Economics of Phosphate Fertilizer Production

To date, in part because of a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the effects of phosphate mining and the technology to minimize adverse effects, state and local regulations have been imprudently lax. And, in many cases, local authorities are (and would be in the future) generally unable to control effects of uncertain origin beyond their borders. Local controls alone cannot provide adequate protection against this industry.

We see no reason to further subsidize the industry via economic incentives in hope of their improved performance.

Phosphate is a non-renewable resource. Continuing to cite its optimal use as sound economic policy is quite illogical. A policy of minimum usage of our rapidly depleting supply of phosphate seems a much sounder economic as well as environmental policy.

An overall economic assessment of the phosphate industry is needed. This economic assessment should include the true costs of current mining practices. This is necessary to develop a realistic picture of the so-called economic benefits of phosphate mining and milling as presently cited by the industry.

Factors that should be considered are:

1. Analysis of medical and social costs of increased cancer morbidity and mortality resulting from current industry reclamation practices.

2. Analysis of cost of health effects due to spread of radioactive particulates and radon gas from gypsum stacks, tailing piles, slime pits, and phosphate rock dryers.

3. Contamination of groundwater by radioisotopes and costs of removal. (A majority of Florida's population uses groundwater systems as their source of drinking water).

4. Analysis of health and social costs due to industry contamination of surface water. (The commercial fishing industry may see its revenues dramatically curtailed due to radioactive contamination of marine products).

5. Costs to agriculture (damage to beef, citrus, vegetable crops, etc.) and public health in the form of kidney and other chronic diseases from exposure to the non-regulated point sources of fluoride emissions from gypsum ponds. This is in addition to regulated emissions.

6. Cost of the destruction of wetlands.

7. Changes in the hydrologic systems of Florida.

8. Increased energy costs to domestic water users from pumping operations because of groundwater potentiometric drop.

9. Investigation of the real costs for phosphogypsum waste disposal.

10. The cost and effect on the balance of payments of the irretrievable commitment of fossil fuels to generate the electricity needs of the industry.

11. The long-term detrimental effects and economic costs of unlimited mining of a non-renewable resource create dependency for phosphate on foreign suppliers.

We expect if these factors are considered, results will show phosphate mining, processing, and exporting as it is presently done represents no real gain to the American economy.

There is still no technology to provide for the safe storage of phosphate slimes and disposal of the toxic & radioactive phosphogypsum wastes.

The lives of Floridians are threatened and shortened by the present handling of phosphate wastes, while mining continues to rapidly deplete another of our country's non-renewable resources.

Glenn Compton is the Chairman of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.