[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6270063,"mediaKeyId","3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507","parentId",3039644,"title","EPC briefing details Sydney Mine Superfund site, groundwater restrictions and ongoing monitoring","audioSeconds",573,"startMs",2677000,"endMs",3250000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507&start=2677&end=3250","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507/thumbnail_2677000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270063/Hillsborough-County/Florida/EPC-briefing-details-Sydney-Mine-Superfund-site-groundwater-restrictions-and-ongoing-monitoring","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270063-a5b517f7acea090af0fbb753e637f3e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181827&Signature=W4c34ZQcfULr0rVzlAJaasUOtIsflvh5LTIfcCDVhNTWRYbc1nZpHg8iCWKnEJpFEEeoj8TworOz1Tdc~LwahvmnVfbd7csJMTd1XAsfI6KMw4pz3EmLzUNgTRkAUeMS1AiT2ZHSRvQl3ewd8a4qTMQVo3drImg~YmO9yehD86~iP8EK5mlcYSYBpOyFq~NEDl6xbBG9SqIvA3YS2nCBRIqHa7TLrbjerKtXvxE8qjvEZGk3IRxmK6Mb6lI1Ce3c9Xw9-GQaWAc5o6p5MKe6V2MfK2E6xCsFWJYXJ8eckV-txdJ-JJq-rq5P05mbqnyjOZcXs~HPtKlzxyq1JEx3zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hillsborough County, FL ","date","2025-04-17T16:13:10.643Z","article","Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission staff on April 17 gave a briefing on Superfund sites in the county and provided detailed updates on the Sydney Mine Superfund site located in the Energy Industrial Park.

“Allison Alisa Amram, a professional geologist in EPC’s waste division, described a Superfund site as ‘a piece of property that has environmental contamination that is so bad it's considered to be a significant risk to public health, welfare, or the environment,’” the commission record shows.

Amram summarized federal and state roles: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency manages Superfund (the National Priorities List and response authority under CERCLA), while the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reviews technical work and enforces state cleanup standards. EPC’s role is informational; the commission does not exercise Superfund regulatory authority.

Key details Amram provided about the Sydney Mine site included:

- Location and history: the site sits within a former phosphate-mined area in the Energy Industrial Park (south of Route 60, east of Valrico). From 1973 to 1981 Hillsborough County leased land for three unlined waste-disposal ponds used for waste oils and sludges.
- Early cleanup actions: Hillsborough County excavated wastes, incinerated material on-site and constructed a slurry wall (clay barrier) around the three ponds in 1984; monitoring followed and the site was placed on the National Priorities List (Superfund) in 1989.
- Current contamination and scope: soils and wastes were removed; groundwater remains the only affected medium. A benzene plume has been delineated to Florida cleanup target levels. More recent monitoring identified 1,4-dioxane above Florida cleanup target levels in several monitoring wells, prompting an approved work plan to further delineate the extent of the 1,4-dioxane plume.
- Restrictions and reuse: EPA and DEP groundwater-use restrictions cover portions of the Energy Industrial Park; the Superfund area includes a three-pond (9-acre) core with additional land-use restrictions (no residential, recreational, educational or agricultural uses) and prohibitions on digging that could disrupt the protective slurry wall.

Amram also said Hillsborough County has 12 active Superfund/NPL sites in the county, four delisted sites and two sites that proceeded under Superfund alternatives where responsible parties conducted agreed cleanups. She noted that most local Superfund sites stem from historical unlined landfills or waste ponds and that the last county Superfund listing occurred in 2010.

Commissioners asked about public exposure and redevelopment. Amram said public exposure is limited where properties are served by public water and sewer; the water-management district controls new well permitting, which prevents new potable wells from being permitted where groundwater is restricted. Commissioners asked about long-term persistence of pesticides in groundwater and about how redevelopment and brownfields incentives differ from Superfund processes. Amram said brownfields programs focus on redevelopment-time cleanups and incentives, while Superfund sites are nationally prioritized—she noted recent legislative changes under review could affect brownfields eligibility.

