When the phosphate industry needs a favor, information on the progress of a project or merely to touch base with a key politician or state agency, access is rarely a problem. That has been the case for decades as the long tentacles of phosphate interests reach into Florida's board rooms and back rooms, into state offices and the state Legislature.
That realization has become more and more evident as Charlotte County -- and most recently Hardee County -- tries to wring concessions from a phosphate industry whose mines threaten thousands of acres of the Peace River water basin.
Charlotte County has filed suit to stop the permitting of the Altman track mine, a 2,200-acre tract on the headwaters of Horse Creek. Charlotte, Lee, Sarasota counties, a number of environmentalist groups and others have asked the state Department of Environmental Protection and the courts to force an environmental impact study to determine the effects of phosphate mining on the Peace River and its estuaries. The phosphate industry prefers to rely on outdated studies -- studies various phosphate companies funded.
As the process continues, the magnitude of the challenge has become painfully obvious to Charlotte County commissioners. Whenever a door is open, another is slammed shut. Requests for action are delayed or ignored.
It is no surprise considering the enormous influence of the phosphate industry.
At least 500 million gallons of stormwater recently poured through a washed-out phosphate mine in Hardee County. When county officials wanted the water tested to determine how seriously it had polluted the Peace River, one laboratory at first accepted and then declined the job. The laboratory director of that company denies a close relationship with IMC is the reason they declined to do the tests.
That comes on the heels of a mini-controversy sparked by the realization that a member of the Southwest Florida Water Management District board is also a community affairs specialist with CF Industries. That same employee visited Charlotte County commissioners to discuss their lawsuit and then scheduled visits from other phosphate officials with those same commissioners.
The phosphate industry may be no different from any other corporation or political action committee inasmuch as it plays the lobbying game to protect its investments and enhance opportunities for profit. Should we be outraged? No more than we should by the conduct of other corporations.
What we should be is aware of the challenge phosphate mining poses. Battling against the phosphate industry's intricate network of influence will take money and a commitment that is hard to come by.