Piney Point Regional Notification

Piney Point

Piney Point Discharge Response

On March 25, 2021, HRK notified DEP of an increase in conductivity and water volume collecting in its onsite collection system, indicating a possible liner tear and leak. On March 30, 2021, HRK initiated emergency untreated discharges to Tampa Bay in order to keep the integrity of the stack system.

Governor DeSantis declared a local State of Emergency which allowed DEP to act quickly by ensuring access to resources for response and recovery and to abate the threat of an immediate catastrophic collapse of the NGS-South compartment.

To date these actions have included:

  • Geotechnical evaluations to identify necessary repairs to restore the integrity of the wall of the NGS-South compartment, and prepare for the ultimate closure of this pond.
  • Successful temporary repair of the NGS-South compartment to stop the concentrated seepage and leaking of pond water.
  • Continuing water management activities:
    • Trucking and piping of water to nearby wastewater facilities.
    • Using an integrated system of floating spray nozzles to mist water in the lined NGS-North compartment to accelerate evaporation.
  • Cleaning impacted stormwater areas to reduce the accumulation of contaminated water from rainfall at the site.
  • Monitoring of water onsite and in the bay to assess any impacts of the prior emergency discharges.
  • Implementing innovative technology to treat water onsite in order to reduce nutrients, which will minimize environmental impacts should future treated discharges be necessary.

As a result of ongoing efforts by DEP, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Manatee County and other state and federal partners, we are in a significantly better place today than we were at that time.

The threat of an immediate catastrophic collapse of the NGS-South compartment has been abated and the prior emergency discharges ceased on April 9, 2021. However, as a result of HRK’s past failures and violations, in addition to seasonally heavy rains, including Tropical Storm Elsa and Tropical Storm Fred, the Piney Point site has decreased water storage capacity.

HRK’s water management activities are ongoing at the site, which includes management of non-contact rainfall runoff (stormwater) through its permitted outfalls as needed in response to rainfall events. DEP inspectors are on-site daily to oversee water management activities, as well as their required inspections for monitoring the integrity of the phosphogypsum stack system. Piping of water to nearby water treatment facilities has resumed to enhance ongoing water management and treatment efforts at the site.

On Aug. 5, 2021, DEP filed a complaint in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County, initiating enforcement action against HRK Holdings, LLC. This was a pivotal step to ensuring this is the final chapter for the Piney Point site and fulfill the agency’s charge and dedication to holding HRK accountable. This action enforces compliance with the state’s environmental laws and all of HRK’s existing authorizations, orders and agreements with the department. The department is seeking the maximum allowable penalties and recovery of costs and damages under existing laws and regulations.

The ultimate goal remains closure of the site once and for all. On Aug. 25, 2021, a judge issued an order appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. The appointment of this receiver will pave the way to expediting this process. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of this transition, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges. 

On Dec. 16, 2021, DEP issued the permit to Manatee County for their planned underground injection control well for Piney Point. DEP determined that Manatee County's application to construct and test an underground injection control well and an associated dual zone monitor well meets all applicable regulations for protection of ground water resources and the environment following a thorough review. This review included 12 requests for additional information and approximately 7,356 public comments. DEP issued the Notice of Intent to Issue the permit on Nov. 24, 2021, and no petitions or requests for additional time were filed following the notice. 

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, eliminating the threat from this site to the environment and the community permanently. 

DEP Lab

Water Quality Monitoring

DEP began monitoring of Port Manatee on March 30, 2021, in advance of HRK’s prior emergency discharges (which ceased on April 9, 2021) to protect human health and safety and to transparently communicate water quality information with the public as this situation evolves.

DEP's interactive water quality dashboard details sampling locations and corresponding results collected from April through October 2021 to evaluate any environmental impact. Additionally, DEP worked collaboratively with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) and local governments to cover more area and collect more data. For a comprehensive view of all sampling in Tampa Bay related to Piney Point, visit Tampa Bay Estuary Program's interactive water quality dashboard.

DEP continues working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Health to monitor algal blooms and water quality. FWC is the lead agency on red tide and will continue to update conditions on their website.

Water Quality Sampling Data

DEP Updates

Current status updates will be made daily below, through DEP's Twitter account and emails.

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Manatee County Updates

Local information on public safety can be found on Manatee County's webpage.

Manatee County Information

Updates

  • Sept. 1, 2023

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working closely with the court-appointed receiver to continue site evaluations and manage water levels at the site.

    There was no identified damage or concerns for the compartment systems following Hurricane Idalia, including the recently constructed OGS-South cap.

    For the OGS-South compartment, closure work is in the final stages. Protective liner has been installed on top of the compartment and the receiver’s contractor has completed grassing on the OGS-South cap area to reduce the chance of soil erosion. Contractors are completing final quality control tasks for closure of the OGS-South compartment.

    Additionally, the receiver continues to make progress on the next phase of closure. Recently, the receiver announced the contractors that were selected to begin closure work on the NGS-South compartment. To ensure work on this compartment can begin as soon as the contracts are executed, the receiver is planning site preparation work ahead of the mobilization of the contractor for dredging the NGS-South.

    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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted as needed.

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

    • The site received 6.97 inches of rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 22.5 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023.  
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 59.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts and adjusted water management activities at the site. 
    • The receiver resumed the transfer of non-hazardous industrial wastewater to Manatee County’s Underground Injection Control well along Buckeye Road on  Aug. 31, 2023, following Hurricane Idalia. To date, 84,581,573 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 196 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Aug 30, 2023

    Severe weather associated with Hurricane Idalia passed through the Piney Point site early this morning, producing nearly 3 inches of rain and winds. DEP has been in contact with the court-appointed receiver and confirmed there is no identified damage to the compartment systems, including the recently constructed OGS-S cap, or any other water management concerns. 

    DEP is working closely with the court-appointed receiver to continue site evaluations and manage water levels. A full site inspection is underway to assess any post-storm impacts.

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

    • The site received 5.18 inches of rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 20.7 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023.  
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 60.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts and adjusted water management activities at the site. 
    • The receiver temporarily suspended the transfer of water to Manatee County’s Underground Injection Control well along Buckeye Road as well as spray evaporation operations at the site due to Hurricane Idalia, and those activities are expected to resume normal operations on Aug. 31, 2023. 
    • Approximately 192 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate

  • Aug 29, 2023

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver are closely monitoring information from state meteorologists regarding the development of Hurricane Idalia, which is expected to approach the Tampa Bay area later today and tonight.  

    The receiver has taken steps to ensure the site is ready to manage the potential rainfall and winds from this hurricane, including staging backup pumps, securing heavy equipment and construction materials, and adjusting water management levels in the ponds to ensure the site can endure hurricane force winds and rain. Generators have also been made available to safeguard against potential power outages.  

    Additionally, the receiver’s contractor has completed grassing on the OGS-S area to reduce the chance of soil erosion from the recently constructed OGS-S cap during any periods of heavy rainfall.  

    Current projections are for approximately four to seven inches of rain at the site over the next five days, with the site having a current capacity for approximately 62 inches of rainfall.  

    DEP will continue its stringent regulatory oversight. The priority remains to pursue all available water management tools to ensure safe storage capacities as well as support the receiver’s ongoing work to expedite the final closure of the site. 

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

    • The site received2.69 inches of rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 18.2 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023.  
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 62 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts and adjusted water management activities at the site. 
    • In preparation for Hurricane Idalia, the receiver has temporarily suspended the transfer of water to Manatee County’s Underground Injection Control well along Buckeye Road as well as spray evaporation operations at the site. 
    • Approximately 189 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate

  • Aug 10, 2023

    Today, the court-appointed receiver announced that C&M Dredging Inc., Dredge America Inc., Petrotech Southeast Inc. and Solmax Geosynthetics LLC have been selected as the contractors to complete the first phase of closure work for the NGS-South compartment, which includes dredging and dewatering activities.   

