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Hillsborough Commission OKs Phosphate Mine Expansion

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By KAREN BRANCH-BRIOSO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 12, 2008

TAMPA - Phosphate giant Mosaic Fertilizer got the go-ahead Tuesday from Hillsborough County commissioners to expand its mining boundaries in southeast Hillsborough by 1,540 acres.

The board voted 6-1 for the plan over objections by neighbors fearful of noise and phosphate mining's potential impact on the water supply and tropical fish farms. Commissioner Rose Ferlita was the sole opposing vote.

"I'm still not comfortable enough from the environmental side," Ferlita said.

For decades, phosphate mining has been a part of Hillsborough County's southeastern corner. Mosaic mines phosphate there to produce fertilizer and employs 909 people in Hillsborough in those industries.

The lone private landowner in the area arguing for the expansion was Dennis Carlton. He is a farmer and developer whose citrus groves and cattle pastures comprise about half of the 1,540 acres added to the mining boundaries. He said he didn't plan to sell the land to Mosaic but does intend to allow the company to mine there.

"Once it's mined, it'll go back to citrus and pasture."

But many neighbors of Carlton's property, which makes up Mosaic's new westernmost boundary, are none too happy with the plan. In that area alone, three dozen homeowners signed petitions against the plan.

Kim Skidmore owns a tropical fish farm less than a half-mile west of the new boundary. She's afraid mining nearby would lower groundwater levels and dry up her fish ponds and her livelihood.

"The mining ... encroaches on my right to farm and will likely cause a demise of my farm," Skidmore said.

Mosaic's permitting and reclamation superintendent, Dee Allen, told commissioners Skidmore's farm is too far from the potential mining area to have an impact on it. But she said the company agreed to send a hydrogeologist to Skidmore's property so they can design their plans "with her facility in mind."

By the same 6-1 vote, commissioners also approved a master mining and reclamation plan for the expanded area. But Commissioner Jim Norman said he wanted Mosaic's assurances that if the tropical fish farms are hurt by mining operations, the company will compensate the owners.

Planning and Zoning Division Director Paula Harvey said her staff will flag the issue when Mosaic returns for its mining operations permit in the new areas.

On the westernmost areas near Skidmore's fish farm, the company hopes to begin mining in about three years, Allen said. She said Mosaic will seek its next mining operations permit on an 80-acre parcel on the banks of the Hurrah Creek "within the next year."

That parcel prompted concerns from residents and the Tampa Bay Sierra Club because the Hurrah Creek is a tributary of the Alafia River, a major source of drinking water for the Tampa Bay area.

"My God, people, we are in a water problem," said Kathy Surface, whose family cattle farm borders Hurrah Creek.

Bev Griffiths of the Sierra Club asked commissioners to require Mosaic to test for arsenic, lead, iron and aluminum in that area.

Commissioners didn't require the extra testing.

Reporter Karen Branch-Brioso can be reached at kbranch-brioso@tampatrib.com or at (813) 259-7815.

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