Tallahassee-Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals on May 3 directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to consider new evidence concerning Mosaic’s permit to mine the first phase of its Ona project. The court said FDEP should consider evidence presented in the FDEP’s and Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Cumulative Impact Study, which was issued earlier this year. The study determined strip mining in the headwaters of the Peace River had already affected water supplies. Phase One of the 20,000 acre Ona Mine would include more than 4,000 acres in the Horse Creek watershed, which flows into the Peace River. Mosaic spokesman David Townsend said the company regretted the delay but was confident the prior review addressed all relevant issues, and that the FDEP would ultimately approve the permit. FDEP was given 45 days to complete the review, Townsend said.
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