Phosphates

A Case Study of a Valuable, Depleting Mineral in America Gao ID: EMD-80-21 November 30, 1979

Phosphate is a primary plant nutrient which is absolutely vital to sustaining the Nation's agricultural output, and phosphate rock is the only practical source of phosphorous on a commercial scale. In order to assess the outlook for phosphate, GAO reviewed phosphate-mining techniques, the effects of environmental regulation on the industry, and methods being used to estimate the quantity of domestic phosphate reserves and resources.

As presently mined, high-grade phosphate deposits are being depleted. Over one-half of all phosphate production in the United States occurred in the last 12 years, and it is far from certain that the Nation's reserves will be adequate beyond the year 2000. In order to plan for the availability of phosphates in the future, a reliable information system is needed. The Bureau of Mines relies too heavily on unverified, proprietary data without judging their reliability. World-reserve estimates have fluctuated wildly from year to year and are even less reliable than domestic estimates. Environmental and land-use concerns are another factor which must be considered in planning phosphate availability. While past availability depended only on whether or not it was profitable to produce the mineral, it is being increasingly subordinated to environmental impact and competing desires for nonmining uses of public lands. Government policies which seek to minimize environmental damage diminish potential phosphate reserves significantly. A third factor essential to planning is an assessment of the world market outlook; the present trends of global production and imports indicate that availability is bound to have economic and probably strategic implications for the United States and its allies. Finally, while the Nation has traditionally relied on market forces to deal with shortages and has generally expected private industry to meet new demands, there is now a need for the Government to plan for the long-term requirements of the country.

Recommendations

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