Environmental advocacy groups have reached a settlement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection following a federal lawsuit concerning the Piney Point catastrophe. In 2021, a leak in the Piney Point reservoir resulted in approximately 215 million gallons of contaminated water spilling into Tampa Bay. According to the Tampa Bay Times, (7/9/2024) “A 2023 research paper suggested the plume of dirty water leaving the troubled phosphate plant in 2021 had spread farther than previously thought, flowing outside of Tampa Bay and more than 30 miles away to waters near Tarpon Springs. The study added more scientific weight to the theory that red tide and other algal blooms that flared during summer 2021 were linked to the nutrient-laden discharges from Piney Point.”

Five environmental advocacy groups agreed to dismiss the lawsuit against the FDEP providing the state enforce a Clean Water Permit and pay for water quality monitoring at the Piney Point plant, scheduled for closure in 2025. Read about the Piney Point lawsuit and outcomes https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2024/07/09/piney-point-red-tide-florida-manatee-county/