Awards

Environmental
Impact Statement

Horse Creek

The Horse Creek Stewardship Program
The Horse Creek Stewardship Program establishes the Authority and Mosaic as stewards of Horse Creek. Funded by Mosaic, this long-term program provides a procedure for the collection of information on physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Horse Creek during mining in the watershed. From this, the Authority and Mosaic will be able to detect any adverse conditions or significant trends that may occur as a result of Mosaic's mining. In addition, if any detrimental changes or trends are found, the program provides the company with mechanisms for corrective action.

A Program Unlike Any Others

This is an unprecedented course of action that makes this program unique. While many other regulatory scenarios wait until standards or thresholds have been exceeded, with the Horse Creek Stewardship Program, the presence of a significant temporary trend alone will be sufficient to initiate investigation and, where appropriate, take corrective action. Because of this, the program provides certainty and consistency of protection for the creek based on ongoing data collection.

Program Components

Monitoring and Reporting
The program’s monitoring efforts will be more inclusive and more extensive than what would normally be required, flagging not only any phosphate-related problems, but also any problems resulting from agriculture and other industrial uses.

Water quantity data analysis of samples collected will particularly focus on the ongoing relationship between rainfall and stream flow in the Horse Creek watershed. This relationship can be established from data collected early in the monitoring program and used to track the potential effects of mining on stream flow.

Water quality data will be obtained monthly at stations where flow is present. Field measurements will be made of temperature, pH, specific conductance, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. Samples will be collected and analyzed for many things that are not normally tested for.

Macroinvertebrate sampling will be performed three times annually. Fish sampling will also be conducted three times annually. The total length and weight of fish collected will be determined and recorded. The focus of this analysis will also be to screen for statistically significant declining trends of native species.

Data collected through this monitoring program will be compiled annually with emphasis placed on identifying trends in water quality and/or biological conditions. Each report will also provide general information on the location and extent of Mosaic’s mining activities in the Horse Creek watershed as they relate to this monitoring effort. Reports will be submitted to the Authority as well as to the Bureau of Mine Reclamation and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. In addition, the program will be evaluated regularly to ensure it is providing useful information. Mosaic will coordinate with the Authority on a regular basis regarding any amendments to the monitoring program based on any recommendations resulting from the evaluation.

Investigating Adverse Conditions or Significant Trends
In the event the annual data evaluation uncovers anything of concern, Mosaic will conduct an impact assessment to identify the cause. If it is determined that Mosaic was not the cause, the Authority will make efforts to implement actions to reverse or abate the conditions. Mosaic will support this effort, focusing on scientific solutions where the company can assist in the abatement of others' problems through technology transfer. If the impact assessment indicates or suggests that Mosaic is the cause of the problem, the company will employ corrective actions.

Implementing Corrective Action
If adverse trends occur, the Authority and Mosaic will determine:

1. whether the impacts will persist or subside over the long term
2. specific Mosaic activities that are contributing to the trend(s)
3. alternative steps that Mosaic could take to reverse the adverse trend, if needed.

While Mosaic may implement alternative solutions that could include conventional strategies, the Authority has asked the company to consider "out of the box" solutions, and Mosaic has committed to staying abreast of emerging principles and technologies for water quantity management, water quality treatment and watershed protection, as well as other innovative solutions.

Protecting the Creek for Future Generations
Based on ongoing data collection, the Authority believes that the Horse Creek Stewardship Program provides certainty and consistency of protection for Horse Creek. And its inclusive and extensive monitoring and corrective efforts help to ensure the preservation of the creek's aquatic integrity for future generations. Clearly, the Horse Creek Stewardship Program is the best solution for the long-term protection of the creek, Charlotte Harbor and the Peace River.