Simplot plans to lay off 114 mine, plant workers

J.R. Simplot Co. plans to issue layoff notices to 114 employees at a phosphate mine and a fertilizer plant, blaming legal challenges from environmental groups trying to halt the agricultural conglomerate's proposed expansion of the mine near the Idaho-Wyoming border. The 36 layoffs at the Smoky Canyon mine are set to take place Saturday, with 78 job reductions at the Don fertilizer plant near Pocatello slated for July 11. In late May, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stopped the company from preparing for the expansion, with the judges saying they needed more time to review all the issues. Garrett Lofto, president of Simplot's AgriBusiness Group, said Monday the company could shutter Smoky Canyon and the fertilizer plant completely in 18 months if the situation isn't resolved. The mine is the only supplier of the Don plant, shipping phosphate beneath three counties in an underground pipeline. "The delays caused by special interest groups over the past nine months have placed us in a no-win situation," said Lofto in a news release, adding Simplot has released 199 contracting company workers, and has not filled 22 vacant positions...Olympian