Tampa-A suit filed against the Corps of Engineers by the Sierra Club and Manasota-88, a local environmental group, seeks to stop Mosaic from expanding its mining activity in Manatee County, Fla. The suit, which was also filed on behalf of the Gulf Restoration Network and People for Protecting Peace River, said the Corps failed to protect the environment when it granted Mosaic a dredge-and-fill permit for the Altman Tract, a 1,500-acre section, because it did not get sufficient public input. Mosaic spokesman David Townsend said the suit contained no new information and did not name Mosaic as a party, so it would not affect the company’s mining plans. In a related development, the Manatee County Commission was scheduled to vote on the company’s mining proposal late last week. The suit noted about 400 acres of high-quality wetlands would be destroyed in the mining, and that the Corps had overestimated the company’s restoration capabilities. Townsend also said Charlotte County, which has spent millions of dollars in legal efforts to halt mining in the Peace River watershed, voted 4-1 not to challenge Mosaic’s permit for the South Fort Meade mine, and the Peace River Manasota Water Authority voted not to challenge by a 4-0 vote. Sarasota has deferred action on a challenge, and Lee County had not considered the matter. All are former opponents of mining in the watershed.
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Terra Donaldsonville plant in startup mode
Sioux City-Terra Industries Inc. said last week that its Donaldsonville, La., ammonia plant is in startup mode. The plant can produce 400,000 st/y, and Terra can utilize this in place of lower-margin imported ammonia. Terra said the aggregate cost of the Donaldsonville startup was approximately $18 million, with about one-third of that being catalyst costs. The total cost was $5 million more than originally anticipated as the company elected to replace optional components to enhance reliability and efficiency. In the meantime, Terra says it is making progress on its Woodward, Okla., UAN expansion, and continues to expect a 2010 startup. Terra told analysts that it is in its strongest financial condition ever, and it continues to actively evaluate different opportunities in which it can use cash to add earnings accretive for shareholders.
Pennsylvania revolt grows over biosolids
Philadelphia-A small-scale revolt of sorts is being staged by a handful of townships and other municipalities against state control over using biosolids as fertilizer. The attorney general has filed suit in Commonwealth Court against East Brunswick under the state’s ACRE (Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment) law, asserting that the state – and not local government – has the authority to regulate the use of biosolids. In the meantime, other areas in Schuylkill County, including Tamaqua and Mahanoy City boroughs, have joined East Brunswick in passing biosolids ordinances. Earlier this month, Branch Township passed a land application and storage of sewage sludge ordinance, and also voted for a resolution to support East Brunswick Township’s court case. ACRE, which was adopted by the legislature in 2005, allows for the state attorney general to review local ordinances when petitioned to do so by farmers, and then either respond to the petitions or bring action within 120 days. An ordinance can be struck down if the court finds it exceeds local government authority.
Use of biosolids as fertilizer declared safe
Madison, Wisc.-Long-term studies have found that concerns are unfounded about dioxins accumulating in the soil and getting into the food supplies from use of biosolids as fertilizer, according to the American Society of Agronomy. The society pointed out that until recently there has been very little information available on the effect of long-term application of biosolids on accumulation of dioxins in soil and uptake by plants. Now findings from an investigation by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago utilizing established plots suggest that dioxins from land application of biosolids do not pose any risk to human health or the environment, if biosolids are land applied according to EPA regulations. The study revealed that the levels of dioxins in soil from the control and agronomic rate biosolids plots were not statistically different, but the soil levels of dioxins were much higher in the plots that have been receiving four times higher rates of biosolids application. Dioxins were not detected in the corn grains. Only trace levels were found in the corn stover, and there was no statistical difference between the control and the biosolids-amended plots. The district has on-going research to investigate the trend of dioxins levels in biosolids over time. The USEPA’s 2001 Dioxins Update to the National Sewage Sludge Survey indicated that dioxin levels in biosolids have declined since the last USEPA survey in 1988. This downward trend is expected to continue due to the regulatory controls on additional sources of dioxins in the environment, particularly on some combustion practices. These findings support the USEPA’s decision not to regulate dioxins in land applied biosolids.
Fertilizer and weed killer from ethanol co-product
Peoria, Ill.-Agricultural Research Service studies indicate that the dried distiller’s grain co-product of corn ethanol production presently being used as livestock feed could be used as both an organic fertilizer and weed killer, according to ARS scientists. While some changes in the ethanol grinding methods could affect the potential of this discovery, these scientists report that greenhouse and field tests by a team at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research have shown that the grains can improve yields for tomatoes and other crops. In 2007, treated plots of Roma tomatoes yielded 226 total pounds of fruit, versus 149 pounds from untreated plants. And in turfgrass trials, annual bluegrass and other weed seeds were prevented from germinating in stands of Kentucky bluegrass. ARS plant physiologist Steve Vaughn and colleagues entered into a one-year cooperative research and development agreement with Summit Seed Inc., a Manteno, Ill.-based company specializing in turfgrass production. America’s ethanol industry generates an estimated 10 million to 14 million mt of these grains annually from both wet and dry milling of corn, processes that yield fermentable sugars for conversion into fuel alcohol. About 75 percent of the byproducts are fed to livestock.
