Michigan Potash and Salt Company Receives EPA Permits for New Mining Facility

News Summary

The U.S. EPA has authorized the Michigan Potash and Salt Company to proceed with a new mining facility in Evart Township, which will extract potash and salt at an estimated cost of $1 billion. The project has received significant financial backing from federal and state sources but faces community concerns regarding environmental impacts and water safety. It aims to create 200 permanent jobs and has the potential to produce 800,000 tons of potash and 1 million tons of salt annually.

Evart Township, Michigan – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently authorized the Michigan Potash and Salt Company to proceed with plans for a new mining facility in Evart Township by granting three new permits and modifying three existing ones as of May 16. This facility is aimed at extracting potash and salt and is projected to cost approximately $1 billion.

The facility will be situated near Schofield Road and 120th Avenue in Osceola County. The company has been shaping this project for more than a decade and has received substantial financial backing including a conditional loan approval from the U.S. Department of Energy amounting to $1.26 billion and an $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In addition to federal financial support, the Michigan Potash and Salt Company has also secured a $50 million tax subsidy from state lawmakers and $225 million in tax-exempt bonds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Previously, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy had already provisionally approved a permit for the operation of this facility.

With the new EPA permits, the company is now authorized to inject salt water underground specifically into Class I wells for disposal, where this salt water is classified as non-hazardous. The facility also plans to potentially establish additional wells in northern Mecosta County. The regulatory framework requires that all Class I well operators confine waste injection to deep rock formations situated below the deepest underground drinking water sources, ensuring that the integrity of drinking water supplies is not compromised.

The EPA has confirmed the robustness of the confining layers for the new wells, specifying that the injection zones will utilize the Dundee Limestone, with the Bell Shale acting as a protective barrier. However, the specific volume of salt water intended for underground disposal has not yet been disclosed.

In terms of sustainability, the CEO of Michigan Potash has indicated that the facility plans to recycle approximately 90% of its water usage. The EPA’s Underground Injection Control program oversees the regulation of these wells to help safeguard drinking water quality.

The permitting process was expedited due to an executive order from President Trump aimed at increasing domestic mineral production. However, this expedited process has faced pushback from local residents who harbor concerns regarding potential water pollution, excessive water extraction, and emissions generated from the facility. A public comment period was conducted wherein the EPA responded in writing to the significant concerns raised by the community.

The mining operation is anticipated to yield up to 800,000 tons of potash and 1 million tons of salt annually. The extraction method, referred to as solution mining, is noted to be energy-intensive and can be more costly compared to similar mining methods employed in Canada.

Concerns from the community also extend to potential impacts on local wetlands and apprehensions regarding groundwater contamination adopting a long-term perspective due to potential engineering failures. Michigan Potash has asserted that the mine will generate approximately 200 permanent jobs, alongside about 1,400 jobs during the construction phase, which is expected to span three years, aiming for the facility to commence operations by 2028.

This mining initiative, while promising job creation and economic benefits, continues to be a topic of contention among local residents who are cautious about its environmental implications.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Detroit Free Press: Michigan Potash Mine Concerns
• Big Rapids News: EPA Approves Potash Injection Well
• MLive: Public Input on Michigan Salt Mine Permit
• Wikipedia: Potash
• Google Search: Michigan Potash