    To ensure work on this compartment can begin as soon as the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver has been transferring treated non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the NGS-South compartment to Manatee County’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) well along Buckeye Road. 

    Closure work is also in the final stages for the OGS-South compartment. Protective liner has been installed on top of the OGS-South compartment, and the contractors for this compartment are finishing the final details for closure, including completing erosion control measures and grass over the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater. 

    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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received 0.07 inches of rain so far this month. Piney Point has received approximately 15.86 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of the permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 57.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as 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, 71,067,419 gallons have been transferred. This project is one critical element of the necessary water disposal that will enable the closure of the Piney Point facility once and for all, permanently eliminating the threat from this site to the environment and the community.
    • Approximately 206 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Aug 4, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, have completed the liner installation on top of the OGS-South compartment and are now working to complete the final details for closure, including placing soil cover and grass over the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    The NGS-South compartment is the next compartment scheduled for closure work per the site’s approved closure plan. The court-appointed receiver is moving forward with the procurement process and is continuing to review all submitted proposals for this 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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received 2.68 inches of rain last month. Piney Point has received approximately 15.79 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of the permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 55.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as 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, 70,244,430 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 211 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • July 7, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, have completed the liner installation on top of the OGS-South compartment and are now working to complete the final details for closure, including placing soil cover and grass over the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    The NGS-South compartment is the next compartment scheduled for closure work per the site’s approved closure plan. The court-appointed receiver is moving forward with the procurement process and is currently reviewing all submitted proposals for this 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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received 4.16 inches of rain last month. Piney Point has received approximately 13.11 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of the permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 51.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as 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, 54,736,870 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 229 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • June 2, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, anticipate completing closure work at the OGS-South compartment this month. Contractors are continuing grading work and are finishing the installation of the liner and stormwater management structures on top of the graded OGS-South compartment so that it no longer accumulates rainwater. 

    The NGS-South compartment is the next compartment scheduled for closure work per the site’s approved closure plan. The receiver has published the invitation to bid for the first phase of closure work for this compartment. 

    In preparation for upcoming closure work, the court-appointed receiver began transferring treated non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the NGS-South compartment to Manatee County’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) Well along Buckeye Road. 

    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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, July 7, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received 3.56 inches of rain last month. Piney Point has received approximately 8.95 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of the permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 44.7 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as 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, 36,119,090 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.
      • The court-appointed receiver, in coordination with Manatee County, has temporarily halted the transfer of water to the Manatee County Publicly Owned Treatment Works during May 2023 as part of their collective efforts to focus on UIC operations. Up to this time, 55,911,171 gallons had been transferred. 
    • Approximately 227 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • May 5, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are continuing grading work and are now installing liner on top of the graded OGS-South compartment as they work to complete the closure of this area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, June 2, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received 0.10 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 4.20 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 40.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 55,891,571 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Manatee County began receiving non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the site on April 4, 2023, for disposal in its Underground Injection Control Well along Buckeye Road and to date, 24,936,600 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 231 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Apr. 28, 2023

    Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a Notice of Draft Permit for the renewal of the wastewater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the Piney Point facility. Renewal of this permit was requested by the court-appointed receiver to update the facility’s prior permit to reflect the receiver’s ongoing closure work at the site and the required management of non-contact stormwater from the site’s existing permitted surface water discharge. The draft permit includes discharge limits, including for nutrients to ensure protection of Tampa Bay, as well as monthly and quarterly monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

    Public comment is a valued and important part of any DEP permitting process. The Notice of Draft Permit includes a 30-day public comment period.

    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 towards closure is done as expeditiously as possible.

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

     

    • The site received 2.4 inches of rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 4.1 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 38.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 55,242,071 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Manatee County began receiving non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the site on April 4, 2023, for disposal in its Underground Injection Control Well along Buckeye Road and to date, 20,082,840 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 236 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Apr. 7, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are continuing grading work and are now installing liner on top of the graded OGS-South compartment as they work to complete the closure of this area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, May 5, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received 0.12 inches of rain last month. Piney Point has received approximately 1.70 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 31.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 53,269,671 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • This week, the site reached another milestone towards closure. Manatee County began receiving non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the site on April 4, 2023, for disposal in its Underground Injection Control Well along Buckeye Road and to date, 1,936,700 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 258 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Apr. 4, 2023

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has completed its inspection of Manatee County’s Class I Underground Injection Control (UIC) Well located at Buckeye Road. 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.

    Having successfully passed this inspection, Manatee County can now begin receiving non-hazardous industrial wastewater from the former Piney Point facility.

    The injection location is beneath the underground source of drinking water and the well is constructed with five separate casings to ensure the integrity of the injection well, and proper confinement and separation for the protection of overlying aquifer systems. Monitoring wells above and below the underground source of drinking water have also been installed to further ensure protection of groundwater resources, including the Floridan Aquifer.

    In addition to the stringent well construction, monitoring and reporting requirements, DEP will also continue to conduct a wide variety of compliance inspections of both Manatee County's injection well and monitoring wells to ensure they are properly operated and maintained in compliance with all regulatory requirements for protection of groundwater resources and the environment.

    DEP is committed to working with the receiver to ensure that progress towards closure is done as expeditiously as possible.

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

    • The site received 0.12 inches of rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 1.70 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 31.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 52,893,071 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 260 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Mar. 3, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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 monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, April 7, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received no rain this month. Piney Point has received approximately 1.58 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 29.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 49,967,171 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 256 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Feb. 10, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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 will now be sent on a monthly basis. The next update will be sent Friday, March 3, 2023. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.

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

    • The site received no rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 1.58 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 47,968,771 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 260 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Feb. 3, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received no rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 1.58 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 47,291,871 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 261 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Jan. 27, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.78 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 1.58 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 46,615,271 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 262 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Jan. 20, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received no rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 0.8 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 45,958,971 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 262 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Jan. 13, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.39 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 0.8 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 45,282,971 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 263 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Jan. 6, 2023

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.41 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 0.41 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2023. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.9 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 44,616,471 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 263 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Dec. 22, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.68 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 57.05 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 43,431,171 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 265 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Dec. 16, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 1.35 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 56.37 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 42,906,171 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 264 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Dec. 9, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.28 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 55.02 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 42,229,671 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 262 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Dec. 2, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.28 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 54.74 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 41,557,771 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 263 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Nov. 23, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.09 inches of rain so far this week. Piney Point has received approximately 54.46 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 40,738,871 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 263 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Nov. 18, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.38 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 54.37 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 23.9 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 40,264,071 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 264 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Nov. 9, 2022

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver are closely monitoring information from state meteorologists regarding the development of Tropical Storm Nicole. 

    The receiver has taken steps to ensure the site is ready to manage the potential rainfall from this tropical system. These preparations include staging backup pumps, securing heavy equipment and construction materials, and adjusting water management levels in the ponds to ensure the site can endure tropical storm force winds and rain. Generators have also been made available to safeguard against potential power outages. 

    Current projections are for approximately 2-4 inches of rain at the site over the next two days, with the site having a current capacity for approximately 25 inches of additional rainfall. 

    Site preparations are completed to adjust water management levels in the ponds to ensure the site can endure tropical or hurricane force winds and rain. Water levels can be expected to fluctuate due to these water management activities, as well as ongoing piping and spray evaporation.

    DEP will continue its stringent regulatory oversight. The priority remains to pursue all available water management tools to ensure safe storage capacities.

