April 21, 2021

Dear Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners:

As you have been discussing Gopher Resource’s operation in Tampa, we feel it is important to reach
out with additional information you may not have and to draw attention to several other important
facts we want to ensure are not overlooked.
Gopher welcomes and is cooperating with the governmental inspections that are underway, and we
look forward to both the OSHA and Hillsborough County EPC reports when they are complete. As an
official with the EPC’s Air Management Division noted in a presentation to you last week, Gopher
has always implemented EPC recommendations to improve our operations and processes.
During the BoCC meeting on April 7, you heard from leaders of the Environmental Protection
Commission and Department of Health. One noted that when Gopher bought the plant, we spent
millions of dollars in soil remediation and clean-up of the surrounding area and then enclosed the
plant to prevent exposure in the community. Another reported that Gopher made a significant
investment in state-of-the-art pollution control technology and that there had been a subsequent
“significant decrease in emission” over the years. It was confirmed that based on a long history of
inspections and cooperation, the company is in compliance. One leader remarked that due to the
low emissions from the plant, the risk of contamination in the surrounding area is “extremely low” and
said he did not believe broad based community testing was necessary.
We also wanted to let you know that Gopher is one of fewer than a dozen facilities around the U.S.
that are able to break down and recycle lead batteries. This service is essential to our environment
and our modern economy. Our society uses so many of these lead batteries that Gopher’s facility in
Tampa recycles about 13 million batteries every year. Gopher is part of a success story for the lead
battery industry, which can claim a stunning 99 percent recycling rate in the U.S., keeping them out
of landfills.
Protecting our people and our community is a core value of Gopher and keeping our workers at the
facility safe means requiring them to wear special equipment and training them to take stringent
precautions to protect themselves and the environment.
Gopher spends millions of dollars a year on this equipment, even going further than regulators’
guidelines. Gopher began in 1946 as a family-owned business, building a reputation over 75 years
for taking care of our employees and the neighborhoods and communities in which we operate.
In 2006, Gopher purchased the Tampa facility. The first order of business was investing $230 million
in modernization and improvement efforts, with more than half going to environment, health, and
safety efforts. We created local jobs that paid well and provide strong benefits. We also dedicate
about $3 million a year on personal protective equipment, training, testing and monitoring for our
workers. Many of Gopher’s 320 employees come from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds,
and we’re proud that we have helped many move up the ladder of economic success. We estimate
that Gopher Tampa adds about $40 million per year to the Tampa economy.
Voice 813-620-3260 Fax 813-620-3505 GopherResource.com 6505 Jewel Avenue • Tampa, Florida 33619
Since 2012, air quality around Gopher has improved 89 percent. In 2012, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency strengthened its lead standard significantly. Gopher is 67 percent below that more
stringent air quality limit.
In 2018, Gopher brought in new leadership and team members with deep experience in safety. The
following year, this new team increased the company’s annual and recurring investment in safety by
50 percent. We also developed and implemented a hygiene program and tools that we believe are
industry leading and if rigorously followed, enables continued reduction of employee lead levels and
will prevent lead from leaving the plant with the employee (see below for the details).
In addition, Gopher provides more than 8,000 hours of training for employees every year. And as a
result, we have witnessed a 15-year sustained decline in the lead level in employees, which is one of
the most important measures of safety. Since Gopher acquired the plant in 2006, the average blood
lead level among employees is half what it was, and it’s less than half the level of many state and
federal standards for workplace safety, as well as the American College of Governmental and
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
We sincerely hope that as you review any reports from the EPC or the Department of Health, you will
also consider the facts we have highlighted here. We look forward to working with you as you serve
the Hillsborough County community.
Sincerely,

Brian Leen
President and CEO

Voice 813-620-3260 Fax 813-620-3505 GopherResource.com 6505 Jewel Avenue • Tampa, Florida 33619
 EMPLOYEE HYGIENE PROTOCOL

Proper hygiene as one of the key elements to reduced lead levels with employees and importantly, the most
important element of prevention of any lead leaving our plant unintentionally. The process is detailed and
includes the following elements:

1. Arrive at plant and enter clean locker space. Put on a company-supplied clean uniform and shower
shoes.
2. Enter the boot wash area change into work boots, put on gloves, respirator, hard hat, and hearing
protection.
3. Walk into the work area and begins work.
4. When exiting the building, keep respirator on. Wash boots in an automated boot wash. Vacuum any
dust off of uniform.
5. Remove and clean hard hat, and the sealing area around respirator with a D-lead wipe.
6. Remove boots and put them in boot locker
7. Bag respirator and put it into dirty locker or place it into a respirator wash bin to be cleaned by
hygiene personnel.
8. Remove gloves and dispose of them.
9. Go to the hand washing station and wash hands, face and neck area.
10. Go into the dirty locker area, and remove work uniform. Wash hands and face again, or shower
depending on if just going on break or leaving for the day.
11. If going on break, put on a clean break uniform, and then proceed to the break room. If leaving for
the day, employee is required to shower, put back on street clothes from clean locker and depart.
We also offer personal laundry services to our employees for their undergarments that they may
wear into the plant.

Voice 813-620-3260 Fax 813-620-3505 GopherResource.com 6505 Jewel Avenue • Tampa, Florida 33619