New mining regulations put in place for the Great Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY — There’s more demand for mining of the Great Salt Lake, so officials are adding more oversight.

Director for the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Ben Stireman said a “feasibility study” is now required whenever companies plan to mine in the lake. This is to show that a company will not hurt the water or chemistry of the lake while mining.

“[The company is] not supposed to hurt the lake or the bio to the lake or the chemistry of the lake,” Stireman said. “So, [they] go through all the science. They would have to give us a report and say, ‘Here’s how we’re going to do it,’ and show us what the chemistry going in looks like, what it is going out and that they’re actually able to extract that mineral.”

Any new or existing company that’s wanting to mine for a new mineral is now required to take part in the study. Stireman said this rule includes companies that are trying a new mining process.

“I think it puts up some great guardrails and hopefully will be long lasting,” Stireman said. “Something that we can lean on into the future as any new demands comes on board.”

Stireman said it’s a delicate balance between lake preservation and also allowing an industry that helps the local economy and contributes funds back into the lake.

“We’re committed to overseeing [the study] and ensuring that anybody that is going to do business on the Great Salt Lake doesn’t do so at the cost of the lake,” Stireman said.

Britt Johnson is a reporter and anchor for KSL NewsRadio.

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