Longboat Key seeks permitting for dry line piping after June’s sewage break

Longboat begins to consider three options to begin building a new sewer pipeline after June break.

While Longboat Key commissioners await a potential state penalty after June’s sewage line break in Manatee County, town staff is examining the possibility of advancing its redundant pipe project with three options.

Longboat Key Public Works Director Isaac Brownman is estimating for the overall project to cost about $16 million, but he said he still needs more information from the regulatory agencies.

The town has retained Carollo Engineers, Inc. to help in submitting permit documents this month to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“They look for what types of environmental impacts may be associated with the construction and installation,” Brownman said. “Are there going to be any environmental mitigation requirements related to installation?”

Specifically, Brownman said the Corps of Engineers will ask the town and its engineers for alternative analyses to evaluate the current pipe route and possibly other pipe routes for consideration. The town does not have an estimation yet on how long the entire project could take.