Planning board recommends approval of Mosaic 2023–24 annual mining reports, sets conditions

The Hardee County Planning and Zoning Board on April 3 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve Mosaic Fertilizer LLC’s 2023–24 annual mining reports for multiple permits across the county, subject to standard staff conditions and several specific filing deadlines.

Deb Butler, Hardee County mining coordinator, presented staff reports and binders containing annual reports for a series of Mosaic permits including Fort Greene (Southern Reserves and Payne Creek extension), Fort Meade (North Hardee extension), North Pasture, South Fort Meade (including Eastern Reserves and Eastern Extension), Ona, and South Pasture. Staff’s recommendation for each annual report included requirements that Mosaic submit initial and revised printed copies to the county’s mining department, update approved MMRP maps and tables where noted, and provide supplemental financial assurances specific to Mosaic Fertilizer LLC by May 31, 2025.

Butler summarized acreage and reclamation status for the mines. Among the figures presented: Fort Greene Southern Reserves totals about 7,891 acres with 1,041 acres in active operations; Fort Meade North Hardee extension had mining cease in 1997 with initial reclamation completed on 1,550 acres; South Fort Meade reporting year mine acreage was 20,234 acres with 12,475 acres disturbed and a production rate of 2,119,000 tons in the reporting year; Ona Mine production for the year was reported at 5,552,000 tons with 8,643 acres disturbed; and South Pasture showed approximately 16,638 acres mined or disturbed with active sand/clay mix areas and ongoing dewatering and reclamation activities.

Marilyn Catala, Mosaic’s senior financial analyst, told the board Mosaic met financial responsibility requirements for clay settling areas with a $30 million insurance certificate covering the largest clay settling area liability estimated at $28.2 million. She also presented consolidated company financial metrics and severance‑tax distributions: for the fiscal year referenced, Hardee County received an allocation of severance taxes totaling about $3.2 million.

Mosaic presenters and reclamation staff described reclamation progress: initial revegetation and contouring across many reclaimed acres, completion of alternative‑reclamation schedule work in several Brushy Creek/Brushy Creek‑area units, sand tailings placement and backfilling in targeted units, construction of overburden saddles at select parcels, and plans to file combined applications to merge the Ona and South Pasture permits by June 30, 2025. Butler said the county and Mosaic have monthly meetings and the county conducts periodic tours and inspections.

During the presentation, an attorney working with Mosaic explained that supplemental financial‑assurance documents and the annual certified financial statements are coordinated with county staff and auditors so the documents meet the county’s timing and code requirements. Butler and Mosaic staff also referenced a 2003 agreement with Manatee County that permits the placement of up to 8.9 million tons of clay in Hardee County; Butler said about 3.502 million tons had been deposited to date and no clay was moved to Manatee County during the reporting year.

After discussion and questions from board members about specific reclamation units, sand balances, and timelines, a board member moved to recommend approval of Mosaic’s 2023–24 annual mining reports to the Board of County Commissioners contingent on the conditions outlined in the staff reports. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The recommendation includes staff‑listed conditions that appear in each staff report: submission of 3 copies of each annual report to the Hardee County mining department on the anniversary due date, submission of 25 copies after staff review at least three weeks before the public hearing, submission of updated MMRP maps and tables where requested within 30 days of BOCC approval, an application to combine Ona and South Pasture mines by 06/30/2025 where noted, and supplemental financial assurances specific to Mosaic Fertilizer LLC by 05/31/2025. Mosaic’s presenters said they will follow up with the county on the specified deliverables and permitting steps.