Bill Overview
Title: Fertilizer SUSTAIN Act
Description: Fertilizer SUSTAIN Act This bill (1) directs the Department of the Interior to designate potash and phosphates as critical minerals, (2) revises the Federal Register and National Environmental Policy Act permitting process for mining and phosphate and potash exploration, and (3) requires the Environmental Protection Agency to allow phosphogypsum to be used in government road projects.
Sponsors: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Target Audience
Population: People depending on phosphate and potash mining and related industries
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The Fertilizer SUSTAIN Act primarily deals with the classification and extraction of potash and phosphates, which are key components of fertilizer production.
- Farmers globally rely on fertilizers containing potash and phosphate to enhance crop yields, hence changes in the mining and use regulations of these resources will affect them.
- Consumers around the world could be impacted indirectly through changes in agricultural output and food prices, resulting from alterations in fertilizer production and cost.
- Environmental groups and local communities near mining sites may also be affected due to changes in mining regulations, potentially resulting in increased mining activities.
- Transportation workers, especially those involved in government road projects, may notice changes due to the use of phosphogypsum.
Reasoning
- Farmers represent a key demographic that will be impacted by this policy as they are direct users of fertilizers, including those containing potash and phosphate. Any changes to the supply chain or cost could affect their wellbeing.
- Miners working in phosphate and potash mines, as well as local communities near these sites, will experience changes due to adjustments in the permitting process and potential increases in mining activities.
- Environmentalists may have concerns about the ecological impact of increased mining activity, which could affect their wellbeing.
- Workers involved in the construction and road-building sectors may see shifts in their work landscape due to the use of phosphogypsum in government road projects. This could have both positive and negative effects on their wellbeing.
- Consumers across the country might experience changes in food pricing as a secondary effect of shifts in fertilizer availability and cost.
Simulated Interviews
corn farmer (Nebraska)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The availability and cost of potash and phosphate significantly impact my farming operations.
- I'm concerned about any potential increase in fertilizer costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Phosphate miner (Florida)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy might increase job security at the mine.
- However, I'm worried about the long-term environmental effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
environmentalist (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased mining could have detrimental effects on the environment.
- This policy might undermine our conservation efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 7 |
retired (Texas)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changes in road construction materials aren't a huge concern for me personally.
- I think younger workers might find opportunities with the new policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
agricultural supply chain manager (Iowa)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Easing the mining process could stabilize supply lines and prices.
- This might make my job easier in some respects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
government road project manager (Michigan)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Using phosphogypsum could reduce costs in road building.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about the policy's benefit to projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
college student and part-time environmental activist (New York)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried about the disregard for environmental assessments.
- Policy seems more focused on economic gains than sustainability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 7 |
Grocery store owner (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy helps stabilize fertilizer costs, food prices might be less volatile.
- I'm hoping for steady prices to help predict inventory costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
policy analyst (Washington)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expedited permitting process could bypass necessary environmental safeguards.
- I expect increased lobbying efforts by affected industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
long-haul truck driver (Arkansas)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More consistent operations at mines might stabilize my workload.
- I'm hopeful this will mean less downtime waiting for loads.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 3: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 5: $800000000 (Low: $550000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Potential environmental impacts due to increased mining activities and phosphogypsum usage.
- The pace at which regulatory processes are revamped could influence cost and savings estimates.
- Economic variability, such as fluctuations in global potash and phosphate prices, may impact cost effectiveness.