MANATEE -- More than 20 speakers lined up Thursday to oppose a plan by Mosaic Fertilizer LLC to extend a phosphate mine across a wide swath of east Manatee County.
After running out of time late in the afternoon, the Manatee County Commission voted to continue the hearing to March 1, with the company’s assent.
The company is seeking a rezoning of 645.9 acres and a master mining plan to extend the Wingate Creek Mine near Duette.
Complaining about the project were homeowners who live nearby, environmentalists, a lawyer and other citizens.
“It’s clanging, banging, constant noise,” said Deborah Bronk, who lives in the nearby Winding Creek subdivision.
She objected to the company’s 24/7 work schedule, saying that the previously quiet country area she loved is already noisy as a result of the company’s activities, and will be worse if its requests are granted to extend the mine.
“I know the county needs more money, but at what expense? Me and my neighbors’ happiness?” she asked.
Company representatives replied that the noise and lights from the phosphate mine are well within the limits set by the county, and that they have tried hard to be a good neighbor to those living near them.
They also noted that the project would employ workers both in the mine and elsewhere and that the business would generate multi-millions of dollars in badly needed tax revenue for the county.
Siding with the company was the county staff, which found the project “a logical expansion” and its zoning consistent with the agricultural/rural future land use category, according to county documents. The county planning commission also has OK’d the company’s proposals.
Much of the discussion focused on the company’s plan to disturb a 48.4-acre wetland, which Mosaic’s Bartley Arrington said would “be bigger and better when it is replaced,” as part of a mitigation effort the company would accomplish when it eventually reclaimed the land after mining was over.
But the wetland question and the long-term effect of the mine on the county’s groundwater resources, came up repeatedly in the discussion.
“Mosaic is using approximately 69 million gallons of water (a day), while we’re facing drought conditions,” said James Spencer, a former Manatee County school district employee. He suggested the county study the impact to the groundwater system.
Sydney T. Bacchus, a hydro-ecologist representing the local Sierra Club, warned of an “irreversible drop in the water table” that would affect wetlands and the nearby Duette Preserve, where the Manatee River headwaters arise.
“It will be impossible to prevent impacts to the preserve,” she told the commission, adding that the preserve is public property paid for with county and state funds.
Linda Jones accused the company of attempting to circumvent the intent of an area-wide environmental study that is underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, due for completion later this year.
“Do not approve any mine until the EIS is completed,” she said of the study.
Jaime Canfield said the company would use up the water, a finite resource, denude the land, and leave the area without jobs in six years.
“What they’re doing is a crime, it’s as simple as that -- they’re raping our land,” he added.
Commissioner Joe McClash attempted a motion to postpone consideration of the matter until after the Corps’ environmental impact statement is complete but was thwarted by procedural matters.
Still, other commissioners expressed similar sentiments.
“I’m leaning towards waiting for the study to come back,” said Commissioner Robin DiSabatino.
Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7031.