Gowan acquires rights to zoxamine fungicide
Indianapolis-Gowan Co. LLC, Yuma, Ariz., has reached an agreement with Dow AgroSciences LLC to acquire the rights to its global zoxamide fungicide business, marketed primarily under the brand names Zoxium?äó, Gavel?äó, Electis?äó, Unikat?äó, and Harpon?äó. Zoxamide is used to control oomycete fungi infecting potatoes, vines, and vegetables. Gowan and its subsidiaries will start selling zoxamide and its formulations effective Aug. 1, 2008. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “The addition of zoxamide expands Gowan’s fungicide portfolio globally, and is consistent with our goal to identify important products that growers need,” said Matt Comer, global marketing manager for Gowan. “Due to the press of competing priorities for new product development, Dow AgroSciences, as a research-based company, has not been able to devote the time and resources needed to position zoxamide for optimal growth,” said David Hindes, global business leader, fungicides. “We believe that zoxamide will be better positioned with Gowan, where it represents a better strategic fit with the company’s portfolio and general business direction.”
Idaho moves on groundwater rules
Boise-The final draft of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s proposed groundwater quality rules, hammered out at several public meetings this summer, focused on defining points of compliance where mine operators must meet groundwater quality standards. Representatives of Agrium Inc., Monsanto, the Idaho Conservation League, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forest Service, and the Idaho Mining Association were among the meeting participants. The IDEQ intends to publish a comprehensive proposed groundwater quality rule with public comments by September and present the final proposal to the Idaho Board of Environmental Quality for adoption by October. If adopted, the pending rule would be reviewed by the 2009 Idaho Legislature.
Fertilizer washed into stream kills 7,000 fish
Derby, Ohio-The Ohio EPA is investigating how a heavy downpour swept fertilizer from a holding trench at Derby Champaign Landmark into a creek and killed as many as 7,000 minnow fish. According to spokeswoman Erin Strouse, the incident July 22 didn’t involve a spill or a release, but rather contaminated water that was pushed out of the trench built around a concrete pad. Strouse said a state natural resources team walked a two-mile stretch of Greenbrier Creek to take a count of the dead fish and is continuing to look into the mishap. Field samples taken at the time showed ammonia concentrations in the water, but a laboratory analysis is needed for more conclusive results. In the meantime, she added, Champaign Landmark has pumped out the rest of the contaminated water in the trench and is bringing in a consulting geologist to recommend a remedy. She said a meeting was scheduled with all parties toward the end of the week to discuss methods of preventing future discharges. Nearby residents have been assured that the contaminated water has not affected their wells, which provide drinking and culinary supplies. Strouse said the facility experienced fertilizer spills several years ago and has undergone changes in ownership and management. A notice of violation is still under consideration.
Detroit council votes to retain Synagro
Detroit-The city council has decided to take the advice it’s been getting from the experts and leave the $47 million contract Synagro Technologies has with the Detroit Water and Sewage District in place. The council voted 4-2 against rescinding the agreement just before recessing until early September. The governing panel had been told by the city legal department, and then in a review opinion by its own research and analysis division, that there was no legal basis to act because Synagro had not violated the terms of the contract. Those rulings were backed up by DWSD officials, who opposed taking away the contract for those same reasons and also because of the high costs of finding a replacement or doing without. DWSD Public Affairs Manager said the departure of Synagro would have required ramping up with more incineration and finding someone else to take care of land application and landfill disposal. Houston-based Synagro claims its technology and services provide much needed environmental benefits to Detroit, especially the residents of the southwestern part of the city, who have been long burdened by the affects of an obsolete incinerator. Synagro is replacing the obsolete multi-hearth incinerators with new state-of-the-art fluidized bed technology, which will reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 65 percent. According to DWSD, Synagro is still in the process of obtaining the necessary permits for construction. As part of the contract Synagro has the option of pellitization, diverting materials from landfills to land-application recycling, which the company believes will also save the city millions of dollars. The office of Barbara-Rose Collins, one of two on the council to vote for rescinding, told Green Markets the Synagro contract will continue under the scrutiny of the research and analysis staff. “Currently there has been no breach,” an assistant, who asked not to be identified, stated. “But the research department will be monitoring the contract as it does with all city contracts to see if a breach occurs.” Local authorities are being investigated for having accepted payments from a former Synagro official who was lobbying to get the contract approved.
Allana closes on Argentine potash assets
Toronto-Allana Resources Inc. reports that it has closed its previously announced acquisition of 100 percent of Latin American Potash Corp. (LAPC), which holds potash-prospective assets in Argentina. LAPC holds 154,000 hectares in Neuquen province. Some of the properties adjoin Rio Tinto’s Potasio Rio Colorado project. As a result of the acquisition, Allana says it holds one of the largest land positions in the Neuquen Basin. In consideration of 100 percent of the outstanding shares of LAPC, Allana paid LAPC shareholders C$130,000 and issued an aggregate of 3,000,000 Allana common shares. Allana says it continues to search for significant, world-class potash assets, with a focus on Latin America, Canada, and Eastern Africa. Allana is a publicly-traded corporation with a focus on the acquisition and development of potash assets internationally.