Piney Point Update – Jan. 5, 2024
The court-appointed receiver is moving forward with the next phase of closure for the former Piney Point site – closing the NGS-South compartment. As part of this work, dredging and dewatering activities are ongoing to consolidate the soft sediments prior to closing and convert the reservoir into part of the site’s clean stormwater management system.
Operational testing is also underway at the pre-treatment facility associated with Manatee County’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) well along Buckeye Road. This facility is being used by Manatee County to treat the process water contained in the remaining compartment areas at the former Piney Point site prior to disposal of the water in the UIC well.
DEP will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the site to ensure this is the last chapter in the long history of Piney Point. DEP is committed to working with the court-appointed receiver to ensure that progress toward closure is made 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 in April 2024. Real-time updates will also be transmitted as needed.
Key status updates and response activities (bolded and underlined language reflects changes):
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The site has received approximately 0.11 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2024. In 2023, the site received a total of approximately 33 inches of rain.
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The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 66 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts and adjusted water management activities at the site.
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To date, 107,714,900 gallons have been transferred for disposal in Manatee County’s UIC well along Buckeye Road. This project is one critical element of the necessary water disposal that will enable the ultimate closure of the former Piney Point site once and for all, permanently eliminating the threat from this site to the environment and the community.
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In September 2023, DEP announced the successful closure of the OGS-South compartment area. This reservoir no longer accumulates and retains rainwater and has been integrated into the site’s existing clean, noncontact stormwater management system.
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Approximately 258 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. This current water level is the result of the ongoing dredging work to dewater and consolidate the soft sediments in 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.
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