Compass Minerals Announces Severe Storm Impact

Compass Minerals'

operations at its Goderich, Ontario, salt mine and salt mechanical evaporation plant have been impacted by a severe storm that struck on the afternoon of August 21, 2011. “I am very sad to report that a valued, 30-year employee perished in the storm. Our thoughts are with his family and friends today,” said Angelo Brisimitzakis, Compass Minerals president and CEO. “Our top priority right now is the well-being of all of our Goderich-area employees and their families, as well as the community impacted by this storm.” There was no damage to the underground operations of the Goderich salt mine and there are no miners currently underground. However, some of the mine's surface structures and the evaporation plant both sustained significant damage that will prevent operations at these facilities until repairs are made. The Goderich mine is the largest rock salt mine in the world with a production capacity of 9 million tons. The Goderich evaporation plant has a production capacity of 175,000 tons of high-purity salt.