Financial report context:
approximately $ 32 million of federal tax payments were deferred and paid in 2009 as a result of the allied acquisition . the following table summarizes the activity in our gross unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended december 31: .

Financial table:
2010: balance at beginning of year; 2009: $ 242.2; 2008: $ 611.9; column_4: $ 23.2
2010: additions due to the allied acquisition; 2009: -; 2008: 13.3; column_4: 582.9
2010: additions based on tax positions related to current year; 2009: 2.8; 2008: 3.9; column_4: 10.6
2010: reductions for tax positions related to the current year; 2009: -; 2008: -; column_4: -5.1 ( 5.1 )
2010: additions for tax positions of prior years; 2009: 7.5; 2008: 5.6; column_4: 2.0
2010: reductions for tax positions of prior years; 2009: -7.4 ( 7.4 ); 2008: -24.1 ( 24.1 ); column_4: -1.3 ( 1.3 )
2010: reductions for tax positions resulting from lapse of statute of limitations; 2009: -10.4 ( 10.4 ); 2008: -0.5 ( 0.5 ); column_4: -0.4 ( 0.4 )
2010: settlements; 2009: -11.9 ( 11.9 ); 2008: -367.9 ( 367.9 ); column_4: -
2010: balance at end of year; 2009: $ 222.8; 2008: $ 242.2; column_4: $ 611.9

Additional report context:
new accounting guidance for business combinations became effective for our 2009 financial statements . this new guidance changed the treatment of acquired uncertain tax liabilities . under previous guidance , changes in acquired uncertain tax liabilities were recognized through goodwill . under the new guidance , subsequent changes in acquired unrecognized tax liabilities are recognized through the income tax provision . as of december 31 , 2010 , $ 206.5 million of the $ 222.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to tax positions taken by allied prior to the 2008 acquisition . included in the balance at december 31 , 2010 and 2009 are approximately $ 209.1 million and $ 217.6 million of unrecognized tax benefits ( net of the federal benefit on state issues ) that , if recognized , would affect the effective income tax rate in future periods . during 2010 , the irs concluded its examination of our 2005 and 2007 tax years . the conclusion of this examination reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 1.9 million . we also resolved various state matters during 2010 that , in the aggregate , reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 10.0 million . during 2009 , we settled our outstanding tax dispute related to allied 2019s risk management companies ( see 2013 risk management companies ) with both the department of justice ( doj ) and the internal revenue service ( irs ) . this settlement reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 299.6 million . during 2009 , we also settled with the irs , through an accounting method change , our outstanding tax dispute related to intercompany insurance premiums paid to allied 2019s captive insurance company . this settlement reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $ 62.6 million . in addition to these federal matters , we also resolved various state matters that , in the aggregate , reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits during 2009 by approximately $ 5.8 million . we recognize interest and penalties as incurred within the provision for income taxes in our consolidated statements of income . related to the unrecognized tax benefits previously noted , we accrued interest of $ 19.2 million during 2010 and , in total as of december 31 , 2010 , have recognized a liability for penalties of $ 1.2 million and interest of $ 99.9 million . during 2009 , we accrued interest of $ 24.5 million and , in total at december 31 , 2009 , had recognized a liability for penalties of $ 1.5 million and interest of $ 92.3 million . during 2008 , we accrued penalties of $ 0.2 million and interest of $ 5.2 million and , in total at december 31 , 2008 , had recognized a liability for penalties of $ 88.1 million and interest of $ 180.0 million . republic services , inc . notes to consolidated financial statements , continued .

Question: what was the percent of the decline in the gross unrecognized tax benefits from 2009 to 2010
Answer: -8%