As contaminated water is slowly pumped out of the leaking Piney Point wastewater pond, the risk of a full breach and flooding decreases. But the threat to the environment is growing with every gallon that's piped into Tampa Bay.
Congressman Buchanan, Manatee officials to provide update at 12:30 Vern Buchanan On Piney Point By ABC7 Staff | April 5, 2021 at 7:38 AM EDT - Updated April 5 at 12:26 PM
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Suncoast Congressman Vern Buchanan and officials from Manatee County will provide an update on the phosphogypsum stacks at Piney Point.
Over the weekend, crews who were working on a controlled discharge determined that a larger breach made a collapse imminent.
A breach would lead to massive flooding in nearby communities and it could happen in just a matter of minutes.
Flying over the area threatened by contaminated wastewater at Piney Point in Manatee County. A leak at the reservoir holding millions of gallons of polluted water threatens public safety, homes, businesses, farmland, Tampa Bay and Bishop Harbor. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/dnpeU3Uoh1 Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) April 5, 2021
PALMETTO, Fla. ― Around 2 a.m. Monday, an infrared drone “identified what could be a second breach” in the plastic lining surrounding a reservoir at the former Piney Point phosphate
Suncoast Congressman releases statement on Piney Point situation By ABC7 Staff | April 3, 2021 at 5:37 PM EDT - Updated April 3 at 8:24 PM
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - 7:30 PM UPDATE: Congressman Buchanan says EPA representatives have contacted him and they will sending an on-scene coordinator from Atlanta to the site in Palmetto tomorrow. The coordinators purpose will be to assess the emerging crisis at Piney point, according to a tweet from the Congressman on Saturday night.
As the Suncoast holds its breath, waiting to see if there is a collapse at the former Piney Point phosphate mine, Congressman Vern Buchanan has released a statement.