Great Salt Lake’s Water Use by Mineral Companies: Bill Aims to Change Business

Utah Lawmakers Push for Stricter Regulations on Mineral Extraction from the Great Salt Lake

Tensions rise as Utah lawmakers discuss a bill aimed at reining in mineral extraction and its detrimental impact on the Great Salt Lake. The bill specifically targets Compass Minerals, the largest extractor on the lake, which recently announced plans to expand its operations and mine large quantities of lithium. Lawmakers and environmental activists have expressed concern about the company’s excessive water consumption and its potential to further deplete the already struggling lake. The proposed legislation would task the state engineer with limiting extractors’ water consumption in order to aid in the recovery of the Great Salt Lake.