Phosphate Mining

The story of the Peace River is, in a sense, the story of Florida. Parts of it look like they did before Florida was developed. But it also bears the scars of a century and a half of exploitation.

The bill would create a new legal shield for people who own former phosphate mining land. It helps owners remove what's called “strict liability” if someone sues over harms caused by pollution.

If permits are approved, construction at the Riverview plant would begin in 2028, according to a preliminary company presentation.

The EPA approved the pilot project. Attorneys for the agency and Mosaic say the EPA had discretion to sign off on it.

The Center for Biological Diversity is legally challenging the EPA's decision to allow phosphogypsum in the construction project, citing a 1992 federal rule against doing so and cancer risks.

A public hearing was held Tuesday night on an "exploratory" well at an idled Mosaic processing plant north of Plant City. But it is unknown what exactly would eventually be sent underground.

The troubled plant in Manatee County has caused environmental problems for Tampa Bay since the 1970s. We take a tour of the site, where workers are within months of shutting it down.

Center for Biological Diversity, an environmentalist group, claims the use of phosphogypsum in the road would increase levels of radon gas, posing a cancer risk to workers and residents.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency Friday approved a test project using a toxic byproduct of phosphate mining for road beds.

Federal regulators are seeking comment on their plan to approve the test road bed project in Polk County through Nov. 8.

The phosphate mining company had halted operations across Florida to prevent potential damage from Milton.

There are concerns Hurricane Milton could impact phosphogypsum plants in the state. A leak in 2021 resulted in the release of around 215 million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay.