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BumRushDaShow

(144,158 posts)
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 05:07 AM 14 hrs ago

EPA approves pilot project to make road out of radioactive material in Florida

Source: The Hill

12/23/24 5:11 PM ET


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a pilot project that would allow a company to build a small road made out of a radioactive fertilizer byproduct — drawing environmentalist ire.

The Biden administration’s approval allows Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC to construct a road made of phosphogypsum on its property in New Wales, Fla. Phosphogypsum contains radium, which decays to form radon gas, both of which are radioactive and can cause cancer, according to the agency.

In the past, the agency has raised concerns about the use of this material in road building. It said in 1992 that use of phosphogypsum in road construction created risks for both construction workers and also anyone who later builds a home where the phosphogypsum road had once been.

The agency now says that members of the public are not expected to come into contact with the road. However, Mosaic, which will build the road, has described the effort as part of a pilot project that will “demonstrate the range of … road construction designs.” It’s not clear if additional road construction will follow — though doing so would likely require further approvals.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5054335-epa-approves-phosphogypsum-road-florida/



Link to Federal Register PUBLICATION - Notice of Approval for Other Use of Phosphogypsum
18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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EPA approves pilot project to make road out of radioactive material in Florida (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 14 hrs ago OP
I'm sure it'll be in the highest income areas LetsGetSmartAboutIt 14 hrs ago #1
amd, of course this stuff is done in poor black neighborhoods rampartd 14 hrs ago #3
street provides its own lighting rampartd 14 hrs ago #2
They'll find a way... 2naSalit 13 hrs ago #4
Phosphogypsum used in playground surfaces? maxsolomon 4 hrs ago #15
Yup... 2naSalit 4 hrs ago #16
When it rains, the radioactive material will leach into the surrounding soil. no_hypocrisy 13 hrs ago #5
110 Percent Dum djacq 11 hrs ago #6
Trump approved it, Biden stopped it's approval years ago but what...the EPA head and others decided to re-instate it? Bengus81 9 hrs ago #7
Trump had already picked Lee Zeldin to head the EPA Jose Garcia 9 hrs ago #8
Current EPA head Michael Regan BumRushDaShow 9 hrs ago #9
This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music 2 hrs ago #18
What else could go wrong in Florida? Clouds Passing 8 hrs ago #10
This is Cherokee100 8 hrs ago #11
Just when you think Florida could not get stupider... NotHardly 7 hrs ago #12
A little more on this PILOT project: maxsolomon 5 hrs ago #13
I included a link to the Federal Register notice BumRushDaShow 4 hrs ago #14
"the project is at least as protective of public health as maintaining the phosphogypsum in a stack." maxsolomon 4 hrs ago #17
1. I'm sure it'll be in the highest income areas
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 05:18 AM
14 hrs ago

So everyone can have a healthy glow.

Maybe even the street that the factory owner lives on, just to show how safe it is.

Just to be clear, that is sarcasm.

2naSalit

(93,400 posts)
4. They'll find a way...
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 05:59 AM
13 hrs ago

To use it in school playgrounds like they did in Idaho, the child cancer rate got really high for a while after that.

maxsolomon

(35,358 posts)
15. Phosphogypsum used in playground surfaces?
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 03:14 PM
4 hrs ago

I can't find anything online about that. I see Idaho has phosphogypsum mining, though.

2naSalit

(93,400 posts)
16. Yup...
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 03:20 PM
4 hrs ago

And they don't like to talk about that. They were using slag from the mines for roads and playground pavements back in the 70s - 80s and was identified as a problem in the early to mid 90s. Wasn't just child cancer rates. It was swept under the rug pretty quickly as will happen in a place where the church controls everything.

no_hypocrisy

(49,181 posts)
5. When it rains, the radioactive material will leach into the surrounding soil.
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 06:27 AM
13 hrs ago

And eventually, the radioactive material will reach the water aquifers below. It will affect both humans and wildlife and horticulture.

I can't believe the EPA gave this a pass.

Bengus81

(7,487 posts)
7. Trump approved it, Biden stopped it's approval years ago but what...the EPA head and others decided to re-instate it?
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 09:55 AM
9 hrs ago

Hoping he can keep his job when Trump comes back in? Hey asshat,you go work on a road project with that crap.

Response to Bengus81 (Reply #7)

Cherokee100

(326 posts)
11. This is
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 11:48 AM
8 hrs ago

This a joke, right? That stuff never goes away/becomes safe. Wait what was I thinking, someone is making a fortune, off this I bet. That makes it ok then. '''sarcasm''.

maxsolomon

(35,358 posts)
13. A little more on this PILOT project:
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 02:36 PM
5 hrs ago
The agency now says that members of the public are not expected to come into contact with the road.

However, Mosaic, which will build the road, has described the effort as part of a pilot project that will “demonstrate the range of … road construction designs.” It’s not clear if additional road construction will follow — though doing so would likely require further approvals.


Typically, phosphogypsum is held in “stacks” as part of an attempt to limit public exposure, though this approach has also spurred environmental concerns — particularly in states like Florida that are prone to storms.


This report does a really bad job of explaining what's going on here. But it's the Hill, so par for the course.

I'd guess they're trying to find a use for phosphogypsum as a concrete additive.

BumRushDaShow

(144,158 posts)
14. I included a link to the Federal Register notice
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 03:07 PM
4 hrs ago
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/23/2024-30508/notice-of-approval-for-other-use-of-phosphogypsum

That link has some more info.

"The Hill", like "Politico", "Roll Call", and some other publications focus on "politics" stories only instead of trying to insert and pad their "news" sites with entertainment - meaning not finding every angle possible to write about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

maxsolomon

(35,358 posts)
17. "the project is at least as protective of public health as maintaining the phosphogypsum in a stack."
Tue Dec 24, 2024, 03:25 PM
4 hrs ago

There are hills ( AKA "stacks" ) of phosphogypsum piled up all over the nation, so I think Mosaic's trying to figure out some other way to deal with the waste stream.

It's research. Research is OK with me.

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