Florida and environmental groups have reached a settlement over a 2021 lawsuit regarding the massive leak of polluted water from a phosphate plant reservoir into Tampa Bay. The agreement requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to issue a Clean Water Act permit, ensuring oversight and accountability for any future discharges from the Piney Point facility. The leak, which triggered major fish kills and the temporary evacuation of nearby residents, was caused by tears in a plastic liner threatening a major breach of the reservoir. The settlement also includes a $75,000 payment for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to monitor water quality near Piney Point.
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