And it you watch the
videos about this sinkhole you will see that it is still
pouring water into
the hole a month later!
So, far more then
the 215 million gallons
Do not be fooled
into believing that we, the neighbors are safe from this mess-up!
YES, YES, YES!
Florida Residents
Sue Mosaic
Over Massive,
Radioactive
Sinkhole
Health Sep. 24, 2016
07:32AM EST
Lorraine Chow
Mosaic Fertilizer
has been slammed with a federal lawsuit over the massive,
radioactive sinkhole that opened under its New Wales plant in Mulberry,
Florida, 30 miles east of Tampa.
Last month, a
300-foot-deep sinkhole appeared at the Mosaic Fertilizer phosphate mine in
Mulberry, Florida. The sinkhole has leaked more than 200 million gallons of
potentially radioactive water into the Floridan Aquifer—Florida's main source
of drinking water.ClassAction.com
The sinkhole, formed
below a phosphogypsum stack, has leaked an estimated 215 million gallons of
contaminated wastewater into the Floridan Aquifer, posing a potentially serious
threat to drinking water. To make matters worse, news reports indicate that the
fertilizer giant and state officials knew about the problem for three weeks but
failed to notify the public.
Attorneys from ClassAction.com filed a 23-page class
action complaint on behalf of Nicholas Bohn, Natasha McCormick and Eric
Weckman—local residents who rely on private wells as their source of water. The
lawsuit was filed at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Tampa.
"Residents in
the communities that surround the New Wales facility have legitimate concern
for the integrity and safety of their water supplies as the toxic radioactive
and other chemical wastewater is in the Floridan Aquifer causing, and will
continue to cause, water contamination," the complaint
reads.
"There are
approximately 5,000 individuals who live in within five miles of the sinkhole
who obtain their water from private wells and are impacted by the
sinkhole," it states. "It is estimated there are over 1,500 private
wells in the impacted area."
Mosaic's
"conscious actions and omissions disregarded foreseeable risks to human
health and safety and to the environment," the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit seeks an
unspecified amount in damages, including reimbursement or funding for private
well testing, monitoring and treatment if tests show the well is contaminated.
Morgan & Morgan
environmental attorney Rene Rocha is one of the attorneys taking on the case.
When asked via email if the plaintiffs are seeking a specific dollar amount,
Rocha explained to EcoWatch that the main intention of the lawsuit is to keep people
safe and to hold Mosaic accountable.
"We are seeking
recovery for all damages suffered by the residents in the area, but it is too
early to assign any specific dollar amount to that," he wrote. "First
and foremost we are concerned with ensuring the safety of people living nearby
the facility, and the integrity of their water supply."
Since the Sept. 22
filing, Rocha said, "We have been contacted by many residents who are
concerned."
A statement from
ClassAction.com noted it is "yet unclear to what extent these wastes have
travelled through the Aquifer, but the wastes contain extremely toxic and
radioactive contaminants such as radium, radon, uranium, thorium, and lead, as
well as other non-radioactive toxins." Its attorneys are continuing to
monitor the environmental impact of the sinkhole, as well as any possible
health risks posed by the water's contaminants.
"This lawsuit
is about providing peace of mind to families living nearby the plant. It's
about making sure they are confident their water is safe, and that they don't
have to take the word of a company that repeatedly disregards the public and the
environment in pursuit of profits," ClassAction.com attorney John
Yanchunis said.
In response to the lawsuit, Mosaic spokeswoman Callie Neslund told the Associated Press, "We are reviewing the details of this filing and will respond through the judicial process."
In response to the lawsuit, Mosaic spokeswoman Callie Neslund told the Associated Press, "We are reviewing the details of this filing and will respond through the judicial process."
Walt Precourt,
Mosaic's senior vice president of phosphates, addressed the Polk County Board
of County Commissioners on Sept. 20.
"On behalf of
Mosaic and our nearly 4,000 employees in Florida, we'd like to express our
sincere regret that the sinkhole and water recovery operations on our property
have caused concerns for the community," he said. "I regret and
apologize for not providing information sooner, and am committed to providing
regular updates to the public as we move forward."
On its website,
Mosaic says it is offering water tests free of charge. A third-party testing
company has taken samples from 52 wells, with 210 testing appointments
scheduled. Mosaic is also offering free bottled water to those who request it.
