Nutrien water withdrawals approved –SRWMD 2025-09-09

After SRWMD Chair Virginia Johns took the oath of office due to being reappointed, the Board at its September 9, 2025, meeting approved the agenda unchanged and then approved the Consent Agenda with the Nutrien White Springs phosphate mine water use permit still in there, for withdrawal of up to 64.1621 million gallons per day (MGD) of groundwater.

Plus, “The executive director may authorize the use of groundwater for back-up mining/dewatering use in excess of 11.0000 mgd in emergency circumstances.”

For comparison, the City of Gainesville is permitted 30.0 mgd by SJRWMD.

This strip mine water use permit was approved despite the fish kill WWALS notified SRWMD of and despite frequent violations of the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Nutrien water withdrawals approved, Consent Agenda unchanged, Letters from WWALS and OSFR ignored –SRWMD 2025-09-09

I wonder if the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) Board or Staff looked at EPA ECHO, which shows Clean Water Act (CWA) Violations Identified in 5 of 12 quarters and 1 Significant Noncompliance, as well as Significant Noncompliance in all 12 quarters of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). It’s true that these EPA ECHO quarters do not seem to include 2025, but such previous results are troubling. This is for PCS PHOSPHATE WHITE SPRINGS, 15843 SE 78TH PL, WHITE SPRINGS, FL 32096, which is the permit holder for NPDES permit FL0000655, which is cited in the SRWMD Board packet on page BCS 66:

Map: PCS Phosphate White Springs 12 Quarter Violation History, 2025-09-12 — EPA Echo

“Dewatering discharges not used in the recirculatory transport system, are discharged offsite primarily at Swift Creek, with lesser amounts to Hunter Creek, Roaring Creek, and Camp Branch. These streams ultimately discharge to the Suwannee River. These discharges are authorized through NPDES permit number 0000655.”

Yet staff stated on page BCS 67 that:

“District staff inspected the environmental conditions at the mine operation of the offsite discharge locations, Mill Creek, Camp Branch, Swift Creek, Roaring Creek, and Rocky Creek. Staff also inspected reclamation area wetlands. The landcover and natural system appeared healthy and functioning well.”

District staff inspected the environmental conditions at the mine operation of the offsite discharge locations, Mill Creek, Camp Branch, Swift Creek, Roaring Creek, and Rocky Creek. Staff also inspected reclamation area wetlands. The landcover and natural system appeared healthy and functioning well.
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Staff and Board ignored the letters from WWALS and from Our Santa Fe River (OSFR) objecting to this permit without a Public Hearing.

The SRWMD Board packet included a map of where the water withdrawals are, although with no coordinates:

Map: Water Withdrawals Points, Nutrien White Springs, 2025-08-14 –SRWMD
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We will seek the dewatering discharge locations through EPA ECHO.

Maybe you would like to contact your SRWMD Board member. Or maybe your statehouse representatives, or the governor’s office.

SRWMD Board Districts, 2025-08-04 — SRWMD

There are more images below.

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Short Link:

WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

A healthy watershed with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable water.

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