Desperate candidates say desperate things, but few traffic in the type of fearmongering and exploitation of human tragedy like we’ve now seen from Andy Mele. Mele often touts his environmental and scientific knowledge and yet both were clearly absent in a recent editorial meant to misinform and thereby frighten the constituents he wants to represent.
Mele falsely conflated the very different materials, anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate. He bounced between them as if to imply they are the same thing. They are not, and his political merchandising of tragedies in Oklahoma City, West Texas and Beirut could not be more shameful.
In his column, he uses the word “ammonia” as the explosive chemical that caused these three tragedies. The cause of these explosions was the deliberate or accidental ignition of ammonium nitrate, something that Mosaic neither uses as a raw material nor manufactures as a product. Mosaic uses anhydrous ammonia, which does not create explosions. The fertilizer we make does not include ammonium nitrate, and therefore, contrary to Mele’s claims, could not be used by terrorists to make bombs.
He throws it all together – ammonia, fertilizer, phosphoric acid – when referencing the Oklahoma City bombing. In fact, our fertilizer product DAP is used in many applications as a fire retardant. For example, a mixture of DAP and other ingredients can be spread in advance of the fire to prevent a forest from burning. Another product known as MAP is used in dry chemical fire extinguishers commonly found in offices, schools and homes. The extinguisher spray disperses finely powdered MAP, which coats the fuel and rapidly smothers the flame.
If Mele doesn’t understand all he has to do is ask, which might be prudent if he’s interested in politics.
Other errors in his editorial include referencing a former phosphate company’s clay breach 50 years ago, although he fails to mention it’s been five decades since it occurred. He states some people feel Charlotte Harbor never recovered. Not according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The District’s June 2020 draft Charlotte Harbor SWIM (Surface Water Improvement Program) Plan states, “Overall, the Charlotte Harbor system is a relatively healthy estuary. Unlike the nearby estuaries of Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor did not experience substantial environmental degradation through much of the 20th Century.”
He states in the past year the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority has closed its intakes five times due to alerts from Mosaic. Also, false. On one occasion due to an oil leak from a dredge, the Authority closed its intake as a precaution until it learned we had contained the leak and our downstream stormwater outfall was not open or discharging during that time. Mosaic communicates regularly with the Authority and we believe strongly in this partnership.
Mosaic takes the safety of our employees and local communities seriously. We appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight.
Jackie Barron
Public Affairs Manager
Mosaic
