Anne Geggis
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that could pave the way for using phosphogypsum in construction of the state’s roads.
The bill (HB 1191), which Republican Rep. Lawrence McClure introduced, adds the radioactive waste byproduct of fertilizer production to the list of materials allowed to be used for road construction. The new law calls for the study of demonstration projects using the material in road construction materials “to determine its feasibility as a paving material.”
Conservation groups had urged DeSantis to veto the bill, saying that the material would damage water quality and put road construction crews at a higher risk for cancer.
Phosphogypsum is produced when phosphate rock is dissolved in sulfuric acid, which is done to make the phosphoric acid necessary to manufacture fertilizer.
For every ton of phosphorus produced, the process also turns out five tons of phosphogypsum. There are around 1 billion tons of phosphogypsum divided among 24 stacks in Florida, with 30 million new tons created annually.
For every ton of phosphoric acid produced, more than 5 tons of phosphogypsum waste is generated, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA approved using it for road construction under the Donald Trump administration, but President Joe Biden changed that policy.
“Upon further review, EPA has determined that the approval was premature and should be withdrawn because the request did not contain all of the required information,” the EPA announced in 2021. “With this action, phosphogypsum remains prohibited from use in road construction projects.”
Most Democrats in the House voted against the legislation as well as a handful in the Senate. Republican Sen. Jay Trumbull argued for using it, however, saying that it would address supply chain deficiencies. He also pointed out that Japan, Australia, Canada, Spain and Belgium all use this practice, with those nations reusing 35-40 million tons of phosphogypsum annually.
___
Wes Wolfe contributed to this report.
9 comments
Real Thomas Kaspar
June 29, 2023 at 6:39 pm
What could possibly go wrong ?
Dont Say FLA
June 29, 2023 at 9:21 pm
For one, Rhonda’s proud fanboys could steal it and reduce it, yielding radioactive dirty bomb material made from piles of stuff accumulated by Rhonda’s DOT in road median construction material centers as if Rhonda wanted their fan boys to steal it and make dirty bombs or something.
Thomas Kaspar
June 29, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Pete Buttigieg ?
J F
June 30, 2023 at 8:51 am
In my research, there seems to be little consensus on how damaging phosphogypsum actually is. Rather than green lighting this substance for use in roads, there definitely needs to be more independent research on the safety of using it in roads. Biden’s EPA seems to be extremely cautionary. I’ve read their stance was justified by the levels of radioactivity an individual would be exposed to living near or on an old road constructed with this stuff, living there for 18 hours a day for 70 years would exceed the EPAs exposure limits to radioactivity. On the other side, pressure from agricultural and fertilizer interests is what got this bill in motion. More independent studies please. At the moment though, there is no evidence this will cause harm. Phosphate ore has more radioactivity than this byproduct anyway, although, we aren’t coming in contact with the ore on a regular basis. It is reassuring that other developed countries are using this stuff though.
Ocean Joe
June 30, 2023 at 1:53 pm
I doubt any research went into this plan other than how to profit from it. Research will take place AFTER a road is built with it, and nearby residents will be guinea pigs.
When you elect people who always put profit first, this is what you get.
Another one
June 30, 2023 at 2:47 pm
“In my research”
You don’t research lab coat you read Facebook.i see people like you in the graveyard that did their own research lol
Another one
June 30, 2023 at 2:48 pm
American intelligence at its best again
Explains the lowering life expectancy lol
My Take
June 30, 2023 at 3:39 pm
You Are Driving Down A Nice New Road
Your child is safe in her carseat in back.
But up from the road base, through the asphalt, through the steel car body and the seat padding and carseat come gamma rays . . . smashing into her very DNA, shattering it.
For it is a FLORIDA road . . . in the dark days of DeathSSantis.
Maybe Cruella DeSSantis can market a line of lead-shielded carseats.
“Make Sure At Least YOUR Baby Is Safe.”
=========
I contend that the above evaluation is at least as objecttive as what the question will receive from an industry study or DeSSantis agency “study.”
My Take
June 30, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Abandon Yucca Mountain.
Use Spent Reactor Fuel Rods . . .
as rebar in new bridge foundations.
A DeathSSantis design!
Comments are closed.