The Mosaic Co., Plymouth, Minn., said on Jan. 25 it has initiated measures at its fertilizer manufacturing facility in St. James Parish, La., in connection with slow lateral movement of a side slope on the site’s active phosphogypsum stack. No environmental impacts have occurred as a result of this geological event.
Mosaic has been transferring process water from the north cell of the facility’s gypsum stack to other impoundments at the facility. Removal of this water is expected to reduce pressure on the stack slope. The company is pursuing additional technical solutions and providing regular updates to state and local officials.
The facility continues to operate, and has redirected gypsum to alternative areas of the stack.
The reservoir on top of the stack contains some 700 million gallons of acid water, which also contains minute amounts of radium and uranium. Water levels are reportedly up due to the heavy rains during the past few months. Locals are concerned that any leak could reach the Blind River watershed, Lake Maurepas, and the Maurepas Swamp. State and local officials told the Times Picayune that there is little chance the water would reach the Mississippi River, as the natural flow from the site is away from the river.