DeSantis endorses effort to permanently close Piney Point in Manatee County after disaster Jesse Mendoza, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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State officials announced plans Tuesday to fund the permanent closure of the former Piney Point fertilizer processing plant property, a project that could cost upwards of $200 million.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the Piney Point facility Tuesday morning to announce he has directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop the closure plan. We want this to be the last chapter of the Piney Point story, DeSantis said. This will ensure the state is moving forward with a thoughtful, scientific plan toward closure to avoid another chapter in this long history.
To fund those efforts, DeSantis announced that $15.4 million of existing DEP appropriations will be used in the short-term to pay for innovative technologies to pretreat wastewater at the site for nutrients to minimize any adverse environmental impacts of any future discharges, if they are necessary. Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson said that the Legislature also is pushing forward plans to appropriate $100 million this year for DEP s effort. I believe this year we are going to appropriate $100 million for the initial funding, and by the end of the year we hope to get a full closure plan with a fully funded amount that may be required, Simpson said. The object would be to come back next year and have a fully-funded plan.
Anna Maria declares emergency, heads off Tampa Bay crisis - Anna Maria Island News islander.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from islander.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Florida to Sue Company That Owns Leaky Wastewater Pond That Forced Evacuations
On 4/13/21 at 3:11 PM EDT
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP) said Tuesday that the state plans to sue HRK Holdings, the company that owned the leaky Piney Point wastewater reservoir property that poured millions of gallons of water into Tampa Bay and forced evacuations of homes, businesses and farms. Stay tuned for litigation, FLDEP Secretary Noah Valenstein said, according to the
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also announced Tuesday that he directed the FLDEP to develop a permanent closure plan for the site, adding that we want this to be the last chapter of the Piney Point story.
Governor Ron DeSantis Directs DEP To Develop Long-Term Closure Plan For Piney Point flgov.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from flgov.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.