A federal lawsuit filed by environmental organizations against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) over the 2021 Piney Point phosphate plant disaster has reached a settlement. The agreement aims to strengthen pollution oversight and enhance water quality monitoring in Tampa Bay.
The lawsuit, brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, Manasota-88, and Our Children’s Earth Foundation, alleged that the DEP and other parties mishandled the Piney Point site, leading to the release of millions of gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay.
This discharge triggered harmful algal blooms and fish kills, and forced nearby residents to evacuate due to fears of a catastrophic breach.
Related: Report: Piney Point Unanswered Questions
Under the settlement, the DEP will draft a Clean Water Act permit that mandates stricter pollution control measures at the Piney Point facility. The state will also allocate $75,000 to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program for water quality monitoring in the area impacted by the discharges.
The Piney Point site, which operated as a phosphate plant from 1966 to 1999, contains hazardous phosphogypsum stacks and associated wastewater storage. The 2021 disaster prompted lawmakers to allocate $100 million for cleanup efforts.
While the DEP maintains that it did not violate the Clean Water Act or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as alleged in the lawsuit, the settlement signals a commitment to increased environmental protection measures at the site.
Related: ‘Vulture’ Or ‘Renaissance Man’ – An Inside Look At The Owner Of Piney Point
This resolution represents a step forward in addressing Piney Point’s environmental legacy and safeguarding Tampa Bay’s health. The agreement aims to prevent future disasters and ensure the ecosystem’s long-term sustainability.
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