To date, partly due to a lack of in-depth knowledge of the effects of phosphate mining and technology to minimize adverse effects, state and local regulations have been recklessly 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 through economic incentives in the hope of improving its performance.

Phosphate is a non-renewable resource. Continuing to cite its best use as sound economic policy is utterly illogical. A policy of minimizing our rapidly depleting phosphate supply seems like a much healthier economic and environmental policy.

A comprehensive economic assessment of the phosphate industry is needed. This economic evaluation should include the real 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 currently cited by industry.

Factors to consider are:

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

2. Analysis of the cost of health effects due to the spread of radioactive particles and radon gas from gypsum piles, tailings piles, mud pits and phosphate rock dryers.

3. Groundwater contamination by radioisotopes and disposal costs. (The majority of Florida’s population uses groundwater systems as a source of drinking water).

4. Analysis of health and social costs due to industrial contamination of surface waters. (The commercial fishing industry could see its income drastically reduced 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 disease and other chronic diseases resulting from exposure to unregulated point sources of fluoride emissions from gypsum ponds. This is in addition to regulated emissions.

6. Cost of destruction of wetlands.

7. Changes in Florida’s water systems.

8. Increased energy costs for domestic users of water from pumping operations due to potentiometric fall of groundwater.

9. Investigation of the actual costs of disposing of phosphogypsum waste.

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

11. The long-term adverse effects and economic costs of unlimited extraction of a non-renewable resource create dependence for phosphate on foreign suppliers.

We anticipate that if these factors are taken into account, the results will show that the mining, processing and exporting of phosphate as currently done represents no real gain for the US economy.

There is still no technology to ensure safe storage of phosphate sludge and disposal of toxic and radioactive phosphogypsum waste.

The lives of Floridians are threatened and shortened by the current handling of phosphate waste, while mining continues to rapidly deplete another of our nation’s non-renewable resources.

Glenn Compton is the president of ManaSota 88, a non-profit organization that has fought for more than 30 years to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties.