Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Failure at Piney Point: A disaster foretold
https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2021/04/17/failure-at-piney-point-a-disaster-foretold/PALMETTO As early as 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was predicting possible disaster at the old Piney Point phosphate plant in Manatee County if a plan to use the site for dredging went forward.
The worst case scenario, the Army Corps cautioned, would be a tear in the plastic liner that engineers were counting on to hold back water perched atop dangerous waste material. Another worry the Army Corps raised: What if the private company in charge went bankrupt?
Since the latest leak was first noticed, a familiar pattern has emerged. Everyone involved is pointing fingers elsewhere. But records show officials at all levels the state, the company, the county had a hand in what Piney Point became. The county backed an idea to put more waste at Piney Point, the company looked at an environmental risk and saw a chance to profit, and the state stood by as a looming environmental danger festered on its watch.
What weve learned is theres no such thing as a future beneficial use of a phosphogypsum stack. These are wastelands, and theyll be wastelands for generations to come, Compton said. The price is being paid by the taxpayers and the environment.
The worst case scenario, the Army Corps cautioned, would be a tear in the plastic liner that engineers were counting on to hold back water perched atop dangerous waste material. Another worry the Army Corps raised: What if the private company in charge went bankrupt?
Since the latest leak was first noticed, a familiar pattern has emerged. Everyone involved is pointing fingers elsewhere. But records show officials at all levels the state, the company, the county had a hand in what Piney Point became. The county backed an idea to put more waste at Piney Point, the company looked at an environmental risk and saw a chance to profit, and the state stood by as a looming environmental danger festered on its watch.
What weve learned is theres no such thing as a future beneficial use of a phosphogypsum stack. These are wastelands, and theyll be wastelands for generations to come, Compton said. The price is being paid by the taxpayers and the environment.
A long (but accurate article) showing what happens when the repubs let irresponsible companies run wild. If you live in Florida, you see endless commercials from phosphate companies showing birds and fish and trees...while they absolutely ruin the environment and leave the mess to taxpayers.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 2874 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (38)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Failure at Piney Point: A disaster foretold (Original Post)
Sancho
Apr 2021
OP
calimary
(81,220 posts)1. Yep. It always seems to start with greed.
KS Toronado
(17,199 posts)2. Yep, greed and his pal money, along with their boss....campaign money
niyad
(113,259 posts)3. Bookmarking for after coffee.
yankeepants
(1,979 posts)4. Carl Hiaasen material. nt
Ferrets are Cool
(21,106 posts)5. " and leave the mess to taxpayers" Isn't this the repuq playbook?