Utah Admin. Code R317-17-3 - Permit Discharge Limits for Salinity into Great Salt Lake

(1) If the current salinity of Gilbert Bay exceeds 150 g/L, no person, as part of the mineral or element extraction process, may discharge water or brine into Gilbert Bay, Bear River Bay, Farmington Bay, or the Transitional Waters associated with those bays, except as provided in Subsection R317-17-3(5).

(2) If the current salinity of Gilbert Bay is below 150 g/L, a person, as part of the mineral or element extraction process, may discharge water or brine, including water or brine exceeding 150 g/L salinity into Gilbert Bay, Bear River Bay, Farmington Bay, or the Transitional Waters associated with those bays.

(3) For discharges of water or brine into Gunnison Bay, as part of the mineral or element extraction process, there is no limit for the maximum salinity.

(4) The director may disallow discharges of water or brine as part of the mineral or element extraction process, when, in consultation with the GSL Salinity Advisory Committee and the GSL Commissioner's office, the director determines that discharges will cause the salinity of Gilbert Bay to exceed 150 g/L.

(5) Upon request, the director shall allow a discharge into Gilbert Bay, Bear River Bay, Farmington Bay or the Transitional Waters associated with those bays at any time if:

(a) the director determines, in writing, as part of an UPDES permit, that the discharge is a de minimis discharge; or

(b) the director determines, in writing, as part of an UPDES permit, that the discharge represents a net decrease of salt load to Gilbert Bay as a result of the extraction process.

(6) The discharge limits for salinity specified in this section and monitoring requirements for salinity and discharge volume will be incorporated into the discharger's UPDES permit as effluent limits.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R317-17-3

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2025-12, effective 5/28/2025