A bill passed by the Florida Legislature could lead to a study into the use of a radioactive waste byproduct from fertilizer production for road construction. The bill is awaiting approval from Governor Ron DeSantis. The proposal requires the state to conduct a study that would investigate the viability of using phosphogypsum in aggregate materials utilized for building roads.
The state is home to 24 phosphogypsum stacks that mimic massive ponds. Florida’s stacks contain roughly one billion tons of phosphogypsum, and an additional 30 million new tons are produced annually by the phosphate fertilizer mining industry. Phosphogypsum must be placed in these stacks due to regulation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA initially permitted the use of phosphogypsum in road construction projects, but further action was taken after President Joe Biden reversed his predecessor’s decision. Environmental groups have raised concerns in the past about phosphogypsum entering waterways through spills that occur during storms. In March 2021, a leak at Piney Point stack resulted in the release of approximately 215 million gallons (814 million liters) of polluted water into Tampa Bay, leading to the deaths of an extensive amount of fish.
Phosphogypsum regulation is necessary due to the presence of radium-226, a radioactive substance that naturally produces radon gas. Radon gas is a hazardous air pollutant, which is why the EPA also regulates its use.
