{"id":2384265,"date":"2024-12-28T14:09:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-28T19:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/epa-approves-use-of-radioactive-industrial-byproduct-for-roadway-project\/"},"modified":"2024-12-28T14:11:56","modified_gmt":"2024-12-28T19:11:56","slug":"epa-approves-use-of-radioactive-industrial-byproduct-for-roadway-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/epa-approves-use-of-radioactive-industrial-byproduct-for-roadway-project\/","title":{"rendered":"EPA Approves Use of Radioactive Industrial Byproduct for Roadway Project"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fepa-approves-use-of-radioactive-industrial-byproduct-for-roadway-project%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2384265&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Environmental Protection Agency \u200c(EPA) has approved a pilot project to construct roadways in Florida using \u200cphosphogypsum, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-to-send-depleted-uranium-shells-to-ukraine\/\" title=\"US to send depleted uranium shells to Ukraine.\">radioactive material produced<\/a> during phosphate\u200b fertilizer processing. The approval comes after the EPA deemed the project\u200b compliant with national \u200bemissions standards, stating \u2063that the radiological risks are \u200bcomparable to current storage practices. Mosaic, \u200bthe largest U.S. phosphate \u2064producer, will begin by constructing\u200b four test road sections in Polk County but must seek further permission for \u200dwider request. The \u2064decision has drawn important public\u2063 criticism, with many expressing concerns over \u2063the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californians-receiving-unemployment-must-start-looking-for-work-next-month-to-remain-eligible\/\" title=\"Californians Receiving Unemployment Must Start Looking For Work Next Month To Remain Eligible\">potential health risks<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-democrat-senator-urges-biden-to-reverse-on-keystone-pipeline-14-ags-threaten-legal-action\/\" title=\"Top Democrat Senator Urges Biden To Reverse On Keystone Pipeline, 14 AGs Threaten Legal Action\">environmental impacts<\/a> associated with using this hazardous\u2062 material in public infrastructure. Critics argue that the EPA&#8217;s approval appears to prioritize\u200b industry interests over public health and \u200dsafety.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Environmental Protection Agency officials approved a project on Monday that involves constructing roadways in Florida with a radioactive material called phosphogypsum.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative proposed by Mosaic, the largest producer of phosphates in the United States, was determined to be &ldquo;complete per the requirements of EPA&rsquo;s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants under the Clean Air Act,&rdquo; according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2024\/12\/23\/2024-30508\/notice-of-approval-for-other-use-of-phosphogypsum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">notice<\/a> posted in the federal register.<\/p>\n<p>Current regulations require phosphogypsum to be stored in engineered piles known as stacks, per a report from technology news outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xatakaon.com\/health\/florida-is-debuting-a-new-material-for-building-roads-theres-just-one-problem-its-radioactive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Xataka On<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-administration-boasts-making-first-ever-climate-change-related-arrest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EPA<\/a> concluded that &ldquo;the potential radiological risks from conducting the pilot project meet the regulatory requirement that the project is at least as protective of public health as maintaining the phosphogypsum in a stack.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Mosaic only submitted a proposal for a &ldquo;small-scale pilot project,&rdquo; according to the entry in the federal register.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The company therefore plans to build four sections of test road at its facility in Polk County, Florida, but will have to seek permission to expand the initiative.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The EPA&rsquo;s approval applies only to the proposed pilot project and not any broader use,&rdquo; the agency continued.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Any other use would require a separate application, risk assessment, and approval.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/radtown\/radioactive-material-fertilizer-production\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">webpage<\/a> from the EPA explains that phosphogypsum comes from the waste left behind when phosphate rock is processed to make fertilizer.<\/p>\n<p>That process involves removing the phosphorus by dissolving the rock in an acidic solution.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Most of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">naturally-occurring uranium found<\/a> in phosphate rock ends up in the acid and the other radionuclides, including radium, mostly end up in the waste,&rdquo; the webpage says.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond uranium and radium, phosphogypsum contains thorium and emits radon, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nuclear-power-plant-another-leak-initially-spilling-400k-gallons-radioactive-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">radioactive<\/a> gas, as the substance decays.<\/p>\n<p>The majority of comments submitted to the EPA with respect to the Mosaic project were negative, expressing skepticism toward using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/russia-activates-forces-trained-operate-radioactive-contamination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">material<\/a> in public roads.<\/p>\n<p>Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, likewise said in a statement provided to <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/energy-environment\/5054335-epa-approves-phosphogypsum-road-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hill<\/a> that the decision to allow the project was &ldquo;mind-boggling.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That dramatically increases the potential for harm to our road crews and water quality,&rdquo; Whitlock said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The EPA has bowed to political pressure from the phosphate industry and paved the way for this dangerous waste to be used in roads all over the country,&rdquo; the attorney contended.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Proposed by Mosaic, the leading phosphate producer in the U.S., the project meets EPA&#8217;s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants under the Clean Air Act. Current regulations mandate that phosphogypsum be stored in engineered stacks, but the EPA found that this pilot project poses no greater radiological risk than keeping it in stacks. Mosaic plans to construct four test road sections at its Polk County facility but will need additional approval for any expansion. The EPA clarified that this approval is limited to the pilot project and any broader applications would require separate assessments and approvals. Phosphogypsum is a byproduct of processing phosphate rock for fertilizer, which leaves behind uranium and radium among other radionuclides. Many comments submitted to the EPA regarding this initiative were negative, with concerns about public safety raised by critics like Ragan Whitlock from the Center for Biological Diversity, who argued that using such materials could harm road crews and water quality<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2384266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Picture-74.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36279,10732,35975,47522,47523],"class_list":["post-2384265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-environmental-policy","tag-epa","tag-public-safety","tag-radioactive-byproduct","tag-roadway-project"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Picture-74.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2384265"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2384269,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384265\/revisions\/2384269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2384266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2384265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2384265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2384265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}