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

    • The site received 0.03 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.5 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 39,539,471 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • The court-appointed receiver will temporarily suspend piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility at midnight so Manatee County can meet immediate needs for water management at their facility.
    • Approximately 267 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Nov. 4, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received no rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.5 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 23.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 39,052,771 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 268 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Oct. 28, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, continue closure work at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater.

    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.

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

    • The site received no rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.5 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 23.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 38,387,971 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 269 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Oct. 21, 2022

    The necessary conveyance of rainwater from the OGS-South compartment to Port Manatee has ceased and the court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, have resumed closure work at the compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee. 

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.13 inches this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.5 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 23.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 37,714,271 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 270 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Oct. 14, 2022

    In order to continue progress with closure of the OGS-South compartment, the court-appointed receiver resumed the conveyance of rainwater from the OGS-South compartment to Port Manatee on Oct. 7, 2022. This water was being conveyed to Port Manatee, which has been standard practice since 2011. This is not process water. It does not come in contact with the ponded process water contained in the separate lined compartments and is managed separately at the site.

    As part of the closure process, the OGS-South pond is being modified so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver have independently tested the water, and current water sampling results indicate the concentrations of total nitrogen range were 0.84 mg/L. At this level, the nutrient loading to the bay is expected to be well below 0.1% of the federally adopted annual Total Maximum Daily Load for Lower Tampa Bay. The court-appointed receiver will continue to monitor water quality to ensure the released rainwater is in full compliance with the water quality requirements.

    To more fully assess and communicate water quality information to the public, DEP has also communicated with key stakeholders and initiated sampling at key locations in Tampa Bay and will continue to do so throughout this process. Background and future sampling data can be found on DEP’s webpage.

    While every effort is underway to ensure closure of this pond as quickly as possible, should additional heavy rains continue, the conveyance of additional rain water to Port Manatee may be necessary.

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

    • The site received 0.18 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.3 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.7 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 37,059,071 gallonshave been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 272 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Oct. 8, 2022

    Further site evaluations this week confirmed there is no identified damage to the compartment systems or any other water management concerns at the Piney Point site. However, the site did accumulate just over 6 inches of additional rain associated with Hurricane Ian. In order to continue progress with closure of the OGS-South compartment, the court-appointed receiver resumed the conveyance of rainwater from the OGS-South compartment to Port Manatee.

    This is not process water. It does not come in contact with the ponded process water contained in the separate lined compartments and is managed separately at the site.

    As part of the closure process, the OGS-South pond is being modified so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver have independently tested the water, and current water sampling results indicate the concentrations of total nitrogen range were 0.84 mg/L. At this level, the nutrient loading to the bay is expected to be well below 0.1% of the federally adopted annual Total Maximum Daily Load for Lower Tampa Bay. The court-appointed receiver will continue to monitor water quality to ensure the released rainwater is in full compliance with the water quality requirements.

    To more fully assess and communicate water quality information to the public, DEP has also communicated with key stakeholders and initiated sampling at key locations in Tampa Bay and will continue to do so throughout this process. Background and future sampling data can be found on DEP’s webpage.

    While every effort is underway to ensure closure of this pond as quickly as possible, should additional heavy rains continue, the conveyance of additional rain water to Port Manatee may be necessary.

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

    • The site received no rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.2 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.7 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed and to date, 36,389,371 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also resumed in the NGS-North compartment.
    • Approximately 289 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Sep. 29, 2022

    Severe weather associated with Hurricane Ian passed through the Piney Point site yesterday, producing over 6 inches of rain and strong winds. DEP was on-site this morning to conduct inspections and at this time, there is no identified damage to the compartment systems or any other water management concerns.

    DEP is working closely with the court-appointed receiver to continue site evaluations and manage water levels.

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

    • The site received 6.74 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 49.2 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • Piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility is temporarily suspended while Manatee County meets immediate needs for water management at their facility.
    • Spray evaporation in the NGS-North compartment will resume when wind conditions allow.
    • Approximately 274 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Sep. 23, 2022

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver are closely monitoring information from state meteorologists regarding the development of Tropical Depression Nine, which may strengthen into Tropical Storm Hermine over the weekend. 

    The receiver has taken steps to ensure the site is ready to manage the potential rainfall from this tropical system. These preparations include staging backup pumps, securing heavy equipment and construction materials, and adjusting water management levels in the ponds to ensure the site can endure tropical storm force winds and rain. Generators have also been made available to safeguard against potential power outages. 

    Current projections are for approximately four inches of rain at the site over the next seven days, with the site having a current capacity for approximately 24 inches of additional rainfall. 

    Site preparations are also underway to adjust water management levels in the ponds to ensure the site can endure tropical or hurricane force winds and rain. Water levels can be expected to fluctuate due to these water management activities, as well as ongoing piping and spray evaporation.

    DEP will continue its stringent regulatory oversight. The priority remains to pursue all available water management tools to ensure safe storage capacities.

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

    • The site received 1.63 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 42.42 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 35,721,085 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 268 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, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Sep. 16, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, have begun closure work at the at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    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.

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

    • The site received 3.35 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 40.79 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 23 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 35,036,985 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 269 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.
    • The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 13, 2022, approved the agreement between Manatee County and the court-appointed receiver for the use of the county's Underground Injection Control Well and pre-treatment facility at Buckeye Road to safely remove water from the Piney Point site. This project is one critical element of the necessary water disposal that will enable the ultimate closure of Piney Point.

    Residents can find the latest information on the status of the site, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Sep. 9, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, have begun closure work at the at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    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.

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

    • The site received 3 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 37.44 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 34,355,385 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 265 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.
    • To begin the closure work of the OGS-South, the court-appointed receiver completed removal of the rainwater from the pond that has accumulated over the last several months. Rainwater removal began on Aug. 13, 2022, and concluded early on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. To date, sampling results reflect no change in ambient water quality conditions.

    Residents can find the latest information on the status of the site, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Sep. 2, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen, LLC, have begun initial closure work at the at the OGS-South compartment. Contractors are grading and shaping the area so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    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.

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

    • The site received 0.74 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 34.44 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 33,725,585 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 261 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.
    • To begin the closure work of the OGS-South, the court-appointed receiver completed removal of the rainwater from the pond that has accumulated over the last several months. Rainwater removal began on Aug. 13, 2022, and concluded early on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. Background and future sampling data can be found on DEP’s webpage.

    Residents can find the latest information on the status of the site, response activities and water quality at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/PineyPointUpdate.

  • Aug. 26, 2022

    To begin the closure work of the OGS-South, the court-appointed receiver completed removal of the rainwater from the pond that has accumulated over the last several months. Rainwater removal began on Aug. 13, 2022, and concluded early on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. This water was being conveyed to Port Manatee, which has been standard practice since 2011. This is not process water. It does not come in contact with the ponded process water contained in the separate lined compartments and is managed separately at the site.

    As part of the closure process, the OGS-South pond will be modified so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver have independently tested the water, and current water sampling results indicate the concentrations of total nitrogen range from 2.3 to 3.5 mg/L. At this level, the nutrient loading to the bay is expected to be less than 0.1% of the federally adopted annual Total Maximum Daily Load for Lower Tampa Bay. The court-appointed receiver will continue to monitor water quality to ensure the released rainwater is in full compliance with the water quality requirements.

    To more fully assess and communicate water quality information to the public, in advance of the permitted rainwater release, DEP has also communicated with key stakeholders and initiated sampling at key locations in Tampa Bay and continues to do so throughout this process. Background and future sampling data can be found on DEP’s webpage.

