DEP'S DAILY UPDATE ON MOSAIC - NEW WALES SINKHOLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2017
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP'S DAILY UPDATE ON 
MOSAIC - NEW WALES SINKHOLE

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) priority is always the safety of Floridians and our environment and our staff was on-site to investigate the issues at Mosaic’s New Wales facility less than 24 hours after being notified. Since Mosaic’s initial report of the Water Loss Incident at its Polk County New Wales facility on Aug. 28, DEP has maintained strict oversight of the recovery process and made frequent site visits to ensure timely and appropriate response continues in order to safeguard public health and natural resources.

Governor Scott directed DEP to expedite our investigation, which began on Aug. 29. While Mosaic has taken responsibility, our job is to ensure 100 percent safe drinking water in Florida and to protect our state’s pristine environment. As directed by the Governor, DEP is expediting all water-quality tests to ensure safe drinking water for residents. Governor Scott has also directed the Department of Health to partner with DEP in our investigation to ensure all drinking water in the area is safe. 

To keep the public informed of the latest response activities and most recent monitoring data, DEP will issue a daily update on this issue.

DEP’s Ongoing Oversight:

Department staff continues to perform frequent, targeted site visits to monitor progress and provide direction and assistance on response activities.

The department continues to communicate with Mosaic on a daily basis to receive updates on the status of the site, and the most recent monitoring results, along with a review of investigative activities in accordance with the requirements of applicable state permits and state orders.

Below is a timeline of action taken by DEP since notification of this incident:

• March 13, 2017: DEP and Mosaic took joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming.

• March 10, 2017: To date DEP has taken 129  joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells which now includes the four completed additional monitoring wells required by the Consent Order. These wells will provide additional monitoring coverage to ensure there is no indication of off-site impacts. Results from both DEP’s and Mosaic’s sampling continue to indicate that the affected water is being successfully contained, and that there is no evidence of off-site movement or threat to off-site groundwater supplies.

• March 9, 2017: DEP and Mosaic took joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming.

• March 8, 2017: DEP continues to review sample results from both private drinking water wells and onsite monitoring wells. Results continue to indicate that the affected water is being successfully contained, and that there is no evidence of off-site movement or impacts related to process water from the sinkhole at the Mosaic New Wales facility.
  
  
• March 7, 2017: DEP and ECT took joint samples from private drinking water wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming. 
  
  
• March 7, 2017: DEP and Mosaic took joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming.

• March 6, 2017: DEP and Mosaic took joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming.

• March 3, 2017: To date DEP has taken 122 joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells which now includes the four completed additional monitoring wells required by the Consent Order. These wells will provide additional monitoring coverage to ensure there is no indication of off-site impacts. Results from both DEP’s and Mosaic’s sampling continue to indicate that the affected water is being successfully contained, and that there is no evidence of off-site movement or threat to off-site groundwater supplies.

• March 2, 2017: DEP and ECT took joint samples from private drinking water wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming. 
  
  
• March 2, 2017: DEP and Mosaic took joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming.

• March 1, 2017: DEP and Mosaic took joint samples of Mosaic monitoring wells. Results from these samples are forthcoming.

• More information on DEP's ongoing oversight is available below.
  

Sinkhole Investigation and Remediation:

• DEP’s Florida Geological Survey is assisting in the department’s investigation into the formation and remediation of the sinkhole.

• The Department continues to perform regular testing and review site conditions, remedial activities and monitoring results. These ongoing reviews are necessary to ensure that the released process water is being captured on-site and that there are no off-site concerns while remedial work is being performed.

• Mosaic has completed on-site preparation work including construction of work pad areas for staging equipment and the on-site batch plant that were essential before grouting operations could begin. As a result, Mosaic began initial grouting operations on Feb. 1, 2017. The initial grouting phase will stabilize the base of the open cavity in the sinkhole prior to continuing with additional grouting to close the sinkhole opening.

• Mosaic is reporting that there have been no adverse changes or increase in the size of the sinkhole formation through Monday, March 13, 2017.

• Mosaic is continuing to report their progress with their on-site corrective actions as they work to complete remediation of the sinkhole.

Groundwater Quality:

The department is receiving data from Mosaic that is based on the company’s network of monitoring wells that capture water-quality data within the three aquifer systems at the site - the Surficial Aquifer, the Intermediate Aquifer and the Floridan Aquifer. By the regular testing and reported data from these wells, DEP is able to confirm no off-site migration is occurring.

Monitoring to date continues to indicate that the affected water is being successfully contained, and that there is no evidence of off-site movement or threat to off-site groundwater supplies. Daily oversight and routine groundwater monitoring will continue to ensure there are no off-site or long-term effects.

• Specifically, as of Monday, March 13, 2017, the recovery well efforts continue to successfully capture and contain released process water from the Floridan Aquifer.
  
  
• Groundwater data from on-site monitoring wells shows no movement of process water outside of the capture zone of the on-site recovery well.

Drinking Water:

Since sampling of nearby drinking water wells began on Sept. 19, 2016, more than 1,250 results continue to indicate that the process water is being contained on-site. The nearest private drinking well is approximately 3 miles away from the site, and thus far in DEP’s investigation there is no indication that there is a threat to this well.

Mosaic reports that sampling will continue through their independent, third-party contractor and those samples will be sent to a third-party lab for analysis. DEP will continue to independently review these lab results as part of its oversight to ensure that Mosaic remains in compliance with its Consent Order.

DEP is available to perform sampling alongside these contractors or independently.

Both DEP and DOH are committed to ensuring safe drinking water for residents.

Residents with questions or concerns regarding their sample results or the safety of their well may continue to call the DEP Office of Public Services at 850-245-2118.

Additional Information on DEP's Ongoing Oversight: 

• DEP's Ongoing Oversight in February 2017

• DEP's Ongoing Oversight in January 2017
  
  
• DEP's Ongoing Oversight in December 2016

• DEP's Ongoing Oversight in November 2016

• DEP's Ongoing Oversight in October 2016
  
  
• DEP's Ongoing Oversight in September 2016

If you would like to continue to receive daily updates on the Mosaic-New Wales sinkhole,
click here.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/18d4ba9