Phosphate mining creates “moonscape” in Florida

Share
Mosaic phosphate mining
Phosphate mining in Florida. By Jaclyn Lopez (used with permission).

We look at phosphate mining in Florida: what it’s used for, how it’s mined and its effects on the environment, water and public health.

Listen to the full show here:

The first half of the show is a presentation by Andy Mele. He’s vice chair of the Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club group and spoke last week at the Ale and the Witch in St. Petersburg as part of a lecture series called Ales and Wild Tails.

Mosaic phosphate
Phosphate mining in Florida. By Jacki Lopez (used with permission).

He spoke about effects of phosphate mining in Ft. Meade, Riverview, Mulberry and Progress Village, near Tampa.

Mele also spoke critically about the phosphate company Mosaic Fertilizer. I invited Mosaic on the show today but Richard Ghent, the phosphates media contact for Mosaic, wrote, “We respectfully decline your invitation.”

The Manatee County Planning Commission is holding a work session this Thursday morning and Mosaic Fertilizer has items on the agenda related to its Wingate East Mine.

Video 1 of phosphate lecture:

Video 2 of phosphate lecture:

 

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

You may also like

Tampa Theatre to spotlight local Black cinema at Juneteenth film celebration

Listen: The Tampa Theatre, in partnership with Film Tampa Bay,...

The Scoop: Mon. June 16, 2025, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

WMNF headlines including No Kings protests in St Petersburg and...

No Kings Day protest in Pinellas County

Pinellas County joined in on the country wide protest for...

Hurricane season preparedness checklist fpren noaa
Here’s how to prepare for hurricane season even as no tropical systems currently threaten Florida

In past years, Florida would have completed its tax-free week...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Excellent Zest
Player position: