Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Air Quality Division

Proposed Project Summary

Detroit Salt Company, L.C.
April 12, 2017

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Air Quality Division (AQD), is asking for
comments on a proposed air permit for Detroit Salt Company, L.C. (Detroit Salt). We will accept
comments on the proposed air permit until the end of the comment period on May 12, 2017, or if a
public hearing is requested in writing, until the end of the public hearing on May 23, 2017. We will
review all comments before we make a final decision on the proposed air permit.

What does the company do?

Detroit Salt mines rock salt from underground and ships it by rail and truck to customers. The rock
salt is used on roads, parking lots, sidewalks, etc., for snow and ice removal.

How does the company mine salt?

In 2008, Detroit Salt started using electrically powered continuous mining machines to mine the salt.
These machines scrape the salt from the underground salt deposit so it can be brought to the surface.
There is no blasting associated with the salt mining operation.

What does the company want to do?

Detroit Salt is asking to increase the rock salt production limit and to install and operate a salt bagging
process. The increase in production would include four new conveyors and two rock salt storage
buildings. The bagging process would be in an existing building that would be expanded.

What are the air emissions from the process?

The increase in production and addition of the bagging process would increase dust from salt
handling and vehicle traffic. Detroit Salt will not be using any fuels for the proposed bagging process;
bags of salt would be sealed using electric heat.

Does the proposed process meet the law?

The AQD also reviewed the air emissions and determined that the emissions are expected to meet all
of the state and federal health protective standards.

Detroit Salt has a Nuisance Management Plan for Fugitive Dust that would be updated and continue
to be used to minimize public exposure to fugitive dust emissions. Detroit Salt must cover the
conveyors, including the proposed new conveyors, to minimize dust emissions. Based on our review,
the updated plan and conveyor covers would meet all of the legal air quality requirements that apply.

What is the current air quality in the area?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has established National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter, coarse particulate matter, ozone, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and lead. The NAAQS provide public health
protection, as determined by the USEPA. Ambient air is air where the general public will be, not air
inside the facilitys fence or property line.

800-662-9278 www.michigan.gov/air 4/12/2017

 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Air Quality Division

Detroit Salt is located in Wayne County, which is currently meeting all of the health protective NAAQS
except for SO2. The AQD is working to reduce the SO2 concentration to less than the NAAQS.
Detroit Salt does not have SO2 emissions, so the proposed changes will not increase the SO2
concentration in the area.

Fugitive dust, like that from Detroit Salt, is made up of particulate matter, mostly particulate with a
diameter less than 10 microns (PM10) but with some particulate with a diameter less than 2.5 microns
(PM2.5). The AQD has two ambient air monitors near Detroit Salt that monitor for PM2.5 (see Figure
1) and for PM10 (see Figure 2). Ambient air monitors measure the concentration of pollutants in the
ambient air. Note in 2012, USEPA lowered the PM2.5 NAAQS.

Figure 1. Annual average PM2.5 trends at MDEQs monitors near Detroit Salt.
SWHS PM2.5 Dearborn PM2.5 PM2.5 NAAQS
16 1997 NAAQS
14
2012 NAAQS
Concentration ug/m3

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Figure 2. Daily maximum PM10 values at MDEQs monitors near Detroit Salt.
SWHS PM10 Dearborn PM10 PM10 NAAQS

160
140
Concentration ug/m3

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

800-662-9278 www.michigan.gov/air 4/12/2017

 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Air Quality Division

Where can I find more information?

There are two ways to find more information: the Public Participation Fact Sheet has more details
about the project and how it will meet the rules and regulations, and AQD staff can provide additional
information on the proposal, such as the following:
What are the rules and regulations that apply to the proposed project and how will they be
met?
What are the air emissions from the proposed project?
How will air quality and public health be protected?
What will the proposed permit require the company to do?
Example emission calculations.

How do the public comment period and public hearing work?

The law requires the AQD to invite public comment on certain proposed permit actions. Public
comment periods and public hearings allow people to comment on the AQDs evaluation of an
application and on a proposed permit. The AQD will review all comments before we make a final
decision on the permit application. Based on comments received during the public comment period
and at the public hearing, the AQD may take one of these actions:
Issue the permit as proposed,
Deny the permit application, or;
Issue a permit based on the proposal with changes reflecting the comments.

The AQD staff will be available at the public hearing to answer any questions people have about the
proposed permit. Under the law, we must approve an air permit application if the project complies
with the state and federal air quality rules and regulations.

Comments about air quality and the proposed permit that the AQD can consider include:
Technical or mathematical mistakes.
Other emission sources the proposed permit should include, and why.
Why the equipment in the proposed permit would not meet the rules and regulations.
Other rules or regulations the proposed permit should include, and why.
Why the proposed permit should include more monitoring of emissions.
Why the proposed permit should include more monitoring of control devices.
Why the emission controls do not meet the rules and regulations.

Some issues the AQD cannot consider include:

Traffic.
Hours the company operates.
Noises and lighting.
Zoning issues.
Popularity of the project.

800-662-9278 www.michigan.gov/air 4/12/2017

 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Air Quality Division

Summary:
The AQD has evaluated the permit application and prepared a proposed permit for public review and
comment. We believe the proposed permit would ensure Detroit Salt would meet the air quality
requirements. Therefore, we are proposing to approve the permit.

However, before the AQD takes action, we are requesting comments from the public. The AQD will
review all comments received during the public comment period and public hearing, if requested, and
make a final decision on the proposed permit. If approved, the AQD may decide to add or change
permit conditions based on the comments.

For more information, please contact Andrew Drury, AQD, at 517-284-6792.

This publication is intended for guidance only and may be impacted by changes in legislation, rules, policies, and procedures adopted after
the date of publication. Although this publication makes every effort to teach users how to meet applicable obligations, use of the publication
does not constitute the rendering of legal advice.

800-662-9278 www.michigan.gov/air 4/12/2017