Phosphate Mining

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.

Like so many other phosphate mining towns, Coronet thrived just south of Plant City until the 1960s. Thought it no longer exists, its residents recall a bustling industry and a tight-knit community.

After completing laboratory research on the use of phosphogypsum as a road base, a Florida-based mining company is seeking approval from the EPA to conduct a pilot project.

They filed the federal lawsuit after around 215 million gallons of wastewater was discharged into Tampa Bay in 2021. It said the discharges caused harmful algae blooms and fish kills.

The tear in a gypstack is the latest in a series of environmental mishaps at the New Wales phosphate plant, near Mulberry.

Several environmental groups say they plan to sue the federal government for failing to regulate waste produced by phosphate mining. The move comes after they had asked the feds to toughen industry standards.

One of Florida's biggest phosphate mines is reporting a possible tear in the lining that keeps waste from polluting the environment. But officials say the effects are still unknown.

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.