The EPC voted 6-0 to receive the Superfund briefing. Commissioners emphasized the county’s prior cleanup actions (excavation, slurry wall and monitoring) and asked staff to keep the commission informed as delineation work for 1,4-dioxane proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Environmental Protection Commission - 4.17.25","oneSentenceSummary","EPC staff summarized Superfund and brownfields programs and provided a focused update on the Sydney Mine Superfund site in the Energy Industrial Park, noting soils were removed, groundwater (benzene and 1,4-dioxane) remains under monitoring, and land- and groundwater-use restrictions are in place.","taxTitle","Hillsborough County, Florida","taxId",2865,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270068,"Tampa Bay seagrass shows net gain, but Old Tampa Bay still losing ground, experts say",139,667000,806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507&start=667&end=806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507/thumbnail_667000.jpg","/articles/6270068/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Tampa-Bay-seagrass-shows-net-gain-but-Old-Tampa-Bay-still-losing-ground-experts-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270068-6f2a918e9118d04eda8ec00f7f2bea70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181827&Signature=P1d0wWcAsbsWsruQr932TAji2tSxEp8wxcLfS7U-0qErTs~07xH~Vu77H3QVJclt2zGANSjbWK-W-0cX74QjRH60xz8q5GjeVwKTfvj9nM8zjNPtBcRkH2RYj5tXABElyF06yjA47ODOA0mBBuMuw1kvZeEfTo0woKfF8riRImm~flJeY7PGCdmx6FRMpkGF2KV6QGGoQKUOcG~JvEniNG3PlOlstmg3~pjtjnLavJLf92Y3dflcWoSq68V9vnQeoO-sWZtsrehVG0FTud5~hMezQSc637Lz4xEysxfEq38YEtIjPwD~RPW5dH3KHcsBZ6e2LIwxwlcHDHWIKhbB8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tampa Bay Estuary Program reported April 17 that the latest regional assessment showed roughly 1,400 more acres of seagrass in Tampa Bay compared with the prior survey, but panelists warned the upper Old Tampa Bay segment continues to decline and needs targeted action.

Ed Sherwood, executive director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, told the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, “We did receive some good news ... we've had, about 1,400 more acres of seagrass coverage in Tampa Bay relative to the prior assessment back in 2022.” He said the gain is encouraging but not uniform across the bay.

Sherwood said seagrass is a foundational estuarine habitat that needs sunlight, and declines can accelerate harmful algal blooms and affect fisheries and species such as manatees and sea turtles. He described progress since mid-20th-century pollution reductions — noting a long-term goal (the meeting referred to a regional target) to maintain roughly 40,000 acres baywide — but warned that Old Tampa Bay remains the largest area of continuing loss.

The program and county staff identified stormwater nutrient loads as the chief current source of new nitrogen reaching Old Tampa Bay. Sherwood said the region sees decreases in point, atmospheric and groundwater nitrogen sources, while stormwater loads have increased with heavier rainfall events, and that Old Tampa Bay experiences a recurring summertime algal bloom and low-oxygen events.

Interventions discussed and funding commitments mentioned in the presentation and Q&A included:

- A commitment of roughly $1 million from the estuary program to Hillsborough County for septic-to-sewer conversions and stormwater and floodwater improvements in priority areas.
- A $9.5 million RESTORE grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to study water quality and flood protection for vulnerable communities in Old Tampa Bay, covering work from the MacDill/Interbay peninsula around toward Pinellas County.
- Habitat restoration and oyster-protection projects; the program said it will push for expanded oyster restoration in Old Tampa Bay (a target of about 175 acres was discussed).
- Consideration of structural changes to causeways and bridges to improve circulation; Sherwood said additional breaches can help circulation but that Department of Transportation investments would be voluntary and that a large western causeway alteration could cost on the order of $100 million.
- A recommendation under discussion within the Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium to further reduce nitrate loads to approximately 486 tons per year for Old Tampa Bay — a target Sherwood said would require additional reductions of roughly 84 tons per year beyond current measures, primarily from stormwater.

Several commissioners pressed for funding and interagency coordination. Commissioner Wolston and others suggested re-examining tourist development reserves and resilience dollars to prioritize water-quality projects. Commissioners discussed dredging, canal maintenance, additional causeway breaches, and leveraging federal and state resilience and mitigation funds.

Sherwood and commissioners also discussed monitoring: the Water Management District conducts biennial baywide aerial surveys for acreage, while the Estuary Program’s voluntary transect monitoring adds species-level and distribution detail annually.

The commission voted 6-0 to receive the Tampa Bay Estuary Program report. Commissioners who moved and seconded the motion were recorded as Commissioner Wasser (mover) and Commissioner Miller (second).","Tampa Bay Estuary Program reported a 2024 seagrass assessment showing about 1,400 more acres than 2022, but Old Tampa Bay continues to lose seagrass. The program urged more stormwater projects, septic-to-sewer work and habitat restoration; the EPC received the report 6-0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270073,"EPC votes to request $289,000 transfer for citizen response services",126,478000,604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507&start=478&end=604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3039644-b4644d9ffdd3137a5d02198e91aa9507/thumbnail_478000.jpg","/articles/6270073/Hillsborough-County/Florida/EPC-votes-to-request-289000-transfer-for-citizen-response-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270073-f16e6d53bee836d36aa9cdfb556a712d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181827&Signature=c-VOuDdBhL4MSMOJA-7ktX9cqdJHmsAUMlSll~~eIO6BXBh7ojitdS78xDfRoomw~LEiU1L9cwyfE9kYNZvADHxc3QvqP7u9iF0Ez5AP9vx2RqOPlRJlKDLeYxyNfhXpcoW9efq4G6J2foHSludJEilk39TytxCAbShO4X8uuJJI2-LRjX3H-lEwj9u2RFrwGG-TOxOyWyREOsiWhkuckvLgdy94g247rtvdOL40zVacnJ9ZrFig06ZuWo8SuaWkaJX5ywH8SxqUrRsPwOHWMmRvbMhi2AwKKya8H9mD38KSNFPzcnxIWEYTt81m3TewVq3pXAistdCXys5S5Wps1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission on April 17 voted to request that the county administrator include $289,000 in the proposed county budget to keep citizen response services operating.

Under the commission’s recommendation, the money would be transferred from outside fund sources into the countywide general fund to support inspections and responses for noise, dust, odor, asbestos and open-burn complaints.

EPC staffer Elaine DeLou told commissioners, “EPC is requesting the transfer of 289,000 for fiscal years 2627 from outside fund sources to the countywide general fund.” She said the funding is needed because federal and state funding that previously offset county costs has declined.

The request is a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners; the BOCC will make any final budget decision. The commission’s motion to support the transfer and ask the county administrator to include the funds in the BOCC budget carried 6-0.

Commission discussion at the meeting did not record additional conditions or amendments to the request. The item will next be considered as part of the county’s budget process before the BOCC. No implementation date was specified by the EPC at the meeting.

Notes and next steps: the EPC’s action is a funding request only; it does not itself appropriate county funds. The BOCC, not the EPC, holds final authority to adopt county budgets and make the actual transfer if it chooses to do so.","The Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission voted 6-0 to request that the county administrator include a $289,000 transfer from outside funds into the countywide general fund to maintain citizen response inspections and complaint responses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EPC briefing details Sydney Mine Superfund site, groundwater restrictions and ongoing monitoring

Tampa Bay seagrass shows net gain, but Old Tampa Bay still losing ground, experts say

EPC votes to request $289,000 transfer for citizen response services