Manatee County rescinds old DRI and approves 14-year extension for Mosaic's 4 Corners mine

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted Feb. 18 to rescind a longstanding development-of-regional-impact order and adopt an amended master mining plan that extends operations at Mosaic’s 4 Corners facility.

In separate votes the board approved a local development agreement (LDA) to rescind the DRI and memorialize Mosaic’s vested rights unanimously, then adopted resolution R26005 — the amended master mine plan (MMP) — by a 5–2 tally. Commissioners Carol Ann Felts and Dr. Bob McCann voted against the MMP extension.

Mosaic and its outside consultants told the board the package is largely administrative and tied to reserves the company can access from existing, previously permitted acreage. "The date we have selected of 14 years is associated with the reserves within reach of that facility and currently permitted to be mined," said Russell Schweiss, a senior Mosaic director, explaining the basis for the 14-year timeline.

Company presenters spent the morning showing reclaimed-site photos, describing farming on reclaimed acres, and outlining species-protection and water-conservation programs. Mosaic’s environmental manager, Beth Nies, told the board the sites operate under an integrated…