The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is today announcing the successful closure of the OGS-South compartment area – a major milestone toward the permanent closure of the Piney Point facility.
In September 2022, the court-appointed receiver and its contractor, Forgen LLC, began closure work at the OGS-South compartment. This process included the removal of rainwater prior to construction, installation of a new liner, creation of new stormwater controls for the closed area and establishment of soil and vegetative cover.
As a result, the reservoir will no longer accumulate and retain rainwater and has been integrated into the site’s existing noncontact stormwater management system so that the area will now only generate clean stormwater runoff.
“I am thankful for the progress we have seen at Piney Point to date – including the work to secure and protect the site during two hurricanes – and am encouraged as the court-appointed receiver has completed this first phase of closure work,” said DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “DEP looks forward to the receiver’s continued work to expedite the next phase of closure and eventually the full closure of the facility.”
In 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis directed the development of a long-term closure plan to ensure that the potential threat to the environment and surrounding community is eliminated permanently. This responsibility was assumed by the court-appointed receiver upon his appointment in August 2021.
The NGS-South compartment is the next compartment scheduled for closure per the approved closure plan. DEP continues to work with court-appointed receiver Herb Donica to provide stringent regulatory oversight of the facility’s ongoing site maintenance and water management activities and ensure that progress toward closure is achieved as expeditiously as possible.
Residents can find the latest information on the status of the site and closure activities at FloridaDEP.gov.
DEP remains committed to the successful closure of Piney Point and to the continued protection of Florida’s natural resources and the health and safety of our residents and visitors.
