Florida inks deal with fertilizer maker on sinkhole cleanup

Massive sinkhole has been open since August

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida and the company that owns the fertilizer plant have agreed on a deal to seal a large sinkhole that opened beneath a pile of waste and clean up the millions of gallons of contaminated water that poured into a drinking water aquifer.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued the consent order late Monday. It requires the Mosaic Co. to seal the hole that's been open since August, recover pollution sent into the aquifer and increase monitoring of groundwater impacts.

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Walt Precourt, a Mosaic official, said in a statement the company is committed to containing the pollution onsite so it doesn't affect the community.

Mosaic is required to put up $40 million to pay for the remediation, and faces fines of $10,000 per day for violating the order.


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