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

    • The site received 0.46 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 33.7 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 33,043,385 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
  • Aug. 19, 2022

    To begin the closure work of the OGS-South, the court-appointed receiver is removing all rainwater from the pond that has accumulated over the last several months. Rainwater removal began on Aug. 13, 2022, and is expected to continue until early next week. This water is being conveyed to Port Manatee, which has been standard practice since 2011. This is not process water. It does not and will not come in contact with the ponded process water contained in the separate lined compartments and is managed separately at the site.

    As part of the closure process, this pond will be modified so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver have independently tested the water, and current water sampling results indicate the concentrations of total nitrogen range from 2.3 to 3.5 mg/L. At this level, the nutrient loading to the bay is expected to be less than 0.1% of the federally adopted annual Total Maximum Daily Load for Lower Tampa Bay. The court-appointed receiver will continue to monitor water quality to ensure the released rainwater is in full compliance with the water quality requirements.

    To more fully assess and communicate water quality information to the public, in advance of the permitted rainwater release, DEP has also communicated with key stakeholders and initiated sampling at key locations in Tampa Bay and continues to do so throughout this process. Background and future sampling data can be found on DEP’s webpage.

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

    • The site received 0.83 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 33.24 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 32,379,885 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
  • Aug. 12, 2022

    Today, the court-appointed receiver executed the contract with Forgen, LLC to begin closure of the first compartment at the former Piney Point facility, the OGS-South.

    To prepare for the first step of this work, the court-appointed receiver must remove all rainwater from this pond that has accumulated over the last several months. Rainwater removal is scheduled to begin this weekend and will last approximately six days. This water will be conveyed to Port Manatee, which has been standard practice since 2011. This is not process water. It does not and will not come in contact with the ponded process water contained in the separate lined compartments and is managed separately at the site.

    As part of the closure process, this pond will be modified so that it will no longer accumulate rainwater and eliminate the need for future rainwater releases to Port Manatee.

    DEP and the court-appointed receiver have independently tested the water, and current water sampling results indicate the concentrations of total nitrogen range from 2.3 to 3.5 mg/L. At this level, the nutrient loading to the bay is expected to be less than 0.1% of the federally adopted annual Total Maximum Daily Load for Lower Tampa Bay. The court-appointed receiver will continue to monitor water quality to ensure the released rainwater is in full compliance with the water quality requirements.

    To more fully assess and communicate water quality information to the public, in advance of the permitted rainwater release, DEP has also communicated with key stakeholders and initiated sampling at key locations in Tampa Bay and will continue to do so throughout this process. Background and future sampling data can be found on DEP’s webpage.

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

    • The site received 1.03 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 32.41 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 31,708,385 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
  • Aug. 5, 2022

    To ensure Forgen, LLC is able to begin work promptly on the OGS-South compartment after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver has been receiving construction materials from his suppliers that are needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains. In addition, the receiver has also been receiving specialty sand and soil that is being stored onsite in preparation for construction to begin in the OGS-S compartment.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 0.97 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 31.38 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 31,043,985 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
  • July 29, 2022

    To ensure Forgen, LLC is able to begin work promptly on the OGS-South compartment after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver has been receiving construction materials from his suppliers that are needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains. In addition, the receiver has also been receiving specialty sand and soil that is being stored onsite in preparation for construction to begin in the OGS-S compartment.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 3.64 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 30.41 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 30,379,685 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 264 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.
  • July 22, 2022

    To ensure Forgen, LLC is able to begin work promptly on the OGS-South compartment after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver continues to work diligently to secure suppliers for a variety of specialty materials needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 2.96 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 27.05 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 29,717,085 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 260 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.
  • July 15, 2022

    To ensure Forgen, LLC is able to begin work promptly on the OGS-South compartment after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver continues to work diligently to secure suppliers for a variety of specialty materials needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 3.07 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 24.09 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 29 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 29,031,085 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 256 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.
  • July 8, 2022

    To ensure Forgen, LLC is able to begin work promptly on the OGS-South compartment after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver continues to work diligently to secure suppliers for a variety of specialty materials needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 2.41 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 21.04 inches of rain since Jan. 1, 2022. In response to rain events, clean, non-contact stormwater will be conveyed as needed through the site's permitted outfall along Buckeye Road. Samples are collected at the permitted outfall during runoff events to confirm the stormwater meets the requirements of its permit.
    • The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 30 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 28,351,725 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 253 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.
  • July 1, 2022

    Forgen, LLC has been selected as the contractor to complete the first phase of closure work at the OGS-South compartment. To ensure this contractor is able to begin work promptly after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver has been securing suppliers for a variety of specialty materials needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 0.54 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 18.63 inches of rain since January 1, 2022. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 32 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 27,683,345 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 250 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.
  • June 24, 2022

    Forgen, LLC has been selected as the contractor to complete the first phase of closure work at the OGS-South compartment. To ensure this contractor is able to begin work promptly after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver has been securing suppliers for a variety of specialty materials needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 0.7 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 18.09 inches of rain since January 1, 2022. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 32 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 27,104,345 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 252 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.
  • June 17, 2022

    Today, the court-appointed receiver announced that Forgen, LLC has been selected as the contractor to complete the closure work for the OGS-South compartment. To ensure this contractor is able to begin work promptly after the contract is executed, the court-appointed receiver has already been working to secure suppliers for a variety of specialty materials needed for the planned closure work, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 4.83 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 17.39 inches of rain since January 1, 2022. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 30 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 26,619,845 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 255 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.
  • June 10, 2022

    The court-appointed is moving forward with final closure of the facility, beginning with the OGS-South compartment. The bid submittal period for work on this first compartment closed on May 6, 2022, and the court-appointed receiver is now reviewing all submitted proposals. In addition, the receiver has secured suppliers for a variety of specialty materials that are needed to begin closure construction including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains that are required for the planned closure 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.  

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

    • The site received 1.07 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 12.56 inches of rain since January 1, 2022. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 33.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 25,939,945 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 250 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.
  • June 3, 2022

    Given the development this week of Potential Tropical Cyclone One, which may develop into Tropical Storm Alex over the weekend, the receiver has taken steps to ensure that the site is ready to manage the potential rainfall from this tropical system. These preparations include staging required backup pumps and preparing the site to discharge clean non-contact stormwater as needed in accordance with the site’s permitted locations and water quality requirements. 

    Site preparations are underway to secure heavy equipment and adjust water management levels in the ponds to ensure the site can endure tropical or hurricane force winds and rain. Additional pumps and generators have been made available to safeguard against potential power outages.

    The receiver continues to oversee work at the site to relocate water among the lined storage basins onsite to safely manage storage capacity and respond to rainfall events. Water levels can be expected to fluctuate due to these water management activities, as well as ongoing piping and evaporation. Current projections are for approximately 2-4 inches of rain, at the site over the weekend with the site having a current capacity for approximately 33 inches of additional rainfall. The receiver is also closely monitoring information from state meteorologists to for predicted weather events. 

    DEP will continue to oversee efforts to manage the water onsite. The priority remains to pursue all available water management tools to ensure safe storage capacities for the duration of the rainy season.

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

    • The site received 1.58 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 11.49 inches of rain since January 1, 2022. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 32.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 25,264,025 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 250 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.
    • The court-appointed is moving forward with final closure of the facility, beginning with the OGS-South compartment. The bid submittal period for work on this first compartment closed on May 6, 2022, and the court-appointed receiver is now reviewing all submitted proposals. In addition, the receiver has secured suppliers for a variety of specialty materials that are needed to begin closure construction including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, HDPE piping and dewatering drains that are required for the planned closure work.
  • May 27, 2022

    In March 2022, DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. This plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure of the facility, beginning with the OGS-South compartment. 

    On May 6, 2022, the bid submittal period for work on this first compartment ended and the court-appointed receiver is now reviewing all submitted proposals.

    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.  

