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In 2024 House Bill 453, the Utah State Legislature tasked the Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ) with developing rules that establish a salinity limit for discharges to Great Salt Lake (GSL) that occur as part of the mineral or element extraction process. The relevant bill text was codified to Utah Code Section 73-33-203.
Section 73-33-203 Relevant Text
(a) On or before June 1, 2025, the Division of Water Quality, in consultation with the Division ofForestry, Fire, and State Lands, and in cooperation with the Great Salt Lake commissioner pursuant to Section 73-32-203, shall make a rule, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, setting a limit for the salinity of water or brine that a person may discharge into the Great Salt Lake as part of the mineral or element extraction process.
(b) If a person discharges water or brine that exceeds the limit imposed under Subsection (3)(a),the Division of Water Quality may modify, revoke and reissue, or terminate any permit issued by the Division of Water Quality related to the discharge.
DWQ’s goal for this rule is to establish limits for the salinity of water or brine that a person may discharge into GSL as part of the mineral or element extraction process that prevent potential negative effects of high salinity discharges on GSL chemistry or biota, particularly when the salinity in Gilbert Bay of GSL is at or approaching a critical level.