Environmental Protection CommissionEnvironmental Protection Commissionof Hillsborough Countyof Hillsborough County

Extending Piney Point Emergency PermitExtending Piney Point Emergency PermitNovember 3, 2003November 3, 2003

• TIME LINE

• SOME BACKGROUND

• REASONS TO SUPPORT

EXTENSION REQUESTEXTENSION REQUEST

September 11, 2003 - Piney Point Update Agency on Bay Management

September 18, 2003 - EPC voted unanimously to send a letter to FDEP Secretary Struhs requesting they explore extending the EPA Emergency Permit

September 29, 2003 – EPC Chairman sent request letter to Secretary Struhs

EXTENSION REQUEST EXTENSION REQUEST TIME LINE TIME LINE

October 13, 2003 – Secretary Struhs contacted EPC Chairman Platt and advised that FDEP would formally request EPA extend the Emergency Permit

October 16, 2003 - EPC voted unanimously to send a letter to EPA Region 4 Administrator Palmer urging approval of the permit extension request from FDEP

TIME LINE TIME LINE

October 21, 2003 – FDEP sent letter to EPA formally requesting an extension of the Emergency Permit

October 21, 2003 - EPC sent a letter to EPA urging approval of the extension request from FDEP

November 3, 2003 – Consideration of ABM support for FDEP Extension Request

TIME LINE TIME LINE

• Reduce Inventory of Process Water and Initiate Closure Activities

• Long Term Water Management Plan (WMP)

• Closure Plan – Dewater, Line, Isolate, and Close Pond Storage Compartments

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Piney PointPiney Point Closure Closure

• Site has Received Excessive Rainfall during the last 12 months

• Average Rainfall Adds 160 MGal to the Site each year

• Closure Activities Delayed

• 2004 Dry Season Closure Plan – Close one stack compartment and prepare to close two additional compartments

MEETING WMP OBJECTIVEMEETING WMP OBJECTIVE

• 600 MGal Ponded Process Water

• 600 MGal Pore Water

• Increase Storage so that Significant Closure Work can be Accomplished Prior to the 2004 Rainy Season

• Must Discharge “Double-Lime” Treated Water

WATER MANAGEMENT WATER MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE CHALLENGE

• Water Balance Model Recalibrated

• Increase Target Wastewater Removal Rates (2 MGD to Over 4 MGD)

• Time Period – Minimum 3 to 5 Months

• Increase Storage so that Significant Closure Work can be Initiated

AMENDED WMP AMENDED WMP

• Double Amount of Water Removed From 2 MGD to 4 MGD

• Increase Amount of Reverse Osmosis Water 0.6 MGD to a Minimum of 1.0 MGD (By 10/15/2003)

• Increase Amount of Double-lime Aeration Water Minimum of 3.0 MGD (By 10/15/2003)

• Resumption of Double-lime Aeration Water to Bishop Harbor

• Target Ammonia Nitrogen Loading Rates (WQ Modeling Report)

– 308 Pounds Per Day (15 Day Rolling Average)

– 600 Pounds Per Day (Maximum)

EMERGENCY ORDEREMERGENCY ORDERFIFTH MODIFICATION SEPTEMBER 5, 2003FIFTH MODIFICATION SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

Potential Bishop Harbor Load

LTB Load Reduction Target

Overall Tampa Bay Load Reduction Target

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oad

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• Risk of a Catastrophic Accident Remains until Site is Permanently Closed

• Immediate need to Reduce Water On-Site to Initiate Closure Activities

• RO is not the only Solution

• “Double – Lime” Treated Water must be Discharged somewhere

REASONS TO SUPPORT REASONS TO SUPPORT EXTENSION REQUEST EXTENSION REQUEST

• Only Current High-Volume Alternative to Discharge to Bishop Harbor is Gulf Dispersion

• Extension will Reduce Discharges and Nitrogen Loading to Bishop Harbor

• Extending the Permit Removes an Additional 70 to 75 MGal per month from the Site

• Additional Water off-site improves Water Balance, Dam Safety and Minimizes the Risk of Accidental Discharges

REASONS TO SUPPORT REASONS TO SUPPORT EXTENSION REQUEST EXTENSION REQUEST

• FDEP has met Current Conditions of Emergency Permit

• No Adverse Environmental Impacts to Marine Water Quality or Marine Life

• Continued Ocean Dispersal should be Part of a Multi-Faceted Treated Wastewater Reduction Plan

REASONS TO SUPPORT REASONS TO SUPPORT EXTENSION REQUEST EXTENSION REQUEST

SHARE THE LOAD…

USE OTHER HIGH VOLUME ALTERNATIVES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE…

MINIMIZE THE LOAD TO BISHOP HARBOR AND TAMPA BAY !!!!

BOTTOM LINEBOTTOM LINE

Environmental Protection CommissionEnvironmental Protection Commissionof Hillsborough Countyof Hillsborough County

Extending Piney Point Emergency PermitExtending Piney Point Emergency PermitNovember 3, 2003November 3, 2003