COMANCO Continues Multi-Phase Closure and Containment Operations at Central Florida Phosphate Facility
Large phosphate facilities depend on multiple containment systems operating simultaneously. Closure areas, process water ponds, and perimeter dikes all play an important role in managing water and maintaining environmental compliance across the site.
As facilities evolve, containment infrastructure must evolve with them. Some areas require long-term closure systems, while others need expansions, repairs, or operational upgrades to support changing site conditions.
COMANCO is currently performing closure, expansion, and repair work at a Central Florida phosphate facility. Although each project serves a different purpose, they all contribute to the facility’s overall containment and water management strategy.
Multi-Sequence Closure Work
Phosphate gyp stack closure projects require constant coordination between crews, material deliveries, earthwork operations, and weather conditions. Maintaining production while working across multiple sequence areas adds another layer of complexity.
COMANCO crews are currently advancing closure operations across several sections of the facility. Work consists of installing 60 mil AGRU green HDPE liner and geocomposite drainage material designed to manage contact water throughout the site.
The project includes more than 8.9 million SF of liner and 5.7 million SF of geocomposite. To date, COMANCO crews have completed installation of more than 3.7 million SF of liner and 2.3 million SF of geocomposite.
Several unique field elements are being incorporated throughout the closure work. Crews are installing green liner along with matching green ballast sandbags throughout portions of the site. Despite the visual differences, installation quality requirements remain the same across every phase.
Superintendents Gerardo Ruiz and Ramon Irrizary, Foreman Fredy Serrano, Leadman Carlos Lopez Gomez, and Lead QA/QC Technician Sesar Quirino have helped maintain strong production and safe operations across multiple work sequences.
Pond Expansion and Freeboard Improvements
Elsewhere on site, COMANCO crews are completing containment improvements on a south pond expansion project. Unlike the nearby closure work, this project combines earthwork and liner installation within the same operation.
The work involves extending an existing liner system to a new target elevation while also raising the surrounding dike roadway. Coordinating grading operations, haul traffic, and liner installation requires careful planning throughout each stage of construction.
Crews installed 80 mil AGRU liner while also placing approximately 1,300 CY of fill material and 1,100 tons of off-spec rock for roadway improvements.
Increasing freeboard capacity gives operators additional flexibility when water levels rise during storm events and changing pond conditions. Maintaining additional capacity becomes especially important on active water management systems where conditions can shift quickly.
Even relatively small liner extensions require careful coordination in the field. Crews must tie into existing systems while maintaining proper elevations and preparing subgrade conditions for the new liner installation.
Superintendent Billy Menard and Leadman David Boone continue overseeing the work while crews push toward completion. Despite occasional equipment setbacks, the project has maintained strong production and safe operations.
Ongoing Containment Repairs
In another area of the facility, COMANCO crews are performing repairs to the process water pond, supporting the installation of new HDPE pipe infrastructure.
The work includes welding seep shield HDPE into the existing pond liner system before returning during a second mobilization to cap abandoned HDPE pipe. While smaller in scale than the nearby closure and expansion work, repair scopes like this help facilities keep older containment infrastructure functioning properly.
Containment repairs often require a different approach than new construction. Crews must work carefully around existing systems while ensuring new materials integrate properly with aging infrastructure already in service.
Leadman Tony Morris Jr. completed the first phase of the work in April, leaving the project approximately 50% complete until the second mobilization begins. The project also highlights the importance of adaptable field leadership, especially for smaller scopes requiring independent coordination and execution.
Multiple Projects, One Coordinated Effort
Large industrial facilities rarely pause operations during environmental construction. Crews often move between closure work, pond improvements, and repair scopes while coordinating around ongoing site operations each day.
Experienced environmental contractors understand how to adapt to those changing conditions without sacrificing installation quality or safety performance. That field experience becomes especially important on large phosphate facilities where containment systems directly support long-term environmental compliance.
COMANCO continues supporting these efforts through coordinated field operations, experienced supervision, and consistent quality control across multiple projects throughout the facility.
With several containment projects happening at the same facility, priorities can shift quickly depending on site conditions, weather, and ongoing operations. Keeping work moving safely and efficiently requires crews that can adapt in the field while maintaining consistent installation quality.
SAFETY ★ QUALITY ★ SERVICE
COMANCO is an environmental, commercial, and civil construction company specializing in constructing containment facilities.
Coordinating multiple containment projects across the same facility requires experienced crews, strong communication, and the ability to adapt to changing site conditions. From large-scale closure work to pond expansions and repairs, COMANCO continues to support long-term containment performance across Central Florida phosphate operations.
To learn more about COMANCO’s environmental construction and containment experience, contact our team today.
📍 4301 Sterling Commerce Dr, Plant City, FL 33566
📞 (813) 988-8829
🌐 www.comanco.com