Mining Impacts to the Human and Natural Environments

A compendium of resources and issues

Updates: Altman Mine Permit

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

Subject: Hardee board postpones mine meeting

Hmmmmm, interesting, considering they announced after the last hearing that

no additional documents could be submitted...

"But after Saunders suggested the moratorium, other board members called for

the meeting to be postponed until June 30. That would allow more time to

gather documents necessary to weigh Mosaic?s proposal, members said."

__________

Hardee board postpones mine meeting

By GREG MARTIN STAFF WRITER

    WAUCHULA ? The Hardee County Planning & Zoning Board postponed its

meeting to approve an 11,000-acre phosphate mine Thursday night, but not

until after one member called for a moratorium on the mining.

    Board member Carl Saunders suggested a moratorium of six months to one

year to allow the county to consult with an agency such as the U.S.

Geological Survey in a workshop about the impacts of the mining.

    The suggestion came as the board was set to consider approving Mosaic

Fertilizers? 10,856-acre South Fort Meade Extension, located east of the

Peace River between Fort Meade and Wauchula.

    Some five creeks drain the site, which is now an agricultural property.

    ?We?re just lay people,? said Saunders, adding he didn?t want to make

?earth-shattering decisions about the future of the county? without first

consulting an outside agency.

    The board was set to approve a draft development order that would allow

Mosaic to excavate more than 177 million tons of phosphate ore, sand and

clay over the next 20 years or so.

    But after Saunders suggested the moratorium, other board members called

for the meeting to be postponed until June 30. That would allow more time to

gather documents necessary to weigh Mosaic?s proposal, members said.

    Bill Lambert, Hardee County?s economic development director, is

negotiating with Mosaic executives on a list of ?economic mitigation?

benefits. The items would be put into the development order as conditions

for approval.

    In a recent paper, Lambert called for phosphate companies to leave

behind mine sites in conditions suitable for industrial, residential or

commercial developments.

    At Mosaic?s Fort Green mine, Lambert wants the company to make sure

railroads and electrical systems remain in place to spur industrial

development.

    In the southern part of the Fort Meade extension, Mosaic should design a

housing development around future manmade lakes, he wrote.

    Phosphate companies should also cooperate on efforts to establish a

cargo airport, farm labor housing and a ?fossilbased? tourist attraction,

according to Lambert.

    ?If there are good jobs with higher-than-average wages, yes, they do

help us while the mining is going on,? Lambert said. ?But after mining

ceases, unless you?ve taken steps to stimulate economic diversification, you

end up with nothing.?

    Dave Townsend, spokesman for Mosaic, pointed out the county?s own

economics consultant, ECONorthwest, determined the extension of mining into

Hardee County would have a net economic benefit. The consultant said wages

would generate $98 million more in income for county residents and

businesses.

    He was asked whether the impacts to wetlands and streams should also be

counted as an economic loss.

    ?This is an economic evaluation, not an environmental one, however,

there are clearly benefits to Mosaic agreeing not to disturb 3,100 acres of

existing wetlands, the Peace River floodplain and major tributaries to the

Peace River,? he replied.

    The Central Florida Regional Planning Council, in a staff report,

praised the Mosaic for offering to not mine those 3,100 acres.

    But the council's report also warns of impacts to other streams and a

chain of wetlands, palmetto prairies and pine flatwoods.

    Townsend, however, pointed out the council unanimously endorsed the

mining proposal.

    Sun Correspondent Sharie Derrickson contributed to this story.

    You can e-mail Greg Martin at gmartin@sun-herald.com.

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