Phosphate

Critics say placing the phosphate waste in roadways could put human and environmental health at risk.

A milestone was reached Thursday, as one of the wastewater ponds atop the Piney Point phosphate plant was closed. This means the troubled plant is one step closer to being closed - forever.

Documents shed new light on the Tampa fertilizer giant’s plan to test its phosphate byproduct in road construction.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will decide in the next few months if the Mosaic Company can build roads using a radioactive byproduct of phosphate mining.

A new law is paving the way for radioactive roads in Florida. But environmentalists say it would affect road construction workers, harm plant and wildlife, and potentially kill precious Florida springs.

Conservation groups had urged the governor to veto the bill, saying phosphogypsum would hurt water quality and put road construction crews at a higher risk of cancer.

The measure, which drew opposition from environmental groups, will require the Florida Department of Transportation to study the use of phosphogypsum in road-construction “aggregate” material.

The fundraising event was held May 22 at a lofty Bowling Green golf getaway — formerly owned by the Tampa-based fertilizer giant.

It’s proof that the plume of dirty water flowed from the former phosphate plant and out into the Gulf of Mexico, the study’s authors say.

Billions of dollars’ worth of investment is pouring into microbes, cover crops, and other alternatives.

Booneslick Heritage Farm uses sustainable farming practices to improve soil health and reduce fertilizer use.

Restoring soil health turns out to be one of the most important solutions to keeping nutrient pollution out of waterways.