Funding for the reclamation of mined phosphate lands is managed by the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Program. The program was created as a result of public concerns over the thousands of acres that had been mined for phosphate before reclamation was required by law. Identified parcels dated as far back as 1888. The program was created to provide a cost reimbursement grant for landowners for reclamation to eliminate health, safety and environmental issues existing on the abandoned mine sites. The grant program was deemed necessary because the cost of reclamation was more than the value of those properties even after reclamation.
The Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Program provides funds for reclamation of property mined for phosphate prior to the 1975 introduction of regulatory requirements for reclamation. The grant program reimburses landowners for approved costs of reclamation work to improve environmental and economic utility of lands by removing safety hazards and improving water quality and quantity in affected watersheds.
Lands disturbed by removal of phosphate rock prior to July 1, 1975, have already been identified (149,130 acres) and reported in “Phosphate Land Reclamation Study Commission Report on Phosphate Mining and Reclamation, 1978.” The identified lands were divided into 748 parcels, and each parcel was classified into one of five land forms:
A total of 222 parcels were omitted from the comprehensive evaluation, according to the following reasons:
All projects have already been identified and selected, and no new applications are being accepted. This funding program will end when the last of the projects is funded and released.
As of June 30, 2023, 178 programs (50,461 acres) have been funded and released, two programs (609 acres) have been acquired by the state, and 10 programs (3,889 acres) are currently funded and being reclaimed. During the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the last two remaining programs were placed under contract.
Status of Acres Reclaimed
Please note: subsequent to receipt of program applications on January 1, 2005, three were funded then canceled, one was withdrawn by the applicant and numerous acres in several of the program areas were re-mined, thus becoming mandatory programs subject to the requirements in Rule 62C-17, Florida Administrative Code. Also note, when a reclamation site is funded/contracted, it is referred to as a “program.” A program may be an entire parcel, a portion of a parcel or a combination of parcels. In addition, parcel acres are based on estimated acres while program acres are based on surveyed acres.
With the exception of fiscal year 2007-2008, all funding for the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation programs has been appropriated from the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation Trust Fund. Income into that fund consists of portions of interest earned, a severance tax paid by the phosphate industry (1983 - present), a surcharge paid by the phosphate industry (2009 - 2011), and a phosphogypsum stack fee paid by chemical plants processing phosphates (2001 - 2007). In 2007-2008, the Legislature appropriated $4 million of General Revenue funds for the programs.
Comparison of Severance Tax, Interest, Phosphogypsum Fees and Surcharge Chart
Get a combined copy of the reports listed below. Please contact program staff for for information.
Interested in subscribing to DEP newsletters or receiving DEP updates through email?
Sign UpThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.
Learn More