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

    • The site received 0.51 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 46.06 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 32.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is less than 0.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 24,594,825 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 251 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.
  • May 20, 2022

    In March 2022, DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. This plan incorporates a phased approach to expedite final closure of the facility, beginning with the OGS-South compartment. 

    On May 6, 2022, the bid submittal period for work on this first compartment ended and the court-appointed receiver is now reviewing all submitted proposals.

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent Friday, May 27, 2022. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.24 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 45.55 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 31.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 1 inch.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 23,947,025 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 254 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.
  • May 13, 2022

    In March 2022, DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. This plan incorporates a phased approach to expedite final closure of the facility, beginning with the OGS-South compartment. 

    On May 6, 2022, the bid submittal period for work on this first compartment ended and the court-appointed receiver is now reviewing all submitted proposals.

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent Friday, May 20, 2022. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.61 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 45.31 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 29.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 2 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 23,268,025 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 256 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.
  • May 6, 2022

    DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. 

    The court-appointed receiver continues to move forward with the procurement process to close the first compartment. The receiver anticipates receiving bids from potential contractors for the closure work in early May 2022. 

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent Friday, May 13. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 2.52 inches of rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 44.77 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 2.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 22,595,315 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 257 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.
  • April 29, 2022

    DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. 

    The court-appointed receiver continues to move forward with the procurement process to close the first compartment. The receiver anticipates receiving bids from potential contractors for the closure work in early May 2022. 

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent Friday, May 6. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received no rain this week. Piney Point has received approximately 42.25 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 29.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 22,104,215 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 257 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.
  • April 22, 2022

    DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. 

    The court-appointed receiver continues to move forward with the procurement process to close the first compartment. The receiver anticipates receiving bids from potential contractors for the closure work in early May 2022. 

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent Friday, April 29. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.21 inches of rainfall this week. Piney Point has received approximately 42.25 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 27.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 4.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 21,415,191 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 258 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.
  • April 15, 2022

    DEP issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expedite final closure. 

    The court-appointed receiver continues to move forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment. Today, the receiver held a mandatory pre-bid meeting at the site with potential contractors to review the closure area and bid specifications.

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent Friday, April 22. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received no rainfall this week. Piney Point has received approximately 42.04 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 20,742,391 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 258 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.
  • April 8, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. The court-appointed receiver is now moving forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment and has published the invitation to bid for this work.

    The court-ordered receiver and its contractors have also completed the final step in the repair activities for the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. The court-ordered receiver will complete daily inspections of the performance of the repair area and DEP staff will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, the email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays. The next update will be sent next Friday, April 15. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.43 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 42.04 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 20,062,221 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 261 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.
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • April 7, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. The court-appointed receiver is now moving forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment and has published the invitation to bid for this work.

    DEP will review closure design plans to ensure compliance, and will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility during construction activities 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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays starting next Friday, April 15. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 41.61 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,963,421 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 261 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.
    • Today the court-ordered receiver and its contractors completed the last step in the repair activities for the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. The court-appointed receiver will now perform daily inspections and assessments of the performance of the repair area, and continue evaluations to determine whether there could be other potential sources of seepage from this lined pond. DEP staff will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • April 6, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. The court-appointed receiver is now moving forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment and has published the invitation to bid for this work.

    DEP will review closure design plans to ensure compliance, and will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility during construction activities 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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays starting next Friday, April 15. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.025 inches overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 41.61 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,867,521 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate and grouted the area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner. Additional repairs are ongoing. DEP staff are continuing to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • April 5, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. The court-appointed receiver is now moving forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment and has published the invitation to bid for this work.

    DEP will review closure design plans to ensure compliance, and will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility during construction activities 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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays starting next Friday, April 15. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 41.58 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,771,141 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate and grouted the area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner. Additional repairs are ongoing. DEP staff are continuing to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • April 4, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expedite final closure. The court-appointed receiver is now moving forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment and has published the invitation to bid for this work.

    DEP will review closure design plans to ensure compliance, and will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility during construction activities 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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. As a reminder, email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis on Fridays starting next Friday, April 15. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.02 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 41.58 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 3.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,675,441 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate and grouted the area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner. Additional repairs are ongoing. DEP staff are continuing to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • April 1, 2022

    Yesterday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) announced that it has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility. The plan incorporates a phased approach to expediate final closure. The court-appointed receiver is now moving forward with the procurement process for closure of the first compartment.

    DEP will review closure design plans to ensure compliance, and will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility during construction activities 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: As the site transitions to final closure, DEP will continue to maintain updates on its public webpage. Email status updates for subscribers will be sent on a weekly basis beginning next week. Real-time updates will be transmitted if there is a timely update.  

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

    • The site received 0.78 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 41.16 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 4.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,385,061 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 258 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate and grouted the area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner. Additional repairs are ongoing. DEP staff are continuing to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 31, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued an order approving the conceptual closure plan for the former Piney Point facility.

    The plan addresses the environmental protection requirements for the closure work and proposes a phased closure process with the facility's anticipated date for final completion of closure by December 2024. It includes a strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water from the reservoir areas as well as details on construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area.  

    DEP will continue performing its stringent regulatory oversight of the facility during construction activities to ensure this is the last chapter in the long history of Piney Point.   

    More information on the Order, site status and ongoing response activities can be found here.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 40.38 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 4.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,287,161 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and a secondary evaporation system was installed at the site to aid in water removal efforts.
    • Approximately 257 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate on the repair area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner and remaining repairs, including grouting, are ongoing. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 29, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) received a revised closure plan on March 25, 2022 which was prepared at the direction of the court-appointed receiver for the Piney Point facility. The revised plan is in response to the additional information DEP requested from the receiver and its contractor on March 16, 2022. DEP is reviewing this plan to ensure it meets all regulatory requirements.  

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 40.38 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 4.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 19,092,461 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 257 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate on the repair area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner while the remaining repairs can be completed, including grouting. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 28, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has received a revised copy of the closure plan that was prepared at the direction of the court-appointed receiver for the Piney Point facility. The revised plan is in response to the additional information DEP requested from the receiver and its contractor on March 16, 2022. DEP is reviewing this plan to ensure it meets all regulatory requirements.  

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 40.38 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 4.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 18,995,661 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 256 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. Contractors have placed a steel plate on the repair area to temporarily seal the tear in the liner while the remaining repairs can be completed, including grouting. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 25, 2022

    Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) received a revised copy of the closure plan that was prepared at the direction of the court-appointed receiver for the Piney Point facility. The revised plan is in response to the additional information DEP requested from the receiver and its contractor on March 16, 2022. DEP is reviewing this plan to ensure it meets all regulatory requirements.  

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.42 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 40.38 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 4.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 18,705,061 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 257 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have deployed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 24, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has provided comments to the court-appointed receiver regarding the proposed closure plan for the Piney Point facility. DEP is requesting additional information from the receiver and its contractor on the water management plans during closure as well as on the performance of the expected post-closure stormwater management system to ensure the closed facility meets all applicable environmental protection and regulatory requirements.

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.2 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 39.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 5.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 18,607,461 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 257 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have deployed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 23, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has provided comments to the court-appointed receiver regarding the proposed closure plan for the Piney Point facility. DEP is requesting additional information from the receiver and its contractor on the water management plans during closure as well as on the performance of the expected post-closure stormwater management system to ensure the closed facility meets all applicable environmental protection and regulatory requirements.

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rain overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 39.76 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 5.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 18,510,561 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 257 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have deployed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 22, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has provided comments to the court-appointed receiver regarding the proposed closure plan for the Piney Point facility. DEP is requesting additional information from the receiver and its contractor on the water management plans during closure as well as on the performance of the expected post-closure stormwater management system to ensure the closed facility meets all applicable environmental protection and regulatory requirements.

