Environmental Justice in Manatee County? Tallevast’s Toxic Groundwater

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For over 20 years it has been David vs. Goliath here in Manatee County. Residents of Tallevast (a predominantly black community Manatee County near SRQ Airport) learned they were living on a 200 acre underground plume of contamination of beryllium and other dangerous contaminants generated by a closed beryllium plant. Residents of Tallevast have engaged in a concerted effort to save their neighborhood as they seek to mitigate the life-threatening impacts of the contamination. Unfortunately, recent tests have shown that this toxic plume is spreading.

The struggle to remediate their neighborhood has a long history and the struggle continues today. In 2003 residents formed a non-profit titled FOCUS (Family-Oriented Community United Strong) that has led to the nationally recognized fight to save Tallevast and the residents’ homes.

This meeting will focus on the history, actions taken and still significant contamination and clean-up ongoing in Tallevast. The presentation and discussion will be led by:

• Laura Ward – Co-Executive Director of FOCUS;
• Wanda Washington – Co-Executive Director or FOCUS; and
• Jeanne Zokovitch Paben – the Sarasota attorney whose practice focuses on the environment and environmental justice. She has represented Tallevast residents through their decades of efforts to obtain relief and hold the property owner accountable.

You are encouraged to review information at the below links in advance of the September 18 Zoom meeting.

• F.O.C.U.S. on Tallevast
• ‘No option but to fight.’ Tallevast residents question contamination cleanup efforts