A worsening series of breaches in an 800 million gallon storage pool on the Piney Point industrial estate prompted Manatee County to evacuate residents within about a mile of the factory tonight.
- The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol closed roads in the evacuation zone around US 41 in Palmetto, according to the Bradenton Herald, and the Red Cross has been called in to help.
The last: Acting Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes addressed reporters at a press conference at around 9:20 PM.
- Hopen said the water discharged into Tampa Bay – at a rate of 22,000 gallons per minute, or 32 million gallons per day – is acidic and smells like ammonia, but said the pool supported wildlife such as snook and ducks.
- “I wouldn’t drink it,” Hopes said when asked if it was infected.
- The property has long been considered “one of the greatest environmental threats in Florida history”.
The background: The old phosphate plant, which was in operation from the 1960s to 2001, contains piles of phosphogypsum, a by-product of fertilizer production, and large pools of polluted water. As Selene reported on Wednesday:
- Last week, a leak was discovered in the 77-acre process water pond.
- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the wiretapping was the only way to prevent “a containment failure and catastrophic release.”
The big picture: Site manager Jeff Barath’s voice trembled and he seemed to hold back tears as he discussed the situation with the district commissioners.
- “There are likely to be repercussions in Tampa Bay,” he told the commission.
What they say: Matthew Pasek, USF professor of geosciences, initially told Axios that the release of small amounts of phosphate-contaminated water into the bay may not be all that bad, but warned that we are now looking at irreversible damage.
- “Algal blooms followed by fish killing are the most likely cause,” said Pasek. “It will also affect the food chain further down the line. It is unlikely to cause human damage, but there will be a pretty smelly bay for a while.”
- A state environmental spokeswoman wrote of the water, “It is slightly acidic, but not at levels expected to be of concern, nor is it expected to be toxic,” said the Tampa Bay Times.
- The DEP said in a statement that it is “committed to fully enforcing all damage to our state’s resources and property. [property owner HRK Holdings] responsible for this event. “
This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter and faster about the most consistent news unfolding in their own backyard.