Major US fertilizer producer Mosaic will conduct a test project using radioactive fertilizer by-product phosphogypsum (PG) as a base to pave roads on its New Wales facility in Florida.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved of a 3,200ft pilot road project on Mosaic's operational facility outside of Tampa Bay. The EPA included a set of conditions along with its approval, including sampling data, safety instructions and timelines.
"The project poses no greater radiological risk than maintaining the phosphogypsum in a stack," the EPA said.
Phosphogypsum is the by-product of phosphate production, typically stored in stacks to limit radiation exposure to the public. PG can contain radium and be radioactive, which can cause cancer, according to the EPA. All uses of PG must be approved by the EPA.
The project will have four PG mixes with control pieces of road in between each. The PG mix will be 10 inches deep under three inches of asphalt pavement, using a total of 1,190 tons of PG.
Water and soil monitoring will be carried out by the Mosaic. Within 90 days of the test phase, Mosaic must submit a final report on the test to the EPA.
