Florida – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this week approved a pilot project in Florida that will investigate the viability of using phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct from the phosphate industry, in road building. Approved on Friday, the project, which sparked a lot of debate, will be carried out by Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC, a division of The Mosaic corporation, and situated at the New Wales site of the corporation in Polk County.
Traditionally kept in big stacks because of its radioactive composition, phosphogypsum has come under investigation for environmental and health effects. With the EPA’s clearance, Mosaic can build four test road sections including different phosphogypsum compositions in the road base material. The EPA’s statement indicates that this approval is solely for this pilot project and does not cover more general uses.
Environmental groups, who contend that the use of phosphogypsum in road building poses significant risks to construction workers and could potentially affect water quality, oppose the decision fiercely. Despite these issues, based on several risk assessment models the EPA’s notice—which is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register—asserts that the project is projected to be safe. The agency underlined that their assessment concluded that potential risks to site workers and adjacent households are limited.
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The EPA’s assurance hasn’t, however, lessened the concerns of opponents. Attorneys with the Center for Biological Diversity, Ragan Whitlock, expressed disappointment by the ruling, calling it “mind-boggling.” Whitlock pointed out the possible environmental and health risks connected to phosphogypsum, especially from storage stack leaks.
“The well-documented harm to public health and the environment from this kind of waste leaking out of radioactive phosphogypsum storage stacks should be leading to better oversight of Florida’s biggest polluters,” Whitlock stated as Orlando Weekly reported. He accused the EPA of succumbing to industry pressure and warned that this decision might pave the way for more widespread use of in road construction nationwide.
In support of exploring this new use of phosphogypsum, the Florida legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis passed a bill earlier this year that directs the state’s Department of Transportation to study the material’s suitability for road projects. This legislation aligns with the EPA’s conditions and requires that any application of phosphogypsum as a construction material be contingent on federal approval.
This pilot project by Mosaic marks a significant step in testing alternative uses for phosphogypsum, potentially transforming a hazardous waste product into a useful construction material. As the project progresses, it will likely continue to attract scrutiny and debate over the balance between industrial innovation and environmental protection.
