From the Archives: Bending the rules at Piney Point, a $140-million mess
In a 2003 story, a top state regulator called Piney Point âone of the biggest environmental threats in Florida history.â
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The earthen embankment containing the Piney Point waste has suffered from structural problems requiring patching with gravel. (2003, Times Archive) [ CERRI, LARA | St. Petersburg Times ]
By Craig Pittman, Julie Hauserman and Candace Rondeaux
Published Jun. 20, 2006
The warning signs were clear: The Piney Point fertilizer plant was headed for disaster.
State regulators knew in 1995 that the owner, Mulberry Corp., was struggling. If it went under, the state would be stuck with hundreds of millions of gallons of highly acidic wastewater in towering gypsum stacks perched on the edge of Tampa Bay.
Governor Ron DeSantis took part in an aerial tour and later held a press conference after more than 300 homes were evacuated Saturday near the large reservoir in the Tampa Bay area.
Five questions answered about Piney Point leak in Manatee County
Whatâs a phosphogypsum stack? Where does water come in? These questions and more, answered.
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A view of a phosphogypsum stack at HRK Holdingsâ property off Buckeye Road on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Palmetto, Manatee County, where wastewater is suspected to be leaking at the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto, records show. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD ]
Updated 49 minutes ago
A leak at an old phosphate plant site has threatened Tampa Bay for the last week with environmental catastrophe. Here we break down the pieces involved.
What is Piney Point?
It used to be a fertilizer manufacturing facility. Industrial byproducts of that process are still stored on site. That includes polluted water and phosphogypsum, a substance kept in stacks and monitored for its radioactivity. Managing those materials is expensive and hasnât always gone well at Piney Point. Past discharges have hit the valuabl
The EPA needs to crack down on âgyp stacksâ | Column
A dangerous dilemma looms on Tampa Bay and itâs time to act.
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A view of a phosphogypsum stack, far background, and water management at HRK Holdingsâ property off Buckeye Road on March 30 in Palmetto, Manatee County, where wastewater is suspected to be leaking at the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Palmetto, records show. Florida environmental officials are allowing HRK Holdings to discharge some of the water at Port Manatee on Tampa Bay to prevent âa potential catastrophic failure.â The emergency order from the Department of Environmental Protection comes after HRK Holdings reported that it had found a leak at the site, a state spokeswoman said. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD ]
Hundreds of residents around Piney Point have been asked to evacuate as 2-3 million gallons of water per day flow from a leak in a containment wall. Officials say the stack collapsed further despite overnight efforts from state and local crews.