Tom Mills from Cape Canaveral Hospital gave a presentation on the Hospital’s plan to fill in 8.85 acres of the Banana River to expand the hospital. (See Cover Winter in 2001 Marker) Part of the area to be filled is located in the Banana River Aquatic Preserve. They own 50 acres of submerged lands and they want to swap the unused portion of these lands for the submerged lands the need for their proposal. The project would fill an acres of seagrass. Although there will not be an increase in the number of beds, the hospital feels they need to expand to provide more private rooms, accommodate more advanced equipment and add additional parking. Jim Egan of the Marine Resources Council stated some concerns over the project. Open water filling in the Lagoon was stopped decades ago. Allowing the hospital to fill in 8.85 acres will set a precedent that might open the door for many more acres of the Lagoon to be filled. He also suggested shifting some of the buildings and parking to get the same amount of facilities without having to fill in the Banana River.