OSCEOLA COUNTY — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved three new permits and modifications to three existing ones, allowing Michigan Potash Operating LLC to inject non-hazardous salt water underground in Osceola and Mecosta counties.
The decision, announced Friday, clears the way for the company to dispose of fluid from a proposed potash mining and processing facility through Class I injection wells. These wells are designed to handle industrial waste by injecting it deep below the lowest underground sources of drinking water.
EPA officials said the agency accelerated the permitting process to align with a federal executive order aimed at boosting domestic mineral production.
As required under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the permits mandate that the wells be cased and cemented to prevent contamination of drinking water. Operators must also monitor the wells continuously to ensure safe operation.
Public input was solicited during the review process, and the EPA responded in writing to all significant comments, according to the agency.
Class I wells are used for injecting non-hazardous industrial waste into deep rock formations and are regulated by the EPA’s Underground Injection Control program. The agency said these regulations play a critical role in protecting water resources while supporting industrial development.
For more information on Class I industrial waste wells, visit epa.gov.