ANALYTICAL ARTICLES ABOUT PHOSPHATE MINING IN CENTRAL

FLORIDA RIPARIAN LANDS

Disusun Untuk Memenuhi Tugas Mata Kompetensi Bahasa Inggris

Dosen Pengampu : Asih Zunaida S.S.

Disusun Oleh :

Aditya Pratama Jaya Wardani

145120601111071

PROGAM STUDI ILMU PEMERINTAHAN

FAKULTAS ILMU SOSIAL DAN ILMU POLITIK

UNIVERSITAS BRAWIJAYA

2016
 Phosphate Mining In Central Florida Riparian Lands
By: Davey Crockett
Florida’s phosphate industry is known to own and strip mine lands in riparian areas of the
state. Particularly in central Florida where the regions drinking water is degrading, caused by
phosphate industry practices (1). The phosphate mining industry consists of some twenty
seven sites in Florida as a whole, but most of the largest phosphate mines are located in
central Florida south of interstate four (I-4).
Riparian areas in central Florida, which include floodplain uplands as well as wetlands, are
considered to be the most important buffer areas for protecting "receiving water" quality
(incoming water to the system). The water quality and quantity rely on a particular set of
variables. Each variable is responsible for a particular task in the natural production of clear
clean drinking water. One pollutant in particular causes the most severe environmental
impacts called phosphorus (2). High levels of phosphorus in an aquatic habitat causes sever
outbreaks of algae which in turn lowers a critical variable called dissolved oxygen in water.
This in turn causes the weaker flora to disappear taking with it the fauna that it fed. The cycle
continues until all the flora and fauna disappear causing dead zones.
Dead zones are sterile areas that can exist as long as the toxin creating the dead zone exists.
In this case, phosphorus based nutrients (pollutants) from phosphate mining are causing dead
zones in riparian lands and navigable waterways. Industry practices are the cause of many
environmental issues including polluting public freshwater resources. After all the freshwater
resources belong to the state and considered as public domain. Florida’s phosphate industry
can consume only enough water as to not disrupt adjacent land owners and downstream users
of the water body in question.
Phosphate industry officials direct operations to strip mine this region of Florida possibly
without legal authority based on the Public Trust Doctrine of Florida. Keep in mind, this
region holds most of Florida’s watersheds north of the Everglades, so ecologically speaking,
are without equal anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, the natural process creating such a
landscape also produced one of the most sought after minerals for the production of fertilizer
called phosphate and it intermingles with central Florida’s fresh drinking water resources
sustaining numerous habitats including a 1.8 billion dollar sport fishing venue.
Florida does not need phosphate mining as an economic pillar. In fact, over the last forty
years, phosphate mining has cost local taxpayers billions of dollars in lost revenue due to
industry accidents alone.
Interestingly this same region holds central Florida’s freshwater resources intertwined with
watersheds supporting lowlands and wetlands. One phosphate mine can cover as much as one
hundred thousand acres which includes central Florida’s watersheds, wetlands and drinking
water resources. The central region of Florida also contains navigable waterways and riparian
lands being completely removed from the earth by the phosphate industry. Using Google©
Earth, it is clear to see the severe environmental impacts in the region described above.
Unfortunately, the Peace River basin lies in land owned by the phosphate industry and even
though the industry has no legal right to mine the regions’ navigable waterways, they do
anyway. Florida’s elected officials seem to be blind to the severe environmental impacts to
Florida’s freshwater resources. However, water management officials continue to issue
permits to strip mine very large tracts of land in Florida’s watersheds, knowing the
irreparable damage being caused.
The Peace River in central Florida is the 8th most endangered river in the United States while
supporting the regions critical environmental connection including natural habitats for
numerous species of flora and fauna. Not surprisingly, the head waters of the Peace River are
polluted with high levels of algae do to phosphate based nutrients (pollutants).
Curiously, the phosphate industry strip mines this region as well, creating phosphorus based
pollutants. Industry officials claim they do not know how the high levels of phosphorus are
entering the head waters of the Peace River. Industry officials say it is not their facilities
causing the problem.
Now the phosphorus concentration in central Florida water bodies is so great, the University
of Miami researcher’s study suggest the high levels of phosphorus are also increasing
outbreaks of red tide where the rivers and streams reach the Gulf of Mexico.
The importance of the Peace River basin producing drinking water and essential habitats
