Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 13 directed the permanent closure of the industrial retention pond linked to a former phosphate manufacturing plant in Piney Point, Manatee County after the phosphogypsum waste reservoir began to fail earlier this month, causing the emergency disposal of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater into Tampa Bay.
DeSantis redirected $15.4 million for use of innovative technologies to treat elevated levels of phosphorous and nitrogen in reservoir water.