The DEP and federal officials issue guidelines for a safe shutdown of the Coronet facility.
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
Published May 12, 2004
PLANT CITY - Coronet Industries on Tuesday received its cleanup blueprint from environmental officials directing the company through safeguards as it prepares for a complete shutdown of its phosphate plant.
The order issued to Coronet from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, developed with input from federal environmental officials, includes the following instructions:
Increase the level of treatment for on-site wastewater; reduce the volume of water in storage ponds by 200-million gallons before Aug. 31; begin a controlled discharge of treated water to English Creek; provide weekly water quality monitoring reports for discharges into English Creek; enhance the stability of pond berms; implement a site security plan; and remove or relocate site equipment and waste materials according to environmental laws.
The order was developed after a number of discussions with Coronet officials, said company spokesman Tom Stewart.
"Our commitment is to do the right thing for our neighbors and for the state of Florida," Stewart said. "This agreement represents another step forward in making certain that commitment is met, and that the site is rehabilitated in an environmentally responsible manner. We will continue to work diligently with the DEP, and other government agencies, to accomplish that objective."
Coronet announced in January that it would stop operations at the facility by the end of March because it was no longer profitable. Coronet was sued in Hillsborough Circuit Court in March by Masry & Vititoe, the California firm that employs environmental celebrity Erin Brockovich. The suit accused the plant of environmental pollution and was filed on behalf of 700 people who live or lived near the aging plant, which turned phosphate into a supplement for animal feed and has a long history of environmental violations.
In March, state health officials declared that the plant is not a health threat. So far, officials have found elevated levels of arsenic, boron and other chemicals in about 40 wells near the plant, but say the levels aren't high enough to cause serious or widespread health problems.
