Great Salt Lake Minerals proposes adding 25,000 acres of solar evaporation ponds to its western operations in Clyman Bay and 8,000 acres of solar ponds to its eastern operations in Bear River Bay.
The company has operated at the lake in an environmentally responsible manner since 1968 and we currently have about 300 employees at our Ogden location. Throughout, we have demonstrated our commitment to our community and environment, and want to be responsible stewards of the lake and its ecosystems.
Great Salt Lake Minerals produces SOP by drawing lake water into solar evaporation ponds where the lake's naturally occurring potassium becomes increasingly concentrated as the lake water evaporates. Once the ponds are in place, the only ongoing human activity would be individuals making periodic inspections of the ponds and pumps. From initial evaporation to final product, a three-year process, our production method does not consume or produce any hazardous materials and uses far fewer fossil fuels than other SOP production methods.
The proposed expansion cannot begin until we secure a permit from the U.S. Army Corps Engineers. The Corps recently began its lengthy environmental impact study of the expansion by soliciting public comment. The Corps is very early in its process, so scientific data regarding potential effects of the proposed expansion are still being collected and analyzed.
It's important to understand why we are pursuing this expansion.
The need for additional sulfate of potash is driven by a number of socioeconomic factors that are increasing demand for all food-crop fertilizers. In North America, the increasing demand for biofuel crops has strained the supply of the fertilizers growers need to replenish soil nutrients. In developing countries, the need for fertilizers is escalating as standards of living improve and populations can afford better nutrition. And our certified-organic SOP is also increasingly demanded by growers of organic vegetables, fruits and nuts.
Industry sources estimate the demand for potassium used for food crops is increasing at a rate of 1.3 million tons per year, which exceeds the industry's current capacity. Great Salt Lake Minerals is currently investing $25 million to improve and expand our production of SOP within our existing footprint at the lake. However, meeting the long-term need for additional SOP requires additional solar evaporation ponds.
The Wasatch Front is home to me and my 300 co-workers. We, too, enjoy its beauty, its wildlife and the recreation it makes available to us. We are committed to sustaining its viability for our families, our communities and future generations.
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* COREY MILNE is site manager for Great Salt Lake Minerals Corporation of Ogden.
