Research vessels will monitor the ship's dumping of treated water from the former Piney Point phosphate plant, DEP officials say.
By MATTHEW WAITE
Published July 19, 2003
A barge that will disperse more than 7-million gallons of treated wastewater from the defunct Piney Point phosphate plant into the Gulf of Mexico will be fully loaded by this afternoon, state officials said Friday.
When that boat takes off - the time hasn't been determined yet - trailing behind it will be a research vessel to make sure that government projections of minimal environmental harm are true.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials said Friday that they are confident dumping the treated wastewater won't cause any harm.
The water isn't toxic, said Phil Coram, professional engineer administrator for the southwest district of the DEP.
"There are no expectations that there is going to be any fish kills," he said.
Details on how the state will monitor the wastewater dump came a day after the state bowed to pressure and agreed to disperse the wastewater three times farther into the gulf than originally planned.
Now, the barge will start dumping the water 120 miles offshore and take a teardrop-shaped trip farther into deep water and back to the 120-mile mark.
DEP deputy secretary Allan Bedwell said the added distance adds 18 hours of travel time. He hopes 200-million gallons will be dumped before a federal permit expires in late November.
"This is our last option, but it's our only option at this point," Bedwell said. "This is the first time we've ever done anything like this, and I hope it's the last time we do anything like this."
The wastewater is being stored in unstable earthen mounds and holding ponds at the former plant in Manatee County. State officials worry that untreated water could spill and pollute Tampa Bay.
The DEP is treating the water before it heads out into deep water.
Scientists and fishermen worry that nutrients in the wastewater could breed Red Tide and harm marine life.
Many became especially concerned because under the state's previous plan, the disposal area included protected fishery habitats in Steamboat Lumps, Madison/Swanson and Twin Ridges.
The new plan sharply limits the area where the wastewater will be dumped, moving it away from the fishery habitats, and researchers will be testing the water in that area to see whether any harmful algae blooms as a result of the dumped water.
Charles Kovach, environmental manager for the DEP, said Friday that researchers also will be testing the state's dispersal model by putting dye in the water. The DEP believes that the wastewater will disperse quickly.
Kovach also said researchers will monitor satellite imagery to detect any changes.
