to have been cleared and partially graded. The project site also appears to be periodically mowed and maintained. Dominant herbaceous vegetation includes bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), smutgrass (Sporobolus indica), Spanish needles (Bidens alba), nutsedge (Cyperus spp.), foxtail (Setaria sp.), hoary panicum (Panicum longifolium), torpedograss (P.

repens), broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus and A. glomeratus), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), caesarweed (Urena lobata), and ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia).

Survey Methodology

GAI conducted pedestrian surveys of 100% of upland habitats within the Brevard County Central Disposal Facility (CDF) Cell 3 Expansion Project area of work and laydown area. Three biologists, two of whom are Gopher Tortoise Agents licensed by the FWC, traversed the project site in parallel transects, and searched for any signs of gopher tortoise, tortoise scat, or in particular, any tortoise burrows. All uplands within the area of work or the laydown area, or within 25’ of the area of work were surveyed.

Survey Results

No tortoises, tortoise burrows or other signs of tortoise were observed in any part of the project area, nor on adjacent lands within 25’ of the project area.

Conclusions

Based on our survey, we conclude that no gopher tortoise inhabit the S Brevard County Central

Disposal Facility (CDF) Cell 3 Expansion Project area. Should commencement of construction be delayed for any reason, a follow-up survey prior to the commencement of construction would be recommended to ensure that site conditions have not changed, and that no gopher tortoises have created burrows within or adjacent to the work area.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or require additional information.

Drawn by:ABM Date:2025.10.2

R250946.00-F3.MXD

Project Area

Brevard County Central Disposal Facility South Landfill-Cell 3

Section 16, Township 24S, Range 35E Brevard County, Florida

1 inch = 2 miles0 31.5 Miles

Site Vicinity Map

Project Vicinity silvedj Polygonal Line

Drawn by:ABM Date:2025.10.2

R250946.00-F2.MXD

USGS 7.5' series Topographic Map USGS 7.5' series Sharpes, FL Quad.

0 500 1,000 1,500250 Feet 1 inch = 800 feet

Legend Cell 3 Area

Project Area

Section 16, Township 24S, Range 35E Brevard County, Florida

Brevard County Central Disposal Facility South Landfill-Cell 3

Laydown Area silvedj Distance Measurement

9.70 ft silvedj Polygonal Line

Rectangle

2 [

Drawn by:ABM Date:2025.10.2

R250946.00-F3.MXD

NRCS Soils Map 0 500 1,000250

Feet 1 inch = 400 feet

Project Area

Legend Cell 3 Area Laydown Area

Soil Classification 2 Anclote Sand 17 Eaugallie Sand 30 Malabar Sand 36 Myakka Sand

Notes Soil delineation and classification from Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey of Brevard County, FL provided in GIS format by

NRCS.

Aerial imagery provided by

ESRI, 2024

Section 16, Township 24S, Range 35E Brevard County, Florida

Brevard County Central Disposal Facility South Landfill-Cell 3

NRCS soils silvedj Polygonal Line

63001180

6460 [

Drawn by:ABM Date:2025.10.2

R250946.00-F4.MXD

Land Use Map 0 500250

Feet 1 inch = 400 feet

Project Area

Legend Land Use Cell 3 Area

Land Cover Classification 8350 Solid Waste

Disposal

Existing land cover delineation and classification provided in GIS format by St. Johns River Water Managment District.

Aerial imagery provided by ESRI, 2024.

Notes

Section 16, Township 24S, Range 35E Brevard County, Florida

Brevard County Central Disposal Facility South Landfill-Cell 3

Laydown Area silvedj Distance Measurement

5.14 ft silvedj Polygonal Line