Florida inks deal with fertilizer maker on Mulberry sinkhole cleanup

MULBERRY, Fla. — Florida officials have reached a deal with the company responsible for a large sinkhole that resulted in millions of gallons of contaminated water pouring into a drinking water aquifer.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued the consent order late Monday. It requires the Mosaic-New Wales plant to seal the hole, which has been open since August, recover pollution sent into the aquifer and increase monitoring of groundwater impacts. %

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The Mosaic-New Wales plant on County Road 640 in Mulberry, the world's largest supplier of phosphate, said the sinkhole opened up beneath a pile of waste material called a "gypsum stack."

Walt Precourt, a Mosaic official, said in a statement that the company is committed to containing the pollution onsite so it doesn't affect the community.

Mosaic is required to put up $40 million to pay for the remediation, and faces fines of $10,000 per day for violating the order.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group