Plymouth, Minn.—The Mosaic Co. said last week that the sinkhole that has developed at its New Wales facility in Florida (GM Sept. 16, p. 13) is expected to cost the company some $20-$50 million. Mosaic Executive Vice President and CFO Richard Mack told attendees of the Scotiabank Fertilizer & Chemicals Conference Sept. 20 that the amount includes the cost to remediate the issue, pump out and process the water, and backfill the sinkhole. He said production at the facility has been “largely uninterrupted,” and that he does not expect it to have any material impact on New Wales production. In its latest update Sept. 21, Mosaic said that the water released from the phosphogypsum stake remains onsite and the company has been retrieving it by pumping it through its own well. The company has scheduled or collected some 106 free well-water tests from neighbors, and those results should be concluded soon. The testing is being done by Environmental Consulting & Technology Inc., and if requested, is free from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The company is also providing drinking water to those requesting it until they receive confirmation that their water is not impacted. So far, 15 have requested water. Mosaic Senior Vice President, Phosphates, Walt Precourt appeared before the Polk County Board of County Commissioners last week to update them on the situation. “I regret and apologize for not providing information sooner and am committed to providing regular updates to the public as we move forward,” said Precourt. “As new information is available, we will be posting it on our website and providing continued updates to regulators, the press, our local community, and most importantly, our neighbors.” Mosaic did notify relevant local authorities after gypstack water levels began dropping Aug. 27.
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