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Phosphate focus on land restoration
Efforts Support Sustainability of Environment and Economy
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| Pines in the high ground and bald Cypress near and in the water at Purvis Lake make a regal showing at this reclaimed area in White Springs, Florida. |
While few people driving through the countryside of Aurora, N.C. or White Springs, Fla. could deny the natural beauty of the two areas; few non-locals would guess that some of the green space had once been mined for phosphate ore.
People in nearby communities are aware of the ongoing mining activities at both sites. The result of surface mining requires restoration of the land. With proper planning and dedication to reclamation, both environmental and economic functions can be restored, and in some cases, enhanced. Depending on the desired future land use, the reclamation effort can emphasize wildlife habitat, or future economic use, such as pine plantations, where the trees will eventually be harvested and then replanted.
"Our reclamation activities are done with a purpose," said Stan Posey, Manager of Environmental Affairs for PCS Phosphate in White Springs. "PotashCorp's long-term commitment to reclamation results in restoration of both environmental and economic function of the mined land."
For example, in 2004, White Springs enjoyed commercial success with the harvest of pines from reclaimed areas. They also received an acknowledgment of success in wetland restoration with the release of a mitigation project called the "Green Area" by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Both were firsts for White Springs.
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| Jeff Furness checks a wood duck house at the Porter Creek North reclamationarea in Aurora, N.C. |
In January, Aurora received the North Carolina Mining Stewardship Award in the Reclamation category for efforts at Whitehurst Creek that went above and beyond state-required regulations. Prior to mining the area, the creek was approximately 10 feet wide and was pretty much a glorified drainage canal. After mining, Aurora's primary goal was to enhance the aquatic habitat of the creek system in the same area where it had existed. The result is a 110-foot wide creek and floodplain that greatly increased its value to wildlife.
For PotashCorp, these efforts are not at all about winning awards, but rather about doing the right thing. "Land restoration is important to PotashCorp because we want to be good stewards of the environment," said Ross Smith, Environmental Affairs Manager for PCS Phosphate in Aurora. "Part of that is leaving the land, after we finish mining, in a form that benefits the environment."
At White Springs, reclamation started more than 30 years ago, with a special emphasis on wetlands for the last 20 years. Nature has had time to take its course. "These projects are maturing now," Posey said. "If we go stand in the middle of one of these mature areas today, you could not tell me whether it is a natural ecosystem or a reclaimed area. That's a validation of what we've been saying all along: Get them planned, properly designed and planted, and let them go. If you make sure you have it right in design and construction, the ecosystem will take care of itself."
"Reclamation, for both environmental and economic factors, is a long-term commitment," Posey noted. "In this day of instant messaging and e-mail vs. snail mail, people have forgotten one very important thing: You cannot rush Mother Nature. It takes time for a quality ecosystem to take shape."
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