The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continues to monitor three low-volume seepage areas that were observed upslope of the stormwater drainage along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment of the Piney Point phosphogypsum stack on Jan. 5.
A 2021 leak at the stack made national news, and a controlled release of water was believed to have averted a potential breach that could have caused a major disaster (GM April 9, 2021). Thereafter, the state of Florida budgeted funds to permanently close the site (GM April 16, 2021).
In the latest incident, as of Jan. 13, the court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the seepage.
DEP said there continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the onsite stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.
Contracted divers have implemented a one-foot interval grid system to ensure a thorough inspection of the liner. Contractors are also continuing to conduct sonar surveys to narrow down the potential source of the leak. DEP staff are onsite and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.
The receiver is continuing work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. In December, the DEP issued the permit to Manatee County for their planned underground injection control well for Piney Point. DEP determined that Manatee County’s application to construct and test an underground injection control well and an associated dual zone monitor well meets all applicable regulations for protection of ground water resources and the environment following a thorough review.
DEP said the injection location is beneath the underground source of drinking water and the well is constructed with five separate casings to ensure the integrity of the injection well, and proper confinement and separation for the protection of overlying aquifer systems.
Manatee County may now proceed with construction of the well, and DEP will oversee these activities.
DEP said this project is one critical element of the necessary water disposal that will enable the ultimate closure of the Piney Point facility once and for all, eliminating the threat from this site to the environment and the community permanently.
However, local environmental groups, such as ManaSota-88, believe that in the long term it would be safer to treat the Piney Point water to advanced quality standards rather than injecting it below the drinking water aquifer.