The Union County Commission in Florida voted unanimously March 21 to put a one-year moratorium on mining applications. However, the matter has to be approved on a second vote in order to take effect. HPS II, which is proposing a phosphate rock mine for Union and Bradford Counties in the state, told Green Markets it understands the concerns being voiced in Union County and will continue their due diligence in working with the county towards a resolution.
In Bradford County, HPS said the process continues to move forward. A town hall meeting in that county held March 16 was generally regarded as supportive, compared to the opposition that has arose in Union County.
HPS II, formerly known as HPPS Enterprises LLC (GM March 11, p. 13), is composed of four family-owned landowners in the two counties.
While the company has touted itself as being owned by locals who plan to stay in the counties and reclaim the land, Union County opponents pointed to two recent incidents. The Suwannee River Water Management District recently required an HPS subcontractor to pay $454 for drilling some 38 groundwater monitoring wells without a permit. The permits have since been procured and HPS said the subcontractor thought he had initially completed the necessary paperwork. In addition, the District on March 15 issued a “notice of violation” to one of the landowners, John Shadd, for not procuring a permit for clearing, dredging, filing, and destroying wetlands for other property that he owns in Union County.