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Florida declares state of emergency due to potential radioactive material leak

FLORIDA DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO POTENTIAL RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL LEAK,    600 MILLION GALLONS OF POLLUTED WATER MIGHT SOON FLOOD A MASSIVE STRETCH OF THE STATE. https://futurism.com/the-byte/florida-declares-state-emergency-due-potential-radioactive-material-leak, 4 Apr 21,

Imminent And Uncontrolled

Florida has declared a state of emergency in Manatee County after officials announced a wastewater pond containing radioactive material is at risk of collapsing.

Governor Ron DeSantis issued the state of emergency for the region on Saturday, according to CBS News. Officials at the Manatee County Public Safety Department declared a mandatory evacuation notice for the area “due to the imminent uncontrolled release of wastewater.”

Radioactive Wastewater

The wastewater originated from the former Piney Point phosphate processing plant where a reservoir containing stacks of phosphogypsum — radioactive waste created by processing phosphate ore into fertilizer — experienced a leak.

A portion of the containment wall at the leak site shifted laterally signifying that structural collapse could occur at any time,” said Manatee Director of Public Safety Jake Saur to CBS News. 

Officials fear the leak could potentially flood the area with radioactive wastewater and have begun the process of releasing 22,000 gallons of water a minute out of a retention pond to alleviate the stress on the containment site. 

“We are talking about the potential of about 600 million gallons within a matter of seconds and minutes leaving that retention pool and going around the surrounding area,” said Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes in a press conference.

If and when the containment reservoir breaks completely, it could lead to a generational destruction of the surrounding region. It’s a tough pill to swallow — but state officials need to wield a firmer hand when it comes to regulating, you know, radioactive wastewater that’s upstream from an entire county of people. 

April 5, 2021 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized