Legislature agrees to budget $100M in federal relief for Piney Point

The House signed off on a Senate plan to use American Rescue Plan money.

The Florida House has agreed to a plan to budget $100 million from the American Rescue Plan for the Piney Point site.

The Senate on Wednesday proposed using that portion of an anticipated $10 billion in federal spending to cover the cost of cleanup at the former phosphorus plant in Manatee County.

The House on Friday morning announced it would agree to the deal as part of the first back-and-forth regarding American Rescue Plan dollars.

President Joe Biden signed the federal relief bill last month.

The Piney Point site became a priority when a breach in one of three reservoirs in early April forced the evacuation of more than 300 homes at risk of flash floods if the gypsum stack surrounding the reservoir collapsed. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency earlier this month at the site.