General Information

Government Type

State Agency

Entity

Department of Environmental Quality

Public Body

Division of Water Quality

Notice Information

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Notice Title

DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A UPDES PERMIT- GREAT SALT LAKE PHASE 1 LITHIUM EXTRACTION PROJECT- UPDATED ON 6/30

Notice Type(s)

Notice

Event Start Date & Time

June 30, 2026 08:00 AM

Event End Date & Time

July 30, 2026 05:00 PM

Description/Agenda

The previous Public Notice did not include the Waterleaf UPDES permit application and had an earlier version of the Level II ADR. The items have been addressed by this Public Notice. June 30, 2026 DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A UPDES PERMIT PURPOSE OF PUBLIC NOTICE The purpose of this public notice is to declare the Director of the Division of Water Quality's intention to issue a Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) Permit under the authority of the Utah Water Quality Act, Utah Code § 19-5-106(2)(g). The draft Permit and the Fact Sheet (collectively, the draft Permit documents) are available for review and comment. PERMIT INFORMATION PERMITTEE NAME: Waterleaf Phase 1, LLC FACILITY NAME: Great Salt Lake Phase 1 Lithium Extraction Project MAILING ADDRESS: 9350 South 150 East, Suite 710 Sandy, Utah 84070 TELEPHONE NUMBER: (248) 497-2883 FACILITY LOCATION: Western Slope Promontory Mountains Unincorporated Box Elder Co. UPDES PERMIT NO.: UT0026352 PERMITTED OUTFALLS: Outfall 001 RECEIVING WATER: Gunnison Bay, Great Salt Lake BACKGROUND Waterleaf Phase 1, LLC (Waterleaf) intends to extract lithium from Gunnison Bay, Great Salt Lake (GSL), at its Great Salt Lake Phase 1 Lithium Extraction Project (Facility). This Permit replaces the UPDES Permit for the Demonstration Plant (UT0026280). The Facility was designed and constructed based on the information gathered from the Demonstration Plant and has a maximum daily flow rate of 20 MGD (millions of gallons per day). This Facility will utilize non-evaporative ion-exchange direct lithium extraction technology to produce battery-grade lithium products. The Facility will be located along the western slope of the Promontory Mountains, Box Elder County, Utah, and will include an intake and discharge located in Gunnison Bay. The product (Lithium Carbonate Extract) will be shipped off-site for further processing/ sale. See draft Permit documents for more information. A Level II Antidegradation Review (ADR) was required for this Permit; this is attached and available for public comment. The previous Public Notice did not include the Waterleaf UPDES permit application and had an earlier version of the Level II ADR. The items have been addressed by this Public Notice. PUBLIC COMMENTS Pursuant to Utah Admin. Code R317-8-6(6.6), any interested person may submit written comments on the draft permit documents and may request a public hearing if no hearing has already been scheduled. A request for a public hearing shall be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing. All comments will be considered in making the final decision and shall be answered as provided in Utah Admin. Code R317-8-6(6.12). Commenters have an affirmative obligation to raise all reasonably ascertainable issues and submit all reasonably available arguments and factual grounds supporting their position, including all supporting material. Supporting material must be included in full and may not be incorporated by reference, unless the material is already part of the administrative record. Public comments are invited any time prior to the deadline of the close of business on July 30, 2026. Written public comments can be submitted to: Lonnie Shull, UPDES Individual Permit Section, Utah Division of Water Quality, PO Box 144870, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870 or by email at: lshull@utah.gov. After considering public comments, the Utah Division of Water Quality may execute the permit issuance, revise it, or abandon it. The permit is available for public review under 'Public Participation' at www.waterquality.utah.gov/. If internet access is not available, a copy may be obtained by calling Lonnie Shull at (385) 600-4035. DWQ-2026-003389

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Emily Canton at 801-536-4342.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

NA

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

195 North 1950 West
Floor 3
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
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Contact Name

Emily Canton

Contact Email

ercanton@utah.gov

Contact Phone

(801)536-4342

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

July 01, 2026 10:43 AM

Notice Last Edited On

July 01, 2026 10:43 AM

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