Morton Salt Ceases Operations at Fairport Harbor Mine

FAIRPORT HARBOR, OH – Morton Salt has ceased operations at its mine in Fairport Harbor to assess the inflow of water and determine next steps. The mine, according to Morton’s, is used primarily for salt needed for roads in the winter. The salt is often shipped to customers via Great Lakes vessels. The decision was made following an Oct. 22 discovery of a significant inflow of water in the mine, leading to an immediate evacuation of all miners. The company said all employees were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. Morton Salt said it notified the appropriate regulatory authorities of the intrusion, according to the release.

The Kansas-based company said it is working closely with independent experts and regulatory authorities to investigate the intrusion, evaluate its impact on the mine and determine the next steps. The company said that surface activities at the mine site will also be severely limited while the mine is closed, and that it will be notifying impacted customers and vendors of the event.

The Fairport Harbor mine is a source for rock salt, according to the Morton Salt website. The salt from its underground mines is mainly used for road salt needed during the winter season. The Morton Salt Group is one of the largest salt companies in the world, with an annual production capacity of approximately 30 million tons.

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