DuPont’s White Pigment Mineral Sands operation in Stark, Florida was nearing exhaustion of its ore body. It was imperative that the adjacent property mineral rights be acquired to enable continued operations. In order to do so, DuPont need to re-open negotiations with the property owners that previously rejected the project. A decade earlier, DuPont failed to get regulatory approval to mine in a 38,000-acre tract of Trail Ridge adjacent to the Okefenokee Swamp. The project made national news when the US Secretary of the Interior opposed the project.
WPI was engaged to assist the negotiation team and lead negotiations with a key property owner, and overcome the impression the bad press had on the landowners.
Initially, the objective was very basic – simply re-open a positive dialogue with the property owners. After creating a positive dialogue, the strategy was to focus discussions on how the parties could work together in a mutually beneficial manner. It took a significant effort do so, and ultimately the property owners were receptive and completed a deal enabling DuPont to continue its Mineral Sands Operation.
“WPI opened doors and broke down barriers to help us build relationships needed to continue operating and expand.”
David Podmeyer – General Manager DuPont White Pigment