latest news: in Florida, United States
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Piney Point: An ecological powder keg
The defunct Piney Point fertilizer plant is a disaster in the making. The 700 million gallons of acidic water in the gypsum storage stack threatens to break through the walls and spill into Tampa Bay. Even if the square mound’s walls of fine, white, packed gypsum hold, rains threaten to push the water up and […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry -
Study to Address Cancer, Bone Problems, & Other Health Concerns Near Coronet Phosphate
PLANT CITY – Carl Crowell isn’t sure what caused his prostate cancer, and he can’t say why many of his neighbors have been stricken with other forms of the disease. Public health agencies don’t know either. But they are trying to determine whether pollution from a phosphate plant and old landfills could be linked to […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry -
Piney Point: Bending the rules at Piney Point, a $140-million mess.
The earthen embankment containing the Piney Point waste has suffered from structural problems requiring patching with gravel. (2003, Times Archive) [ CERRI, LARA | St. Petersburg Times ] The warning signs were clear: The Piney Point fertilizer plant was headed for disaster. State regulators knew in 1995 that the owner, Mulberry Corp., was struggling. If […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry -
DEP says Piney Point biggest threat to environment
MANATEE COUNTY — A top Department of Environmental Protection official said Tuesday that the defunct Piney Point phosphate plant is the state’s biggest threat to the environment. “This site constitutes one of the largest risks to the environment in Florida’s history,” DEP Deputy Secretary Allan Bedwell said. “It’s our most significant environmental challenge.” In a […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry -
Fluoride debate on tap in Palm Beach
Fluoride. It’s in toothpaste, in dental washes for elementary school kids, in special drops and tablets. In minuscule amounts, it occurs naturally in food and even in nonfluoridated water. This summer, after a 12-year respite, Palm Beach County commissioners will take up the decades-old debate again. Fluoride: magic bullet or poison. “Fluoridating water is the […]
United States, Florida -
Pinellas County Targeted with Fluoride Proposal
Two-thirds of Pinellas County residents don’t have fluoridated water, but that could soon change. Pinellas County commissioners appear likely to vote in favor of adding fluoride, possibly in the next month. “I don’t know why we don’t do it already,” said Commissioner Calvin Harris. “I think it’s one of those old holdovers that’s never been […]
United States, Florida -
Palm Beach to consider adding fluoride to water system
Citing overwhelming public-health benefits, most Palm Beach County commissioners are leaning toward adding fluoride to the county water system. Before the 350,000 people served by the Water Utilities Department get fluoridated water, the County Commission must weigh the science, emotion and politics. Adding fluoride to the water is an obvious step to Robert H. Dumbaugh, […]
United States, Florida -
Waste Water Heading To Gulf With Federal OK
PALMETTO – The federal government on Wednesday gave the state permission to dump more than half a billion gallons of waste water from the abandoned Piney Point phosphate plant into the Gulf of Mexico. But an improved way to treat the water could cut the amount dumped in the Gulf – possibly by 1 million […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry -
Piney Point: 500-million gallons of acidic waste heading to gulf
TAMPA — In an unprecedented move, federal regulators announced Thursday they will allow Florida to dispose 500-million gallons of acidic wastewater into the Gulf of Mexico. The waste from the abandoned Piney Point phosphate mine in Manatee County could be loaded onto barges and sprayed into the gulf starting in two weeks, said Allan Bedwell, […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry -
Piney Point: Phosphate Nightmare
Given the unfortunate options before them, Florida regulators probably have no choice but to use the Gulf of Mexico as a sewer for phosphate waste. But let no one in state government mark this off as unavoidable environmental fate. What is happening with this massive heap of phosphogypsum waste near Port Manatee was foreseeable and […]
United States, Florida Phosphate Industry