The hole story: How a sinkhole in a phosphogypsum pile was explored and remediated

Abstract

On June 27, 1994, an erosion sinkhole occurred in the original 200-foot high phosphogypsum stack at the New Wales Plant ofIMC-Agrico Company. As a result, a plan of action was expediently developed to assess groundwater impacts and ensure that any contamination is contained on property, recovered, and appropriately handled at the plant. Shortly thereafter, resources were mobilized to define the extent of the erosion cavity in the natural confining unit beneath the stack, and to formulate and undertake appropriate repairs.