Michigan is sitting on a motherlode of potash and Ted Pagano is using $1.3 billion in government funds to mine it and grab market share away from Canada and Russia. The eureka moment came in 2012, when professor emeritus William Harrison of the University of Western Michigan invited Ted Pagano, then a 35-year-old freelance geologist, to his 27,000-square-foot geological repository in Kalamazoo.
Today, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced increased transparency, accountability, and predictability for the permitting review process for the first wave of critical mineral production projects—with many more projects on the way—in response to President Trump’s Executive Order, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.
ICYMI— The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) today announced increased transparency and accountability for the federal permitting of two Department of Energy (DOE) critical minerals projects. The projects — Michigan Potash
Michigan Potash Operating LLC, has received permit approval from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Air Quality Division for the installation and operation of a new salt and potash processing facility in Osceola County.
The President’s Executive Order is being seen a step toward the U.S. being able to produce more of its own potash, which is said to be available but not mined due to regulatory impediments.