Mining Impacts to the Human and Natural Environments

A compendium of resources and issues

Phosphate mining

    News and resources regarding phosphate mining:

Sulfur Leak injures 20 in Bartow (October 17, 2008,The Ledger) The Mosaic Phosphate Plant in Polk County at 3200 State Road 60 West-  11 people were admitted to the hospital for sulfur dioxide inhalation.

Court Weighs Environmental Price of mining (St. Petersburg Times at Tampa Bay.com Oct 12, 2008). You have to 'dig deeper' to get the rest of the story- examine the efforts of the NGO's listed below for more about the fights going on by the people trying to protect and preserve your environment for future generations.

While the St. Pete's time journalist, Craig, always does a good, balanced story, there remains concern about the emphasis, throughout the litigations, that has been put on the upstream wetland impacts and their inability to create successful mitigation wetlands.  While this is very important in getting right to the heart of their inability to meet State wetland permitting requirements and might help regarding water quality ...it would be valuable if more is said about the much bigger issue........how mining permanently destroys the hydro-geologic structure (plumbing) of the watershed....with

1 - many thousands of acres of 'reclaimed' mined lands ending up several feet lower than pre-mining elevations and/or as lakes, and ....

2 - many thousands of acres ending up as 60-80 foot thick layers of impermeable clay that permanently destroy surficial aquifer recharge and base flow......

......both which capture runoff, increase evaporation and reduce billions and billions of gallons of flows to the streams and estuary.........

.......point is that someday they might be able to convince the agencies or judges they can achieve some 'acceptable' level of wetland mitigation.....but they will never be able to avoid or mitigate the far more serious destruction of the watershed plumbing.......  

People for Protecting Peace River recently file this suit against Hardee County and Mosaic Mine regarding the August 14, 2008 Resolution 08-19 Development Approval for a DRI for the S. Fort Meade Mine.

Updates: Altman Mine Permit- Both Manatee and Hardee county are not satisfied with their current permits ( sigh, some relief), so they have both postponed their meetings on this until July 31 and June 30th, respectively. Here is an email that summarizes Manatee county decision. Hardee just struck it from the agenda saying they were not satisfied with the economic forecast and are gathering more information. You may certainly post this to your web, and thanks to all concerned folks who wrote the commissioners!

Altman Mines in Manatee County threaten 2400 acres;  Ft Meade Mine in Hardee could encompass over 10,000 acres.  Respond before June 3rd 2008 to ask local commissioners to protect our natural resources-  civic engagement is needed to protect Manatee and Hardee County from the invasion of the mines- your community may be next.   Details about who to contact are here.

Is it legal for additional documents to be provided after a hearing?  (Hardee County issue- June, 2008)

Updates: Altman Mine Permit- Both Manatee and Hardee county are not satisfied with their current permits ( sigh, some relief), so they have both postponed their meetings on this until July 31 and June 30th, respectively. Here is an email that summarizes Manatee county decision. Hardee just struck it from the agenda saying they were not satisfied with the economic forecast and are gathering more information. You may certainly post this to your web, and thanks to all concerned folks who wrote the commissioners!

Hardee County Planning & Zoning Board postponed its meeting to approve an 11,000-acre phosphate mine-

some concerns are being raised about reopening the

Hardee County Mining on You Tube- most recent Phosphate mining decision now delayed until June 30th, 2008 (from June 5th, '08)

Ambitious Project Aims To Get Peace River Flowing Again (Nicole White Tampa Tribune 5/30/08)  Decades of pumping the ground for nearby farms, phosphate mines and home faucets, coupled with two years of unusually dry weather, have turned a 20-mile stretch of the Peace River into a cracked, sandy bed. For almost a third of the year, little or no water flows.

Take action- Manatee County Citizen Rally May 29th  Read about one family's fight to protect the Little Manatee Basin.

STORY ABOUT RALLY (Tampa Bay's 10 May 29, 2008)- claims NIMBYism rather than citizens working for sustainable future.

Listen to this NPR report (May 29, 2008) Are Organic Tomatoes Better? by Allison Aubrey about how conventionally grown (highly-over-fertilized) tomatoes have far fewer nutrients than organically grown foods.  Commissioners decide June 3rd.

Here's the dirt:  Phosphate's Hot  (published by the Tampa Tribune May 22, 2008)

Altman Mines in Manatee County threaten 2400 acres;  Ft Meade Mine in Hardee could encompass over 10,000 acres.

Respond before June 3rd 2008 to ask local commissioners to protect our natural resources-  civic engagement is needed to protect Manatee and Hardee County from the invasion of the mines- your community may be next.   Details about who to contact are here.

Kissengen Spring among the lost resources in the Charlotte-Sun Herald May 18, 2008

Top ten polluter's list from the EPA- Mosaic Mines takes several spots-

see Manasota-88's May 2008 newsletter for details

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This resource focuses on adverse impacts from mining currently not addressed or evaluated by regulatory agencies and municipalities, as well as alternatives to mining and approaches for improved monitoring and evaluation of existing and proposed mine sites and mine-related impacts.  This portal is made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of scientists, other professionals and citizens.