Local conservation groups have notified the state, Manatee County Port Authority and HRK Holdings of a lawsuit that they plan to file in the coming weeks over the wastewater breach in April at the former Piney Point fertilizer plant.
The lawsuit seeks to shed light on the involvement that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had in decisions leading to two emergency situations at the former fertilizer facility during the past decade. The DEP and the state have basically just been pointing the finger at HRK and saying we are going to bring all our resources to hold them accountable, but I think they need to be introspective, said Justin Bloom, founder of the Suncoast Waterkeeper. The facts will show they (the DEP) have been in control of this facility for 20 years.