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FILLMORE, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Fillmore Field Office is initiating a 45-day public comment period for the Sevier Playa Potash Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ending on January 14, 2019. This project helps to meet Administration priorities by increasing the availability of critical minerals, in this case sulfate of potash, which is used in agricultural fertilizer. The Draft EIS will be available for public review on the BLM ePlanning website at https://bit.ly/2CZPeWy.

“The Sevier Playa Potash project could provide important economic benefits to local communities, creating up to 275 jobs over the life of the project,” said Kevin Oliver, West Desert District Manager. “The BLM welcomes public input, which is an important part of the decision making process.”  

The project proponent, Crystal Peak Minerals, holds the rights to mineral leases on 124,223 acres of public lands on the Sevier Playa in Millard County, Utah. The area contains subsurface potassium-bearing saline brines that make the site viable for potash production.

“Global potash demand is increasing,” said Kent Hoffman, Deputy State Director for Lands and Minerals. “Potash mined from the Sevier Playa would provide American farmers with access to locally-produced potash, thereby strengthening our local and national economy.”

The project addresses Executive Order 13817, directing the Secretary of the Interior to identify minerals and commodities that are critical to the U.S. economy or national security interests. Through this process, potassium was identified as one of 35 critical mineral commodities due to America’s dependency on imports. Currently, 90 percent of potash used in the United States is imported. The project would double the national production of sulfate of potash.

"The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) manages a small area of the leased area for the Sevier Playa Potash Project," said Tom Faddies, SITLA Assistant Director of Mining. "Revenue generated from potash mining on Sevier Playa would be a welcome addition to the trust portfolio supporting Utah's K-12 education system."

The project is expected to create 275 jobs in the region during construction and maintain 175 full-time employees to operate the many facilities and structures over the 30-year lifespan of the project. Workers would be hired from the surrounding communities to support operations. 

The Draft EIS evaluates a no action alternative, the proposed action, and five action alternatives which identify different routing and locations of facilities and structures. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Mail: Bureau of Land Management Fillmore Field Office, Attn: Clara Stevens – Sevier Playa Potash Project Comments, 95 East 500 North, Fillmore, UT 84631
• Fax: (435) 743-3135
• Email: blm_ut_fm_sevier_playa_potash_project@blm.gov

Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may request to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For additional information, please contact Clara Stevens at (801) 977-3100. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.