Yes. Stringent water quality regulations require that any water that is released into a river or stream must go through permitted discharge points and must comply with Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards for water quality. These standards are designed to protect water bodies for recreational uses such as swimming and fishing and to protect public health and welfare.

Clay settling areas play an important role in phosphate mining. The phosphate rock is first removed from the ground, along with clay and sand, in a mixture of materials known as the matrix. After separating the clay and sand from phosphate pebbles at a processing plant, the clay is routed to a settling area in slurry form. These areas are kept active while the clay consolidates, or compacts, which then minimizes the total acreage required on a mine site for clay storage.
   
Clay settling areas also provide water storage, which helps Mosaic minimize the amount of groundwater it uses. Given this storage capability, Mosaic is able to meet most of its water needs using this recycled water. Clay settling areas have an added benefit of providing long-term interim aquatic habitat for fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and other wildlife.

No. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection requires that dams surrounding clay settling areas be engineered in keeping with best available technology, inspected often, carefully constructed and well maintained - with extremely low potential for failure. In the decades since an often-cited clay spill adversely impacted the Peace River, dam construction practices, financial assurances, and the regulatory/inspection requirements that govern them have changed dramatically, and new techniques ensuring even greater safeguards are continually being developed.

No. All credible research, including studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1977), Florida Department of Health/Bureau of Radiation Control (1988), U.S. Geological Survey (1984), Florida State University (1988) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1994), has found that phosphate mining has absolutely no radiological effect on either surface or ground water.

No. The phosphate rock deposits in Central Florida were formed 10 to 15 million years ago when large amounts of rich organic material decayed at the bottom of the sea. As the sea level changed, erosion concentrated the phosphate, incorporating a small amount of uranium and producing the deposits that are mined today. The amount of uranium, uranium decay products and radioactivity in a phosphate mining area is proportional to the amount of phosphate found there. Although neither the mining nor processing of phosphate involves the addition of any radioactive substances, the digging up and turning over of soil to find and remove phosphate can increase radioactivity near the surface by bringing material containing uranium decay products once 30 feet underground to the surface.

Yes. The Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Radiation Control has monitored phosphate mine radiation for more than 15 years, taking measurements of gamma radiation, soil radium and radon emanation from soils on lands before and after phosphate mining. Gamma radiation levels are generally two to three times greater on reclaimed land than non-mined lands, while reclaimed soil radium concentrations are five to 15 times pre-mining conditions. Radon soil emanation rates are only slightly elevated on reclaimed lands.

People throughout the state (and around the world) detect radon in their homes, so statewide building codes were adopted to address radon concerns.  At certain levels, for example, a sub-slab ventilation system is installed to address the issue. 

No. For years, we monitored the air surrounding our operating mines for Total Suspended Particulates and consistently met the EPA's national standards for particulate matter or dust. In keeping with our longstanding good neighbor policies, we pave access roads before beginning plant construction, clear small parcels of land rather than whole areas, use temporary land cover and water trucks when and where appropriate, and implement best management practices. While Mosaic consistently tries to prevent dust from company mining operations from drifting onto nearby property, if that does occur, we will quickly investigate each complaint to determine the source and assist the neighbor as appropriate.

No.  Radioactivity is a natural part of our every day lives. Microwave ovens use radiation to cook food, radio waves activate our radios and televisions, and X-rays are routinely used in medical procedures. Many natural elements have radioactive atoms. Over the millennia, radioactivity has accumulated deep underground where phosphate ore is found. All phosphate rock, regardless of its geographic or geological origin, contains trace amounts of radioactivity.

The Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute, an independent state research agency, has done multiple studies on phosphate industry employees to measure the amount of radiation workers are exposed to. The results of this study indicate that average exposures in the phosphate industry are levels that are much less than the 100 millirem/year limit - the level set by the Department of Health for public safety. For more details, visit www.fipr.state.fl.us.

Officials at both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disputed these claims, confirming that anti-phosphate groups misused the data or used inaccurate data to garner media publicity in their crusade against mining. The controversy began over a draft report on the Borden Chemical Company/Tenoroc Mine prepared by an independent consultant for the EPA. The report noted "elevated" levels of contamination in soils and ground water, and went on to make a recommendation that Tenoroc staff avoid drinking well water. In reviewing the report, the FWC and EPA noted that, despite the reportedly "elevated" level of radium, the well water quality was actually better than EPA drinking water standards. The draft report's misinterpretation of the term "elevated" to imply "risk" contributed to the EPA's subsequent decision to publish retractions in area newspapers.

More than 20,000 people annually enjoy high-quality fishing at the Tenoroc Fish Management Area (exclusive of shooting, horseback riding, camping, etc.). The FWC estimates that associated angler expenditures have contributed more than $12 million dollars (1996-2004) to the local economy, generating $714,684 in state sales taxes.

Tenoroc was mined prior to passing the mandatory reclamation rule, and the northern Polk County portion of the park is now undergoing an inter-agency watershed restoration effort. To read more, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/mines/index.htm.

No. Red tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon that cannot be prevented. It occurs in the Gulf of Mexico when there is a strong "thermocline," a layer of water where the temperature changes quickly. The thermocline, which separates the warmer surface water from the cooler bottom water, traps the toxic bloom near the bottom of the Gulf, worsening its effects there. When the algae's toxins kill fish, bacteria breaking down the dead matter rob the water of oxygen.

While most scientists agree it's important to reduce nutrient pollution from all sources (including urban development), there is no evidence to support that phosphate mining or fertilizer manufacturing operations are causing red tide outbreaks. In fact, regular operating procedures require our facilities meet state water quality standards.