Phosphate Mining Favoritism

In line with polluters working in the present political climate to gut environmental regulations, are members of the phosphate industry. Favoritism toward phosphate mining companies is being shown at the national, state, and local levels.

Strong industry efforts continue to “gut" limited phosphate industry regulation. We should not continue to subsidize the phosphate industry with free use of water, preferential electric rates, the right to contaminate ground and surface water, and to pollute wetlands, etc. Instead, we should curb the overuse of fertilizers and phosphates.

On the national level, the U.S. Department of the Interior has designated phosphate a critical mineral. Designating phosphate as a critical mineral allows for subsidized financial incentives, federal tax advantages, faster permitting for phosphogypsum alternative uses, and expedited mining permits. As an example, the South Fort Meade Mining Project in Hardee County, Florida was recently granted FAST-41 coverage to extract phosphate ore, this means an expedited environmental review process to permit the expansion of existing mining operations.

At the state level, House Bill 167: Former Phosphate Mining Lands protects landowners by making it difficult to sue over elevated radiation levels on previously phosphate-mined land. This legislation is an attempt to make phosphate-mined-out lands economically feasible for sale to buyers without buyers knowing the health risks associated with these lands.

Regardless of this legislation, landowners should be required to disclose their property was issued mining permits. If owners of these properties believe phosphate mining is safe, then they should have no objection to having it noted on their deeds that mining occurred. But we know it is not safe, lands mined for phosphate are known to contain toxic, radioactive soils contaminated with known carcinogens that pose serious health and safety hazards.

In 2023, the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis passed HB 1191, the “Radioactive Roads Bill,” allowing for phosphogypsum to be used as an experimental roadbed material. High radionuclide levels, increased health risks, increased groundwater contamination, and a lack of federal and state regulatory oversight are among the many reasons why phosphogypsum should not be used in road construction. It is no secret that Florida laws minimize regulation so private corporations can maximize profits. HB 1191 will likely lead to the reduction of all regulations governing phosphogypsum use and allow its widespread use for road construction, school construction, and widespread dumping for fill, with unlimited use in agriculture.

On the local level, the Manatee County Commission approved a 14-year extension of the Wingate mines. Voting against the extension were Commissioners Carol Ann Felts and Bob McCann.

We have been concerned with the Wingate mine site since the 1970’s. The Wingate mine is in one of the worst possible places in Florida for strip mining. These mines are in the headwaters of the Myakka River which is a wild and scenic river, not only important for Florida but has national significance. It is also in the headwaters of the Peace River, which is an important drinking water source for thousands, and it is adjacent to the Lake Manatee Watershed, which is also a drinking water resource. The existing phosphate mines in Wingate were a historic land-use mistake; they should never have been permitted.

Wingate has multiple clay settling areas (toxic slime ponds). According to a Florida Institute of Phosphate research publication, if the slime pond dam breaks and spills the clay slurry, the fine clay particles quickly raise turbidity and can clog fish gills. Long-term effects of toxic slime pond failures include reduced fish and aquatic plant populations, increased biological oxygen demand, and the reintroduction of silt from rainfall.

A significant and long-lasting effect of toxic slime ponds is the overall reduction of recharge to the underlying aquifer and the negative impact this has on water supplies over time. Permitting a 14-year operating extension of the Wingate mines means 14 more years of risks to the Peace and Myakka River.

While the phosphate industry appears to be mainly interested in selling as much phosphate as possible, regardless of the damage to our environment, our national, state, and local politicians are mandated to protect the health of the environment and the people of this country. Many of our political leaders appear to be serving the interests of the phosphate industry and needlessly opening the door to future risk to the public and the environment at the benefit of phosphate mining companies.

Glenn Compton is the Chairman of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.

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