Yesterday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection filed a lawsuit against HRK Holdings, the owner of the Piney Point phosphate plant. This lawsuit comes after calls by Senator Janet Cruz (D–Tampa) to hold HRK Holdings accountable for egregious violations of state law and environmental regulations.
Statement from Senator Janet Cruz on the Piney Point Lawsuit:
“Upon learning of the disaster caused by HRK Holdings’ failure to follow the law, which directly resulted in an environmental emergency, the displacement of citizens from their homes, and the discharge of over 215 million gallons of severely contaminated water into Tampa Bay earlier this year, I immediately called for legal action against the owner of the Piney Point plant. And after seeing the horrific devastation of the disaster first-hand, there was no doubt that this site had been neglected for years and the aftermath would impact the region for generations.
“As a Tampa native, my concern has always been for Tampa Bay, the nearby aquatic preserves, the wildlife that calls this precious ecosystem home, and those individuals who rely on a healthy Bay for their livelihood. This lawsuit is proof we can work together to hold bad actors accountable for dangerous screw-ups that threaten us all and I am proud to have been a part of that.
“HRK Holdings knew they had an obligation to protect the environment when they took ownership of Piney Point, yet they failed to take appropriate action. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for the cost of cleaning up a corporation’s mess and I want to thank DEP Interim Secretary Shawn Hamilton for pursuing legal action against HRK Holdings and seeking the maximum fines possible.”
