American Rivers Charlotte County Commission
Environmental Federation of Southwest Florida HARDCAP
ManaSota-88
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FLORIDA'S PEACE RIVER "MOST ENDANGERED"/PEACE RIVER #8 ON ANNUAL LIST RELEASED TODAY - www.americanrivers.org
(Washington, DC) American Rivers and its partners today named the Peace River as one of the nation's Most Endangered Rivers for 2004, citing proposed expansions in phosphate mining operations that have both depleted and polluted the water in the river. The annual America's Most Endangered Rivers report highlights rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than the worst chronic problems. The groups warned that the next 12 months would be crucial in determining the Peace River's long-term future.
"We didn't put the river on our list to tell the world how bad phosphate mining has been for the Peace River and the communities along it," said Rebecca R. Wodder, president of American Rivers. "We have put the river on our list to warn of the consequences of allowing the mining operations to expand significantly."
Phosphate is a strategic national mineral which we export to China, where it is used in fertilizer. To get at the rich deposits in the Peace River watershed, phosphate mining companies bore and scrape huge pits that reach thousands of acres in size. One byproduct of the extraction process is clay, which is stored in settling ponds that eventually comprise about 40 percent of a mine site. These ponds intercept rain that would otherwise soak into the soil to replenish groundwater and the river. Average river flows have fallen by 40% since mining expanded in the 1960s. Phosphate was first discovered in the Peace River Basin in the 1880s and mining expanded dramatically in the 1960s.
Sometimes these clay ponds collapse, sending a slurry of waste clay, containing uranium and radium, into the river and suffocating flora and fauna. One such incident killed 3 million fish. There was also a historical spill… which turned Charlotte Harbor "to chocolate milk" according to newspaper accounts at the time. On some occasions, clay slime spills have prevented the Peace River Manasota Water Supply Authority from using river flows for drinking water, forcing counties to seek water supplies elsewhere or rely on stored supplies.
The problem is poised to get worse. Phosphate mining companies have earmarked another 100,000 acres in the Peace River watershed - an expansion of more than 50 percent. In particular, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is preparing to grant a permit to IMC-Cargill to strip mine 4000 acres along Horse Creek, a major Peace River tributary-where an endangered Florida Panther was sighted by experts just last month.
"There is a clear case against expanded phosphate strip mining in the Peace River basin. In short, expansion is not worth the risk of waking up in the middle of an environmental and economic nightmare," said Glenn Compton with the local conservation group ManaSota-88
Conservationists propose solutions
"We're not just highlighting the problem along the Peace River, we want to propose a solution, as well," said Adam Cummings, Charlotte County Commissioner. "We need to know what the industry has planned and we need an area wide environmental impact statement so that we have a clear idea of the consequences. Then, if strip-mining is to continue, then IMC-Cargill is going to have to prove that they are financially stable and they must be held to real reclamation standards."
Most immediately, conservationists called on the DEP to reject the IMC-Cargill permit application. The groups also urged the agency to withhold permits for any other mine applications until it has conducted a thorough environmental analysis of phosphate mining in the Peace River watershed and the Southwest Florida Water Management District has set new minimum flow levels for the upper, middle and lower Peace River.
Peace River not unique
While the situation along the Peace River is particularly urgent, it is sadly far from unique. Scientific data reveals that America's rivers, streams, and lakes have become progressively more polluted since 1998. Conservationists warned that the White House and Congress have made little effort reverse this trend -- and have in fact opened new loopholes and cut enforcement of federal clean water laws over the past three years.
About America's Most Endangered Rivers
Each year, American Rivers solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, environmental organizations, outdoor clubs, local governments, and taxpayer watchdogs for the America's Most Endangered Rivers report.
The report highlights the rivers facing the most uncertain futures rather than those suffering from the worst chronic problems. The report presents alternatives to proposal that would damage rivers, identifies those who will make the crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river.
CALL TO ACTION
We need people to call or write to Governor Bush and to Tom Dabney at the Water Management District and tell them that we cannot afford the phosphate risk to our environmental and water resources.
To Manage the Phosphate Risk to the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor We Need:
Call or write these two officials and let them know
Governor Jeb Bush
850 / 488-4441
Executive Office of the Governor
400 S. Monroe Street
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
jeb@myflorida.com
Tom Dabney, Chairman
352-796-7211 or 800-423-1476 (FL only)
Southwest Florida Water Management District
2379 Broad Street
Brooksville, FL 34604-6899
tom.dabney@swfwmd.state.fl.us
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