Piney Point Update – Oct. 6, 2023

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 10/06/2023 07:09 PM EDT
Piney Point

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Piney Point Update – Oct. 6, 2023

The court-appointed receiver is moving forward with the next phase of closure for the former Piney Point Facility. The receiver has selected the contractors that will begin dredging and consolidating soft materials from the NGS-South compartment. This week, the receiver held a kick-off meeting with the contractors prior to beginning this dredging work. 

DEP will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility to ensure this is the last chapter in the long history of Piney Point. DEP is committed to working with the receiver to ensure that progress toward closure is done as expeditiously as possible.  

Note: DEP will continue to maintain updates on closure progress on its public webpage. Email status updates for subscribers are now sent on a quarterly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Real-time updates will be transmitted as needed. 

Key status updates and response activities (bolded and underlined language reflects changes): 

  • The site received 3.4 inches of rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 25.9 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023.  
  • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 62.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts and adjusted water management activities at the site. 
  • Manatee County began receiving non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the site on April 4, 2023, for disposal in its UIC well along Buckeye Road, and to date, 92,792,100 gallons have been transferred. 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, permanently eliminating the threat from this site to the environment and the community. 
  • Approximately 185 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including wind/associated waves in the pond, rainfall, and water management activities. 

Residents can find the latest information on the status of the site and closure activities at FloridaDEP.gov.