News Media Information (Press Kit)

For news media visits to Smoky Canyon or to conduct interviews with Smoky Canyon personnel, please contact Rick Phillips at 208 235-5685

Ten Quick facts about Smoky Canyon

• Smoky Canyon Phosphate Resources is operated by the Mining and Manufacturing group of the J.R. Simplot Company.
• Mine was opened in 1984 and uses a slurry pipeline to move ore to processing plant in Pocatello.
• 420 rail cars would be needed to move a weeks worth of ore that goes by pipeline.
• The slurry pipeline goes from Smoky Canyon to Don Plant in Pocatello a distance of 87 miles.
• Approximately 200 people work at the Smoky Canyon facility.
• Idaho is the third largest producer of phosphate in the United States.
• Phosphate ore from Smoky Canyon produces fertilizer for America’s farms.
• Less than 5 percent of phosphate production goes overseas.
• More than $40 million is pumped into the local economy by Smoky Canyon operations.
• Smoky Canyon produces more than 2 million tons of phosphate ore annually.

Photographs are available in the Gallery. Please credit J.R. Simplot Company.