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Show SALT FLAT NEWS, APRIL 1971 0)M ll by R.N. Goldberger RAMPTON: Oh, all depends on how much we need and what it appears we should be doing. We will do everything that is necessary. This isnt a thing that requires a great deal of funding. SFN: Governor, in terms of percentages what do you think Utah has in obtaining the space port? RAMPTON: I think Utah has much better than a 50-5- 0 chance of getting the ultimate take off and landing sight. So far as the preliminary engineering work and developing of vehicles and techniques, I think without question that should go to Kennedy, as indeed it should, because Kennedy has the facilities there and also has the personnel there with the scientific know-hoHowever, have does the ternot Kennedy well itself rain that would lend to the ultimate space port. SFN: In 1958 the department of defense came out. with a report that stated that Utah was the only sight in the United States on North-Sout- h polar orbits. Are you familiar with this report? RAMPTON: Ive heard of it Ive not read it. SFN: That the criteria for the Air Force mission are somewhat different from the NASA mission and that Utah might be considered more for the Air Force requirements of the space port. SFN: It has been said by Dr. Bisbane Dr. Bisbane is of New Mexico the director of the Tri Cities that the contractors had their minds all made up when they came here to do their investigation. Do yo believe that Utah was fairly considered? rat V J SFN: Do you see values in a possible three comers project for northwestern Utah, Elko county, and southern Idaho? SFN: What do you see is the future of the Wendover area for racing? . RAMPTON: was. Weve had, I I think it Oh, guess, four evaluation teams RAMPTON: I would like to see the Wendover area continually There has been considerable interest shown by various drivers in developing competitive events out there. Perhaps not even racing against time, but where two high speed vehicles would race side by side through a measured distance. If this kind of competition could be developed, certainly this would become a race with equal appeal to the Indianapolis 500, here. They went over the thing very carefully and were very frank with us as to what our strengths and weaknesses were and I felt certainly that they were giving us a fair break. SFN: What role do you think our Sen- ators and Representatives should play in obtaining the space port for the state? . RAMPTON.: There is without a doubt going to be some political consideration in this although I think mostly the discussion is going to be made on the merit. But our Senators and Representatives, all four of them, have shown a great interest in this and have contacted their colleagues in the Congress for what help can be given Utahs interest in this. RAMPTON: You mena for the salt migra- costs us many thousands of dol- lars, which I believe really is a better medium than any mon- SFN: thly or quarterly publication. Yes. SFN: RAMPTON: SFN: How many promotional agencies the Utah geological survey are there in the state of Utah, with the aid of the salt comprivate and public? Railand Pacific Southern panies road is now doing a study. Up to RAMPTON: now, we have pretty well estabAre you talking about tourism lished that we do have this salt or everything? migration. The tentative conclusion has been reached that in SFN: some way the causeway, the Everything. Southern Pacific causeway, contributes to this, but that has not RAMPTON: been established. We .are atId have to guess. I would guess tempting to definitely establish forty to fifty. if that is os and what we can do to reverse the flow or equalize SFN: the flow. Do you feel there should be more coordination or is there SFN: On a related subject, a couple of some duplication between these years ago on the slat flats there agencies? was cracking and buckling of the surface and I believe your office RAMPTON: No. I think the coordination is set up a commission to determine what the problem was on very good. The tourist council water base retention and such. attmepts to coordinate those in Was any conclusion reached on the field of tourism and the industrial promotion division the study? those in regard to industrial proand as you know, motion RAMPTON: Yes. The conclusion was, of weve broken the state down course, that the buckling, as into regions for this purpose and youd call it, came from raising we work very closely with the and lowering of the water table. various regions. I think the coordination is good. Well, Yes sir. RAMPTON: No. SFN: Should there be a master plan for recreational development on the Great Salt Lake? Using the Lake as an entire entity with like the south shore and Antelope Island. sub-divisio- ns RAMPTON: Probably it would be a good idea. We do have the same master plans. In this regard it probably could be developed more specifically. ry SFN: Rozel Point is considered to be a mystery to geologists in the Great Salt Lake. The oil seeps and is also a pain in the neck to the oil and the gas commission. Would you favor, lets say, re-- a search on Rozel Point but also research on the Great Salt Lake to determine some of the mysteries? Nobody knows where the oil comes from through Rozel Point. RAMPTON: I dont know too much about that. I wouldnt have enough information to make a judgment. SFN: Did your office issue a report or were the reports issued of this? RAMPTON: Yes. SFN: I was talking about research similar to that of the International Geophysical year on an international base. SFN: Let me ask you this. Do you feel a publication like Arizona Highways would be beneficial in pro- RAMPTON: Well, I met with Senator Moss and the people in Davis and Weber County last week on this matter. Senator Moss has put in his bill again 'to create the na- RAMPTON: Right now we are expanding substantial sums for research on Great Salt Lake but not on this RAMPTON: We do have some publications. Whether a magazine like the Arizona Highways would be jus- problem that you raise. Most of our research right now is centered around the question of migration of the salt content, and what we can do to prevent it. tified, would justify the expense, I dont know. It is tremendously expensive publication. Of course it has a wide acceptance for its pictorial value all over the United States. They do publicize the state of Utah some in that publication. We have recently published a brochure, which you well. may have seen, which the tourist council and the industrial promotion council bouth use, which tion? SFN: Do you see a specific date for the development of park lands on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake? tional monument on Antelope Island. We, of course are currently developing a state park on the north end of the island and have put some two million dollars into it and are progressing SFN: If Utah is passed for the first phase which it probably will be, do you ' intend to seek more funds from the legislature to pursue the second phase or phase C and D? - search on the Salt Flats? RAMPTON: You mean similar to the Four Comers region? rudi-ment- RAMPTON: I have an idea that ultimately they will both be at one site. 9 particular SFN: What is the status of that re moting tourists to Utah? SFN: Would the state be in favor of hosting a scientific symposium on extraction of oil shale and also evaporative mining of the Great Salt Lake? Too, all new technologies applied to these sciences? RAMPTON: Perhaps. I think perhaps we will have a symposium sometime within the next year or two on oil shale, whether it will be here or Denver or Cheyenne, I dont know, but I think we will have one. SFN: Would you be in favor of having nuclear extraction of oil shale in Utah? RAMPTON: you dont use nuclear power to extract the oil. What you do, if you are going to use what they call institution method, the atomic blast would be used to break up the strata so that the gases could flow and heat would be applied to the oil shale, thus driving off the gas, which would be brought to the surface. Up to now, I dont know but weve found a way to do that without having some radiation come to the surface in the oil. Now if that is a necessary my answer would be no. If we can eliminate th radiation, I would say yes. Well, by-produ- ct, would like to see the Wendover area continually There has been considerable interest shown by various drivers . in developing comeptifiyf events . ovt-there:-- - , was told about three years ago by the controller of the United States Steel Company that Utah tax structure was the most favor- able . . of . any. . state, in which United States Steel operates. had any problem I've never when I wanted to go into Wen- dover with my plane and getting permission to land. But, of course you do have to get it. . . 4 . . Well, of course the death of the 6,000 sheep from nerve gas that escaped from Dugway raises fear that every time some sheep die they die from nerve gas. SFN: What incentive does Utah offer a company to build or relocate in Utah? i (cont. on page 11) i ti i |