DelhiDesk Florida legislators have passed a bill that allows the use of toxic phosphogypsum in road construction aggregate materials for “demonstration” road projects in the state. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency prohibits the use of the radioactive waste byproduct of fertilizer production in roadway construction due to concerns about public health and the environment. Critics argue that the bill lets the fertilizer industry off the hook for safely disposing of nearly 30 million tons of dangerous waste it creates each year through the phosphate fertilizer mining industry. Environmental groups also warn about the potential for phosphogypsum spills into waterways during storms and the risks posed by the piles of phosphogypsum known as “gypstacks,” which have a history of spills and sinkholes. The bill awaits approval from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Follow DelhiBreakings on Google News
Here is the news bullets sorted by DelhiBreakings.com team.
👉 Florida legislators have passed a bill permitting the use of radioactive waste byproduct of fertilizer production to help build ‘demonstration’ road projects in Florida.
👉 The bill allows the use of toxic phosphogypsum in road construction aggregate materials, which is prohibited by the US Environmental Protection Agency due to its risks to public health, environment, and road construction workers.
👉 Critics argue that this would let the fertilizer industry off the hook for safely disposing of nearly 30 million tons of dangerous waste it creates each year, in addition to over 1 billion tons of radioactive phosphogypsum already stored in 24 stacks in Florida.
👉 Environmental groups warn about phosphogypsum spilling into waterways and elsewhere during storms, as the stacks are prone to spills and sinkholes.
👉 In 2020, the EPA approved the use of phosphogypsum in government road construction projects, but later reversed its decision following a lawsuit and petition by the new regime under Democratic President Joe Biden.
For superfast news and Delhi Breaking Stories visti us daily at https://delhibreakings.com