What is FIPR

The Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) is a state agency created in 1978 to study phosphate issues that impact Florida’s citizens, environment and economy and to be a phosphate information resource.

Scientists and engineers from throughout the world apply for FIPR grants to conduct phosphate-related studies. FIPR staff biologists, engineers and chemists also conduct in-house research.

Independent panels of experts and FIPR research directors review proposals and make funding recommendations to FIPR’s Board of Directors.

Board members make final funding decisions at quarterly public meetings. Multi-year projects must be reviewed and approved annually for continued funding.

Florida’s governor appoints the Board members. By law, there must be one representative each from the state university system, a major environmental group, and a state regulatory agency, and two phosphate industry representatives.

FIPR reports administratively to the University of South Florida, and is funded with a portion of the phosphate severance tax.

Examples of FIPR work

	Studying the reclamation of wetlands, uplands, clay ponds, and wildlife habitats.
Using wetlands built on clay settling areas and a sand tailing filter area to clean wastewater and potentially provide a new water source.
	Studying economic and safe ways to clean acidic water, produced when making phosphoric acid, that is stored in ponds like these on top of phosphogypsum stacks.
Developing new ways, such as the Rail-Veyor pictured here, to transport phosphate materials and decrease dependence on high-energy pumping and trucking.
	Finding safe and economic uses for the millions of tons of phosphogypsum created and stacked each year.
Comparing radioactivity and heavy metals in fish caught in phosphate pit lakes to those caught in natural lakes.

FIPR funds research to improve the environment, protect public health and increase mining and processing efficiency. The public helps the Institute establish research priorities for environmental and technological phosphate-related topics.

FIPR as an information resource

FIPR’s work includes sharing the information it generates and collects.
Toward this end, the Institute provides:

• A full-service library, open to the public, that contains the largest collection of phosphate-related information in the world. The library is also able to access technical references through extensive on-line resources.

• Published final FIPR research reports, available free of charge.

• Seminars, conferences, and workshops on subjects pertaining to its research program.

• A K-12 education program that uses FIPR’s expertise to teach teachers about phosphate and show them how to use the information to build language arts, science, social studies and math lessons that correlate to the Florida Sunshine State Standards for Education.

The Institute exists for the citizens of Florida. The public is welcome to call FIPR, and to come in and visit. Tour our web site to find out more about our research and programs.

Florida Institute of Phosphate Research
1855 W. Main Street • Bartow, FL 33830
Phone: (863) 534-7160 Fax: (863) 534-7165
Suncom: 515-0507
www.fipr.state.fl.us