Vernal, Utah — Democratic state senate candidate Wayne Stevens is focusing his campaign around a proposed Agrium Inc. mine in Vernal, Utah, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Stevens is apparently building upon a 2012 open house in which some 300 residents voiced their opposition to a possible mine, fearing that it would damage their water supply (GM April 9, 2012). While Agrium took mine samples last year, the company told Green Markets it is still evaluating the economics of the mine and that regardless, any new surface mine on its leasehold there would be years into the future. A phosphate mine has long been proposed for Vernal (GM Sept. 19, 2005), however, the economics have not worked in the past due its distance – 250 miles from Agrium’s Soda Springs phosphate plant. Previous owner John Archer even sued Agrium, trying to force the company to take rock from the mine. Agrium is actively looking to source phosphate rock so as to have rock in place when its seven-year supply agreement with OCP for the Redwater, Alberta, plant expires. However, the company does have leaseholds closer to its existing plants, and there are junior companies with closer rock vying for its attention.
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