Environmental group sues EPA over approval of Mosaic’s radioactive road project in Polk County

Share
Phosphogypsum stack in West-Central Florida. By Seán Kinane/WMNF News (2010).

Listen:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is facing backlash from environmental groups after a December decision allowing Mosaic to use phosphogypsum in a road project in Polk County. 

Now, one group is suing the EPA. 

Phosphogypsum is a byproduct of processing phosphate. It contains radioactive material that the EPA says can cause cancer. 

And Center for Biological Diversity Staff Attorney Ragan Whitlock says that’s not all. 

“But in addition, there are a host of heavy, toxic metals in phosphogypsium which could leech into our groundwater. And as we saw with the Piney Point disaster, could wreak havoc on our ecosystems. This project is also not designed to address those concerns at all,” Whitlock told WMNF.

The approval from the EPA allows Mosaic Fertilizer to embark on a pilot road project at its facility in New Wales. 

Now, the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit.

“This is a brazen attempt to coddle the phosphogypsum industry instead of protecting human health and safety and the environment,”  Whitlock says.

Due to its public health threats, since 1989 the EPA has required that phosphogypsum be stored in stacks.

Now, Whitlock called the decision to use it is roads contradictory and risky. 

“The EPA is now turning back the clock on its own independent consultants’ findings that this presents an unacceptably high cancer risk.” Whitlock said.

He encourages those concerned to reach out to their legislators and representatives. 

An EPA spokesperson told WMNF they do not comment on current or pending litigation. 

Meanwhile, Mosaic is looking at injecting phosphate wastewater underground in the state.

The Tampa Bay Times reports they are considering phosphate wastewater injection underground in Riverview, New Wales, Bartow, and Plant City. 

Whitlock says putting the wastewater underground is a bad idea, too. 

“The idea that we should be injecting our radioactive, hazardous waste into underground wells in a state that prohibits underground injection of hazardous waste precisely because of our carcinology and the permeability of our soils is a terrible idea,”Whitlock said.

The Department of Environmental Protection and Mosaic will hold a Public Meeting in Plant City to hear public feedback.

The meeting will be held at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center in Plant City on March 11th, from 4 to 7 pm. 

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

You may also like

Richard Corcoran
New College alumni group ‘appalled’ at recent school controversies

Listen: New College of Florida, the small Sarasota school that...

The Scoop: Fri. May 23, 2025, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

WMNF headlines including hurricane season, Tampa protests, Pine Island Preserve...

COVID-19 closures
Gulfport bans beach smoking

The Gulfport beach ban prohibits cigarettes and other tobacco products,...

Ahead of the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, Tampa protestors prepare to rally again

Listen: This weekend will mark the fifth anniversary of the...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Words & Music
Words & Music