Polk County Florida Mosaic Phosphogypsum Stack Sinkhole Claims?

Mosaic has agreed to comprehensive
financial assurance provisions, including a
$630 million dedicated trust fund

If the federal government cannot protect those injured in the alleged Polk County, Florida radioactive sinkhole , then who will?

"Mosaic is one of the fertilizers industry’s best performers in its ability to reduce large volumes of corrosive wastewater in its phosphogypsum stack systems."

This is a direct quote from an Environmental Protection Agency source. Check it our here: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/mosaic-fertilizer-llc-settlement .  

If that is what the federal government found, who is going to protect those injured in the alleged Polk County, Florida radioactive sinkhole spilling into the Floridan aquifer?

Mosaic has agreed to comprehensive financial assurance provisions, including a $630 million dedicated trust fund

Here is what the EPA also found:

• EPA inspected Mosaic’s phosphate production facilities in Florida and Louisiana and alleged the following violations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
• Failure to make hazardous waste determinations for scrubber effluents, fluorosilicic acid-production wastes, product spills and leaks, and wastes from cleaning pipes and tanks (40 C.F.R. § 262.11);
• Treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes without a permit or interim status (42 U.S.C. § 6925(a) and 40 C.F.R. Part 264, Subparts A-G, K, and CC);
• Failure to perform land disposal determinations and to meet land disposal restrictions for hazardous wastes (40 C.F.R. Part 268);
• Failure to provide adequate financial assurance for closure, long-term care, and third-party liability (40 C.F.R. Part 264 Subpart H); and
• Failure to comply with recordkeeping requirements (40 C.F.R. § 262.40).

Injunctive Relief was Sought Against Mosaic in Polk County, Florida

Mosaic was ordered to "prevent the release of hazardous, or highly-corrosive, wastewaters from fertilizer production to the phosphogypsum stack system through an innovative reconfiguration of current operations." Furthermore,  Mosaic was to "significantly reduce the amount of ammonia going to the phosphogypsum stack system by reconfiguring secondary scrubbers to cease circulation of ammonia-laden corrosive wastewater back to the phosphogypsum stack system."

In light of a huge sinkhole in the Mosaic property and the alleged leakage of contaminated water into the Floridan aquifer it is notable that EPA demanded, "Mosaic will implement a best management practices plan to address potential leaks and spills of phosphoric acid from phosphoric acid and granulation operations."

Huge Trust Fund Provides Comprehensive Financial Assurance

"Mosaic has agreed to comprehensive financial assurance provisions, including a $630 million dedicated trust fund, as well as a $50 million letter of credit and a corporate guarantee by its parent company, The Mosaic Company, to ensure funds are available for its estimated cost of $1.8 billion for closure and long-term care of its phosphogypsum stack systems in Florida and Louisiana."

"Mosaic has additionally agreed to provide a corporate guarantee from its parent company for $8 million in annual coverage for accidental occurances that cause property damage or bodily injury to third parties."

Polk County Florida Mosaic Phosphogypsum Stack Sinkhole Claims? If the federal government cannot protect those injured in the alleged Polk County, Florida radioactive sinkhole , then who will?

News Updates From the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection