Phosphate Mining

Critics warn against industry-driven environmental research agendas in Florida.

Congress has a chance once every five years to transform conservation in agriculture. Will they take it?

Florida’s old phosphate mines have been turned into housing developments, parks, bass lakes, golf courses and restored habitat. Does “reclaiming” live up to the claims?

Scientists expect to release the forecast for the size of this year’s oxygen-depleted zone this week.

How vulnerable are the southeast’s phosphate plants, mines and mountains of waste to stronger rains and hurricanes?

Along one section of the Mississippi River, three massive fertilizer plants contribute to industrial pollution in Louisiana communities.

One of the most common elements in the universe, nitrogen is also a crucial ingredient in fertilizer. All living things need it to survive. But it can kill, too.

Abundant phosphate reserves made the Sunshine State a key player in the global fertilizer industry — leading to both riches and sacrifices.

Said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando: "I am concerned that our approach is one that does not take in consideration health risks.”

The digging of a deep well at the troubled Piney Point phosphate plant in Manatee County has been completed. Now, workers are injecting 1 million gallons of polluted water deep underground, every day. WUSF takes a tour of the site, to see what's being done to make sure huge spills don't happen again.

Here are the key developments at the troubled Piney Point phosphate plant, including a spill that prompted officials to pump more than 200 million gallons of the reservoir’s polluted water into Tampa Bay.

They warn that the contamination of Florida’s air, water and soil could increase the risk of cancer if the wins approval.