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rain overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 39.76 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 5.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 18,411,861 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 257 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors are deploying a 16x20x8 ft. box structure over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 18, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has provided comments to the court-appointed receiver regarding the proposed closure plan for the Piney Point facility. DEP is requesting additional information from the receiver and its contractor on the water management plans during closure as well as on the performance of the expected post-closure stormwater management system to ensure the closed facility meets all applicable environmental protection and regulatory requirements.

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rain overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 39.75 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 5.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 18,026,241 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 264 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors are deploying a 16x20x8 ft. box structure over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 17, 2022

    Yesterday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided comments to the court-appointed receiver regarding the proposed closure plan for the Piney Point facility. DEP is requesting additional information from the receiver and its contractor on the water management plans during closure as well as on the performance of the expected post-closure stormwater management system to ensure the closed facility meets all applicable environmental protection and regulatory requirements.

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.66 inches overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 39.75 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 6 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,929,141 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 264 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have constructed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure, which will be deployed over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure and provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 16, 2022

    Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided comments to the court-appointed receiver regarding the proposed closure plan for the Piney Point facility. DEP is requesting additional information from the receiver and its contractor on the water management plans during closure as well as on the performance of the expected post-closure stormwater management system to ensure the closed facility meets all applicable environmental protection and regulatory requirements.

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.77 inches overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 39.09 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 6 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,831,441 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 263 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have constructed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure, which will be deployed over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure and provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 15, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 38.32 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 6 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,732,321 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have constructed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure, which will be deployed over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure and provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 14, 2021

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 38.32 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 6.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,633,721 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 263 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have constructed a 16x20x8 ft. box structure, which will be deployed over the existing 8x8x6 ft. box structure and provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 11, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.14 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 38.15 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 6.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,345,021 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have placed additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 10, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.02 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 38.01 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 6.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,247,421 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have placed additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 9, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.99 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 26.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 7 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,148,921  gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have placed additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 8, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received 0.03 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.99 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 7 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 17,052,671 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 264 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have placed additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 7, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 7 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 16,955,471 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues in the NGS-North compartment and contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Approximately 264 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the previously identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are preparing for additional repair work to further stabilize the system. Contractors have placed additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. Future repair activities are expected to include placement of a metal plate and grouting. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 4, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is reviewing the proposed closure plan submitted by the receiver’s contractor for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 25.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 7.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 16,663,771 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment at Piney Point. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 3, 2022

    The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun its review of the  proposed closure plan received from the receiver’s contractor yesterday for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water ponds and to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground waters and surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. 

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 7.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 16,566,911 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment at Piney Point. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 2, 2022

    Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) received a copy of the closure plan that was prepared at the direction of the court-appointed receiver for the Piney Point facility. The plan must address the environmental protection requirements  for the closure work which includes the strategy for continued water management at the site that is essential to eliminate the current process water pond-sand to complete construction of a closed system that protects both ground water-sand surface waters in the area. The plan also must provide information on the expected timeframes, the planned closing procedures and the final cover and stormwater management systems for the closed stack. DEP will review this plan over the coming weeks to ensure it meets all regulatory requirements.  

    DEP remains laser-focused on closure of this facility so that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently and looks forward to working with the receiver on finalizing this plan.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 8 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 16,469,511 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Contractors are conducting pilot testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment at Piney Point. Testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • March 1, 2022

    Testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment at Piney Point continues. Through this testing, baseline data will continue to be collected to establish performance.  

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 8 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 16,372,811 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 262 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 28, 2022

    Testing of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment at Piney Point continues. Through this testing, baseline data will continue to be collected to establish performance.  

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 24 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 8 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 16,277,631 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 263 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 25, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 8.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,983,361 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 264 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 24, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 8.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,947,241 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 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.
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. Contractors are placing additional fill material in and around the 8x8x6 ft. box structure to further stabilize the seepage until a larger box structure can be constructed, which will provide the foundation for continued repair activities. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 23, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.7 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 8.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,850,021 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 22, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 9 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,750,221 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 21, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 23 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 9 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,651,451 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 18, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 9.0 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,356,171 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 271 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 17, 2022

    Installation and assembly of the new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property has been completed. Contractors began pilot testing of the system, and testing will continue through the next few weeks to establish baseline data.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 9.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,258,651 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified, and the court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to investigate any other potential anomalies and identify any needed repairs. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 16, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Assembly for the new enhanced evaporation system has been completed and contractors are working to complete final adjustments prior to beginning pilot testing of the system. Testing of the system will continue through the next several weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 9.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,161,631 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8x6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 15, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Assembly for the new enhanced evaporation system has been completed and contractors are working to complete final adjustments prior to beginning pilot testing of the system. Testing of the system will continue through the next several weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 9.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 15,065,331 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 14, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Contractors are continuing to set up and assemble the new enhanced evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received 0.09 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.96 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 10 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,965,931 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 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.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 11, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Contractors are continuing to set up and assemble the new enhanced evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.68 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 10 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,676,531 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 10, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Contractors are continuing to set up and assemble the new enhanced evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.68 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 10.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,579,331 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 9, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Contractors are continuing to set up and assemble the new enhanced evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received 0.54 inches of rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.68 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 10.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,480,431 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 8, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Contractors are continuing to set up and assemble the new enhanced evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 10.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,382,611 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 7, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Contractors are continuing to set up and assemble the new enhanced evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 11 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,284,751 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8x6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 4, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Today contractors began to set up and assemble the new spray evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 22 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 11 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 14,027,351 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 3, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. Today contractors completed the deployment of a liner that will assist with managing and recycling the water associated with the spray evaporation system. Installation and testing of the system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 11 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,934,251 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 2, 2022

    Work on the new evaporation system continues on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. The concrete support platform and surrounding berms have been completed. Today contractors began the deployment of a liner that will assist with managing and recycling the water associated with the spray evaporation system. Installation and testing of the evaporation system will continue through the next few weeks.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 11.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,836,851 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 

    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Feb. 1, 2022

    In order to optimize water removal efforts throughout the site, the court-appointed receiver is continuing work to expand water management and removal. This includes incorporating a new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. The concrete support platform for the new system was poured last week, and work continued today on the berms around the test area. Installation and testing of the evaporation system will continue through the next few weeks.

    The receiver has also incorporated an additional system to wet the interior slopes of the NGS-South to supplement and maximize existing water evaporation at the site.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 11.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,744,451 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 

    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 31, 2022

    In order to optimize water removal efforts throughout the site, the court-appointed receiver is continuing work to expand water management and removal. This includes incorporating a new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. The concrete support platform for the new system was poured last week. Today’s work focused on completion of the berms around the test area. Installation and testing of the evaporation system will continue through the next few weeks.

    The receiver has also incorporated an additional system to wet the interior slopes of the NGS-South to supplement and maximize existing water evaporation at the site.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

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

    • The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. 

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.9 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 11.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,647,251 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 28, 2022

    In order to optimize water removal efforts throughout the site, this week the court-appointed receiver took additional steps to expand water management and removal. This includes incorporating a new evaporation system on top of the OGS-North compartment of the Piney Point property. The concrete support platform was poured yesterday, and the installation of the test evaporation system will continue through the next few weeks. The receiver has also incorporated an additional system to wet the interior slopes of the NGS-South to supplement and maximize existing water evaporation at the site.

    Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. Water management and removal are central to those efforts.

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response to and repair of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. 

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

    • The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors have completed the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. 
    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.8 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 12 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,355,971 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 27, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors are continuing the deployment of an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area.

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 12 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,255,971 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 268 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 26, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. As part of these ongoing efforts, contractors are working to deploy an 8x8X6 ft. box structure that will aid in removal of mud and silt, providing better access to evaluate the identified area.

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received 0.39 inches of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 37.14 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.7 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 12 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,163,771 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 25, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies, along with maintaining a continued focus on the management and final closure of the site. 

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received 0.01 inches of overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.75 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 12.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 13,072,971 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 24, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The general location of a source of the seepage has been identified through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies, along with maintaining a continued focus on the management and final closure of the site. 

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.74 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 21.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 12.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,974,131 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 266 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 21, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The general location of a source of the seepage was identified late last week through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies, along with maintaining a continued focus on the management and final closure of the site. 

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.63 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 13 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,683,131 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 20, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South reservoir. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The general location of a source of the seepage was identified late last week through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are continuing their work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies, along with maintaining a continued focus on the management and final closure of the site. 

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.63 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.5 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 13 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,583,431 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 19, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. The general location of a source of the seepage was identified late on Friday, Jan. 14, through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The court-appointed receiver and his contractors are working to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies, along with maintaining a continued focus on the management and final closure of the site. 

    DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.63 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 20.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 13 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,485,531 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 266 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 18, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the recently identified seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. The general location of a source of the seepage was identified late on Friday, Jan. 14, through a combination of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and scuba divers. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The court-appointed receiver and his contractors continue to work to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.63 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 19.7 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 13.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,389,051 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 266 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 15, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    Through the ongoing work by the court-appointed receiver and his contractors, which has included the use of hydrophone surveys, sonar work, dye trace studies and divers, the general location of a leak has been identified. Additional work is underway to identify needed repairs and further investigate any other potential anomalies. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 19.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 14 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,103,355 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021,and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 14, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    Contracted divers are continuing their thorough inspection of the liner using the one-foot interval grid system implemented earlier this week. Contractors are also continuing to conduct sonar surveys to narrow down the potential source of the leak. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 19.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 14 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 12,005,055 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 266 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 13, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    Contracted divers have implemented a one-foot interval grid system to ensure a thorough inspection of the liner. Contractors are also continuing to conduct sonar surveys to narrow down the potential source of the leak. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 19.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 14 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,907,855 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 266 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 12, 2022

    The department continues to monitor the low-volume seepage areas along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage. Contractors are continuing to conduct sonar surveys to help narrow down the source of the potential leak, and contracted divers are continuing their inspection of the liner as part of the ongoing investigation. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.6 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 14 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,811,655 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 11, 2022

    The department continues to monitor the low-volume seepage areas along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. Water is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with DEP engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage. Contractors are continuing to conduct sonar surveys to help narrow down the source of the potential leak, and contracted divers were back in the water today continuing their inspection of the liner seams as part of the ongoing investigation.

    Additionally, repair materials, such as stone aggregate, are being procured and staged on-site by the court-appointed receiver in order to expedite any necessary repairs. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 14 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,714,535 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 10, 2022

    The department continues to monitor the low-volume seepage areas along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. While there has been an increase in the flow rate, it remains a low-volume flow and is being contained within the on-site stormwater collection system. Water is being collected and pumped back into the NGS-South compartment, as needed.

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with department engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage. Contractors completed hydrophone surveys late last week, and sonar surveys were performed over the weekend to help narrow down the location and source of the potential leak. Contracted divers were in the water today inspecting liner seams as part of the ongoing investigation. Repair materials, such as stone aggregate, are being procured and staged on-site by the court-appointed receiver in order to be able to expedite any necessary repairs. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site has received no rainfall since Friday. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.2 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 14.5 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,617,415 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 267 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of the receiver's work, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 7, 2022

    The department continues to monitor the three low-volume seepage areas that were observed upslope of the stormwater drainage ditch along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment late on Wednesday, Jan. 5. There continues to be no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there are no offsite discharges occurring at this time. There have been no observed increases in the flow rate and it remains contained within the on-site stormwater collection system.

    The court-appointed receiver and its contractors continue to coordinate with department engineers and regulatory staff on their response and investigation into the source of the low-volume seepage. As part of these efforts, today, contractors performed hydrophone surveys to aid in identifying the location of the leak. DEP staff are on-site and will continue to monitor site conditions to minimize environmental impacts and to protect human health and safety.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received 0.02 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.27 inches of rain since the beginning of June 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.4 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 15 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,328,765 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his transition into his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of this transition, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 6, 2022

    Late last night, three low-volume seepage areas (estimated at less than three gallons per minute combined) were observed upslope of the stormwater drainage ditch along the south wall of the NGS-South compartment at the Piney Point site. Currently, there is no indication of any concern with the integrity or stability of the stack system, and there will be no offsite discharges at this time. Seepage volume remains low and is completely contained within the on-site lined stormwater management system.

    Upon notification, the court-appointed receiver immediately dispatched contractors to the site last night to address and ensure containment of the seepage. The contractors are coordinating with department engineers and regulatory staff on the response and their investigation into the cause. At this time, this investigation is ongoing and the location of the leak has not yet been determined. Should flow rates increase and result in ponding, the seepage will be pumped back into the NGS-S compartment. 

    DEP staff are on-site today to observe response efforts of the court appointed receiver and its contractor to this low-volume seepage event. We will continue to closely monitor site conditions to ensure the protection of human health and safety, and minimize environmental impacts.

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.25 inches of rain since the beginning of June, 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 15 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,229,755 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • The department finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his transition into his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of this transition, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges.
  • Jan. 5, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

    The department continues to closely monitor site conditions to ensure the protection of human health and safety, and minimize environmental impacts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.25 inches of rain since the beginning of June, 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.1 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 15 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,131,655 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • On Dec. 16, 2021, the department issued the permit to Manatee County for their planned underground injection control well for Piney Point. DEP determined that Manatee County's application to construct and test an underground injection control well and an associated dual zone monitor well meets all applicable regulations for protection of ground water resources and the environment following a thorough review. This review included 12 requests for additional information and approximately 7,356 public comments. DEP issued the Notice of Intent to Issue the permit on Nov. 24, 2021, and no petitions or requests for additional time were filed following the notice. 
    • The department has finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his transition into his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of this transition, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges. 
    • On Aug. 5, 2021, DEP filed a complaint in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Manatee County initiating enforcement action against HRK Holdings, LLC. Learn more by reviewing DEP’s enforcement complaint and a frequently asked questions document.
    • DEP's interactive water quality dashboard details sampling locations and corresponding results collected from April through October 2021 to evaluate any environmental impact. For a comprehensive view of all sampling in Tampa Bay related to Piney Point, visit Tampa Bay Estuary Program's interactive water quality dashboard.
    • DEP continues working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Health to monitor algal blooms and water quality. FWC is the lead agency on red tide and will continue to update conditions on their website. For more information on red tide, please visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.
  • Jan. 4, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

    The department continues to closely monitor site conditions to ensure the protection of human health and safety, and minimize environmental impacts.

