A Preventable Disaster: Uncovering the Failures That Led to Piney Point
Problem
In the spring of 2021, the Piney Point disaster released approximately 215 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay, damaging the bay and slowing its recovery. Suncoast Waterkeeper, along with other environmental organizations, has taken legal action against the property owner, HRK Holdings, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to demand accountability and ensure the safe closure of Piney Point.
The Piney Point disaster was a preventable catastrophe that resulted from ignored permit conditions and inadequate water management. This failure has jeopardized the health and safety of the local environment, aquatic species, and communities that rely on Tampa Bay's waters.
Solution
On July 8th, 2024, an settlement was filed between Suncoast Waterkeeper, Center for Biological Diversity, Manasota-88, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Our Children’s Earth Foundation and the property owner, HRK Holdings, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to establish enforceable limits on harmful effluents discharged into Tampa Bay.
After allowing the facility to operate without a permit for 20 years, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to draft a Clean Water Act permit that will require more robust oversight of pollution from the Piney Point phosphate facility. Florida has also agreed to fund independent monitoring of its impacts on Tampa Bay's water quality.
“A strong, enforceable Clean Water Act permit for Tampa Bay’s most problematic polluter is long overdue,” said Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. The facility's towering phosphogypsum stack—a massive pile of toxic waste—has been a longstanding environmental hazard. In 2021, a leak led to the release of 215 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay, causing a significant environmental disaster and exposing regulatory failures.
The facility's owners, HRK Holdings LLC, have since filed for bankruptcy. Conservation groups including Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper sought to hold HRK accountable for violating the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants without a valid permit. Dan Snyder, director of Public Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Project, emphasized that the legal action was crucial for ensuring compliance with environmental laws.
The settlement introduces new standards for monitoring water quality and restricts key pollutants, a step praised by Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, as essential for protecting the community and ensuring a healthier future for Tampa Bay.
The 2021 wastewater release had severe consequences, introducing nearly 200 tons of nitrogen into Tampa Bay—more than it typically receives in a year. This fueled a deadly red tide that killed over 600 tons of marine life in the region. Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, noted that the disaster was a wake-up call for the community and emphasized the importance of preventing future incidents.
“Citizen action is critical to environmental protection,” said Tyrna. “Florida residents must continue to stand up for clean water to safeguard our health, economy, and future generations.”
Click HERE to read the settlement.
Click HERE to read the full press release.