cannot be overstated. This region also holds floodwaters for recharging the aquifers, rivers,
and lakes in the area. Central Florida’s wetlands provide habitats for priceless species of flora
and fauna. All of which helps maintain production of clean fresh drinking water.
Reference
1. Phosphate Mines. - http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/mines/manpho.htm
2. NCSU Water Quality Group WETLAND MANAGEMENT. -
http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/wetlands/manage.html
3. http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051637407-1-phosphate-mining-in-central-florida-
riparian-lands/
Name : Aditya Pratama Jaya Wardani
Student Numbers : 145120601111071
Major : Government Science / C-IPM-5
Florida phosphate industry in the cause of the destruction of ecosystems. Damage
occurs in several sectors one of which is the reduced quality of the drinking water source is
there a phosphate mining industry consists of about twenty-seven locations in Florida as a
whole, but most of the largest phosphate mine located in Florida. Riparian areas in central
Florida, which includes highland floodplains and wetlands, which is regarded as the most
important buffer zone to protect the water source. The quality and quantity of drinking water
sources depend on several variables, one of the variables that influence is contained
phosphorus. From the mine contributed to the high levels of phosphorus in the cause of
reduced oxygen levels in the water. Other impacts resulting from mining are killing both
animal and plant habitat. Lots of negative impacts resulting from mining, but Florida elected
officials seemed blind to the severe environmental impacts on freshwater resources. Water
management officials continued to issue permits for strip mine very large tract of land in the
watershed Florida, knowing the irreparable damage caused. Peace River in central Florida is
the eighth most endangered river in the United States while supporting local connection
critical environments including natural habitat for various species of flora and fauna.
Surprisingly industry officials claimed they did not know how high levels of phosphorus into
surface waters head of the Peace River. Now the concentration of phosphorus in water bodies
so large central Florida, University of Miami researchers study suggests high levels of
phosphorus also increased outbreaks of red tide where the rivers and streams reach the Gulf
of Mexico.
This article discusses how the impacts of phosphate mining in the State of Florida.
There are some things which then makes the reader want to read this article. Writing this
article is quite good, here the author can provide full information and viewpoint of the author
is also very clear. Besides the explanation from one point to another point is also very clear.
Starting from the explanation of what is happening, where it happened, when it happened,
who was involved, why it happened and how it happened, everything is explained in detail.
This article is very interesting and not boring. As we know that the environmental crisis is
already starting to become popular at the moment. The issue of global warming always be
warm, because the magnitude of the environmental damage caused by human activity on
earth. This article comes as trying to open our eyes to the damage that occurred in the face of
this earth. Many of the benefits of this article. Should the manager of the mine and also
public officials may open your eyes and critical of all kinds of environmental destruction. As
for the general public as well we should be wise and critical of all efforts of environmental
destruction that occurred on Earth. Because indirect damage that there will be a direct impact
on the survival of the earth.
Damage to the environment is a shared responsibility, but as a public official power
holders and public authorities should also support. Then here I was a student of the science of
government take this article. This is related to how the licensing process to the miners, as
well as how policy decisions related to the environment. In the study of the science of
government, there is a special study of the environment which is then referred to as green
politics. Green political theory is a political ideology that seeks to create an ecologically
sustainable society that is rooted in concern for the environment, social justice and
democratic life that is built on the behavior and culture of each individual. It then makes this
article more reliable is the provision of literacy resources be used as a material in the text, so
that the accuracy of information submitted can be trusted. In this case regardless of the role of
government, we as the general public should also be able to create a good environment, by
not contaminating it.
Reference
1. Phosphate Mines. - http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/mines/manpho.htm
2. NCSU Water Quality Group WETLAND MANAGEMENT. -
http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/wetlands/manage.html
3. http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051637407-1-phosphate-mining-in-central-florida-
riparian-lands/