Stop the Expansion of Toxic Phosphate Waste Near Tampa Bay
Stop the Expansion of Toxic Phosphate Waste Near Tampa Bay
The Issue
Tampa Bay is not a toxic waste dumping grounds.
Right now, Mosaic is asking for federal approval to expand its massive phosphogypsum waste stack in Riverview by nearly 180 acres — bringing a radioactive waste pile even closer to the shores of Tampa Bay. To do it, the company is seeking permission to fill roughly 35 acres of wetlands and reroute part of North Archie Creek, which flows into the Bay.
Phosphogypsum contains radium, which decays into radon gas. Because of the cancer risks associated with radiation exposure, federal rules require this waste to be stored in engineered “gypstacks.” Mosaic’s existing stack already towers hundreds of feet above our community. Now, with only six years of storage remaining, the company wants to extend the life of the facility for another 16 years.
This expansion would sit less than a mile from Tampa Bay in an area vulnerable to storm surge and flooding. Our region has already experienced the devastating consequences of phosphate waste mismanagement, including the 2021 Piney Point wastewater disaster that discharged millions of gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay. Residents across the political spectrum agree: we cannot afford another environmental crisis.
Tampa Bay is an economic engine and ecological treasure. It supports fisheries, tourism, boating, and the wildlife that define Florida’s natural heritage — from manatees and sea turtles to vital bird nesting habitats. Wetlands and creeks are not empty land; they are natural buffers and wildlife habitats that protect us from flooding and filter pollution before it reaches our waters.
We urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County to deny permits that would allow this expansion into wetlands and waters so close to Tampa Bay. At minimum, regulators must require a full, transparent environmental review that prioritizes public health, wildlife, and long-term environmental safety over short-term industrial convenience.
Our community deserves clean water, safe neighborhoods, and a future that doesn’t depend on piling more radioactive waste beside one of Florida’s most important estuaries. Our land, water, and wildlife must be protected.
Protect Tampa Bay. Deny the permit.
92
The Issue
Tampa Bay is not a toxic waste dumping grounds.
Right now, Mosaic is asking for federal approval to expand its massive phosphogypsum waste stack in Riverview by nearly 180 acres — bringing a radioactive waste pile even closer to the shores of Tampa Bay. To do it, the company is seeking permission to fill roughly 35 acres of wetlands and reroute part of North Archie Creek, which flows into the Bay.
Phosphogypsum contains radium, which decays into radon gas. Because of the cancer risks associated with radiation exposure, federal rules require this waste to be stored in engineered “gypstacks.” Mosaic’s existing stack already towers hundreds of feet above our community. Now, with only six years of storage remaining, the company wants to extend the life of the facility for another 16 years.
This expansion would sit less than a mile from Tampa Bay in an area vulnerable to storm surge and flooding. Our region has already experienced the devastating consequences of phosphate waste mismanagement, including the 2021 Piney Point wastewater disaster that discharged millions of gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay. Residents across the political spectrum agree: we cannot afford another environmental crisis.
Tampa Bay is an economic engine and ecological treasure. It supports fisheries, tourism, boating, and the wildlife that define Florida’s natural heritage — from manatees and sea turtles to vital bird nesting habitats. Wetlands and creeks are not empty land; they are natural buffers and wildlife habitats that protect us from flooding and filter pollution before it reaches our waters.
We urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County to deny permits that would allow this expansion into wetlands and waters so close to Tampa Bay. At minimum, regulators must require a full, transparent environmental review that prioritizes public health, wildlife, and long-term environmental safety over short-term industrial convenience.
Our community deserves clean water, safe neighborhoods, and a future that doesn’t depend on piling more radioactive waste beside one of Florida’s most important estuaries. Our land, water, and wildlife must be protected.
Protect Tampa Bay. Deny the permit.
92
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on March 6, 2026