“[DEP's] excuse for inaction – that they weren’t legally required to do so – is appalling. It’s an excuse we should expect from a special interest group – not from a group whose only interest should be protecting Florida’s environment and citizens.”
-Congresswoman Gwen Graham (D-Tallahassee)
Phosphate mining company Mosaic reported that a sinkhole opened beneath a pile of waste material at a mine in Polk County, leaking 200 million gallons of radioactive waste into Florida’s main aquifer. Although Mosaic informed regulators including DEP about the incident on August 27th, the public was not informed until September 15th.
Sign on to our letter demanding the Office of Inspector General (OIG) fully investigate why Gov. Scott’s DEP actively covered up this incident for weeks rather than informing the public of a potential public health threat.
Letter To DEP's Office Of Inspector General
We, the undersigned, urge you to investigate why the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) did not inform the public of water contamination by a Mosaic mine in Polk County until three weeks after DEP was informed of the problem.
DEP has a critical mission in our state: to be a steward of our environment and therefore to protect our land, air, water, and public health. In this case, it's clear DEP failed in its responsibility to the public. Floridians should know why they were kept in the dark when 200 million gallons of radioactive waste were dumped into their water supply.
“[DEP's] excuse for inaction – that they weren’t legally required to do so – is appalling. It’s an excuse we should expect from a special interest group – not from a group whose only interest should be protecting Florida’s environment and citizens.”
-Congresswoman Gwen Graham (D-Tallahassee)
Phosphate mining company Mosaic reported that a sinkhole opened beneath a pile of waste material at a mine in Polk County, leaking 200 million gallons of radioactive waste into Florida’s main aquifer. Although Mosaic informed regulators including DEP about the incident on August 27th, the public was not informed until September 15th.
Sign on to our letter demanding the Office of Inspector General (OIG) fully investigate why Gov. Scott’s DEP actively covered up this incident for weeks rather than informing the public of a potential public health threat.
Letter To DEP's Office Of Inspector General
We, the undersigned, urge you to investigate why the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) did not inform the public of water contamination by a Mosaic mine in Polk County until three weeks after DEP was informed of the problem.
DEP has a critical mission in our state: to be a steward of our environment and therefore to protect our land, air, water, and public health. In this case, it's clear DEP failed in its responsibility to the public. Floridians should know why they were kept in the dark when 200 million gallons of radioactive waste were dumped into their water supply.