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

    • The site received no rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.25 inches of rain since the beginning of June, 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 15 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 11,040,375 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • On Dec. 16, 2021, the department issued the permit to Manatee County for their planned underground injection control well for Piney Point. DEP determined that Manatee County's application to construct and test an underground injection control well and an associated dual zone monitor well meets all applicable regulations for protection of ground water resources and the environment following a thorough review. This review included 12 requests for additional information and approximately 7,356 public comments. DEP issued the Notice of Intent to Issue the permit on Nov. 24, 2021, and no petitions or requests for additional time were filed following the notice. 
    • The department has finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his transition into his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of this transition, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges. 
    • On Aug. 5, 2021, DEP filed a complaint in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Manatee County initiating enforcement action against HRK Holdings, LLC. Learn more by reviewing DEP’s enforcement complaint and a frequently asked questions document.
    • DEP's interactive water quality dashboard details sampling locations and corresponding results collected from April through October 2021 to evaluate any environmental impact. For a comprehensive view of all sampling in Tampa Bay related to Piney Point, visit Tampa Bay Estuary Program's interactive water quality dashboard.
    • DEP continues working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Health to monitor algal blooms and water quality. FWC is the lead agency on red tide and will continue to update conditions on their website. For more information on red tide, please visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.
  • Jan. 3, 2022

    The court-appointed receiver is continuing his work to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. Closure of this facility remains the top priority, which will ensure that the potential threat to environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently.

    The department continues to closely monitor site conditions to ensure the protection of human health and safety, and minimize environmental impacts.

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

    • The site received 0.1 inches of rainfall overnight. Piney Point has received approximately 36.25 inches of rain since the beginning of June, 2021. The current storage capacity for additional rainfall at the site is approximately 18.3 inches. This capacity is expected to change with rainfall amounts, as well as adjusted water management activities at the site. At this time, expected rainfall through the end of May 2022 is approximately 15 inches.
    • As part of the site's water management efforts, piping of water to the North Regional Water Reclamation Facility resumed Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, and to date, 10,949,945 gallons have been transferred. Spray evaporation also continues.
    • Approximately 269 million gallons are currently held within the NGS-South compartment. Pond level readings are expected to fluctuate due to a host of factors, including rainfall, water management activities and wind/associated waves in the pond.  
    • Innovative technology has been used for onsite water treatment since April 2021, and is ongoing under the Receiver’s work at the site. As a result of these innovative water treatment practices, nutrients, including Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN), continue to be reduced significantly onsite. To date, approximately 265 tons of TN and 240 tons of TP have been removed from wastewater onsite.
    • On Dec. 16, 2021, the department issued the permit to Manatee County for their planned underground injection control well for Piney Point. DEP determined that Manatee County's application to construct and test an underground injection control well and an associated dual zone monitor well meets all applicable regulations for protection of ground water resources and the environment following a thorough review. This review included 12 requests for additional information and approximately 7,356 public comments. DEP issued the Notice of Intent to Issue the permit on Nov. 24, 2021, and no petitions or requests for additional time were filed following the notice. 
    • The department has finalized its agreement with the court-appointed receiver, supporting his transition into his role to both manage and undertake final closure of the site. This agreement was finalized after a judge issued an order on Aug. 25, 2021, appointing a receivership to serve as an independent third party to oversee management and closure of the Piney Point site. Day-to-day management and operations now come from this receiver. As part of this transition, water treatment will continue and all available options to manage water onsite will continue to be pursued in an attempt to minimize the potential need for any future treated discharges. 
    • On Aug. 5, 2021, DEP filed a complaint in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Manatee County initiating enforcement action against HRK Holdings, LLC. Learn more by reviewing DEP’s enforcement complaint and a frequently asked questions document.
    • DEP's interactive water quality dashboard details sampling locations and corresponding results collected from April through October 2021 to evaluate any environmental impact. For a comprehensive view of all sampling in Tampa Bay related to Piney Point, visit Tampa Bay Estuary Program's interactive water quality dashboard.
    • DEP continues working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of Health to monitor algal blooms and water quality. FWC is the lead agency on red tide and will continue to update conditions on their website. For more information on red tide, please visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.

Updates Archive: April - December 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why was the controlled discharge to Port Manatee of water from the NGS-S compartment at the Piney Point facility necessary?

    The department’s top priority is ensuring the protection of public safety and health and minimizing any potential environmental impacts. 

    In an effort to prevent uncontrolled discharges that could result in potential risk to public health and safety as well as environmental harm to environment, including Bishop Harbor, an Outstanding Florida Water which leads to Tampa Bay, DEP issued an Emergency Order requiring HRK to take immediate action and implement necessary steps to ensure integrity of the water management system at the Piney Point site. This authorization includes the release of controlled discharges. 

    To be clear, the department's authorization for the controlled discharges is not a blanket authorization. The Emergency Final Order only authorizes discharges at an amount necessary to ensure stabilization.   

    The purpose of these controlled discharges was to prevent the buildup of pressure in the system. Such excess pressure could cause uncontrolled discharges of mixed seawater into freshwater, and also undermine the structural integrity of the water management system at the site. 

    DEP is dedicated to full enforcement for any damages to our state’s resources and holding HRK accountable for this event. 

  • How can I stay updated?

    The department is committed to providing timely, easily accessible updates to the public. Current status updates will be provided through DEP's Twitter account, posted on this site and via email. 

  • Has the water been tested prior to discharge?

    Yes. The water onsite at Piney Point is mixed sea water (primarily saltwater from the Port Manatee dredge project, mixed with legacy process water and stormwater runoff/rainfall). 

    View Water Quality Sampling Data

  • Is the water being treated in any way  before it is discharged?  

    DEP tasked two innovative technology companies to initiate nutrient reduction and removal treatments from water.

  • Is water quality monitoring being conducted in order to evaluate any potential impact from the controlled discharges to Port Manatee?

    Yes. Statewide DEP staff across divisions continue to monitor and sample water quality in this area daily. This monitoring includes sampling to determine changes in salinity, dissolved oxygen, clarity, nutrient levels, turbidity, radionuclides and other variables that will determine any changes in baseline water quality status in this area.  

    View Water Quality Sampling Data

    DEP is also working collaboratively with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) and local governments to cover more area and collect more data. For a comprehensive view of all sampling in Tampa Bay related to Piney Point, visit TBEP's interactive water quality dashboard.

  • How much water is in the reservoir?

    When this issue started on March 25, 2021, there was approximately 460 million gallons in the impacted NGS-S compartment. 

    For the most up to date water level, please check the daily updates above.

  • How long are the discharges expected to last and will all 460 million gallons have to be discharged? 

    All discharges of untreated water to Port Manatee are currently ceased. As we deploy innovative technology on-site, DEP's goal is to ensure that any future required discharges to the port are treated to reduce nutrients entering surrounding waterways and minimize possible ecological impacts such as algal blooms.  

  • Has the discharge to Piney Point Creek ceased at this time?

    On March 25, 2021, HRK submitted a report of process water bypassing the wastewater management system at the Piney Point facility, a former phosphate plant. The facility was releasing the mixed seawater into Piney Point Creek which leads into Tampa Bay. 

    On April 1, 2021, controlled discharges alleviated pressure enough to temporarily halt uncontrolled discharges into Piney Point Creek. 

    The uncontrolled discharge to Piney Point Creek has ceased. 

  • Are the controlled discharges still ongoing to Port Manatee?

    No, all discharges of untreated water to Port Manatee are currently ceased.

  • What is the status of the breakout of seepage from the east wall of the NGS-S containment area? 

    On April 2, 2021, field operations crews observed a breakout of seepage in the east wall of the NGS-S containment area. This water is the same mixed seawater in the reservoir.  

    Within 48 hours of discovering the source of the leak, field operation crews fabricated and deployed a steel plate to contain the flow of concentrated seepage and stabilize the system. This patch repair has since been reinforced with the incorporation of stone aggregate underneath the plate and placement of geo-composite material over the steel plate.

    The flow of the seepage has significantly reduced and remains contained onsite in the facility’s lined stormwater management system.

  • Are private drinking wells impacted?

    Groundwater monitoring wells are strategically positioned around the Piney Point facility to ensure contaminants do not migrate offsite. Monitoring is conducted on a quarterly basis and results to date demonstrate no new or unknown offsite impacts.   

    Individuals still wishing to have their private wells tested should contact their local county health department​.