Tampabay: Tampa Bay briefs

Residents led by Save Our Bays, Air and Canals are questioning the project's safety and environmental friendliness. Big Bend Transfer Co., a consortium created by phosphate giants Cargill, IMC Global and CF Industries to build the plant, said the facility will not affect the air and water.

Representatives from the three companies will answer questions at the IMC terminal just north of TECO's Big Bend coal-fired plant in Apollo Beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cargill spokeswoman Christine Smith said.

Big Bend is working to rezone the property, a process that will require that it meet conditions related to air and water quality, landscaping, and emergency preparedness. The rezoning became necessary after a three-judge panel in November ruled that the county erred in telling Big Bend it only needed to modify the existing zoning. The public hearing is scheduled for mid February.

The solid sulfur, in the form of small pellets, would be shipped in by barge and by rail. Save Our Bays technical director BJ Lower, who opposes the project, said the plant would pose a danger to residents.

The Tampa Bay area is the world's largest exporter of phosphates, as well as the world's largest importer of liquid sulfur. The sulfur is turned into sulfuric acid, which breaks down the phosphates to produce fertilizer.

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