EPA Approves PCS Phosphate Permit

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Allows PCS Phosphate Permit to Stand

By: Ross Smith PCS Phosphate | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: June 18, 2009

AURORA, N.C. (June 18, 2009) – The 404 wetlands permit recently issued by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has been accepted and signed by PCS Phosphate and the Corps. Since its issuance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been reviewing both the permit and Record of Decision to determine whether or not the agency would invoke its veto authority under section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. Late yesterday, EPA informed the Corps that it would not seek additional review of the wetlands permit or invoke its veto authority.

“After more than eight years in this permitting process, we are obviously pleased to have the 404 wetlands permit in-hand,” said Steve Beckel, general manager of the PCS Phosphate Aurora facility. “Yesterday’s decision by the EPA demonstrates the company’s commitment to protecting the environment for current and future generations.”

The final step in this 8+ year permitting process will be receiving the necessary state mining permits and certifications from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Once those permits are received, the company will have the necessary authorizations to extend its mining operations in Aurora until 2045.

“We would like to thank our employees, elected officials at all levels, as well as the community at-large, for their support throughout this permitting process,” adds Beckel.

PCS Phosphate is a subsidiary of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., (together with its subsidiary, “PotashCorp”), the world’s largest fertilizer enterprise and a leading supplier to agriculture, animal nutrition, and industrial chemical markets. The Aurora facility employs approximately 1,100 employees with approximately 90 percent of them native to the area.

PotashCorp is the world's largest fertilizer enterprise by capacity producing the three primary plant nutrients and a leading supplier to three distinct market categories: agriculture, with the largest capacity in the world in potash and third largest in phosphate and nitrogen; animal nutrition, with the world's largest capacity in phosphate feed ingredients; and industrial chemicals, as the largest global producer of industrial nitrogen products and the world's largest capacity for production of purified industrial phosphoric acid.