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Show MW pm Tuesday '?? : JtfjdiwAisaJ(tV 1 n jS3r9EW,( August 27, 2002 ' O Price, Utah 11 1th Year -- No. 69 Dlnos kick off season play, 6A 500 ft.- - : - : i a.,V AfWr Irf. N "I V ' vjr 4,t Speculation continues regarding water at Skyline KAREN BASSO Staff reporter r By months. An Electric Lake is an important commodity to the Huntington power plant because it provides the backup supply of cooling water for the electricity generat- have been formed regarding ing facility. The primary source of water in the lake comes from the Huntington Creek. Due to the ongoing drought conditions, it is extremely difficult to secure water supplies. Because the lake continues to significant amounts of liquid on is notorious for being operation a wet mine. However, the amount of water being released into the section because of the pocket is above normal conditions for the particular coal mine. Although production has resumed since the incident occurred last August, mine workers continue to pump water out ofthe flooded area. According to Skylines parent company Arch Coal, the coal mine continues to pump an mated 10 million gallons of water per day. The water being pumped out ofthe mine is being released into Eccles Creek and eventually being released into Scofield Reser- a monthly basis,' Utah Power plans to reduce the flow into the creek in order to conserve water. The power company operates the reservoir under a spcrial use permit with the United States Forest Service, pointed out the officials. The permit contains a provision which allows Utah Power to reduce the water flow in emer-gency situations. While the investigation ensues to determine die cause of the water loss, thrpower company plans to reduce outflows to six cubic feet per second - or half the 12 cubic feet per second called for in the original permit The water flow reduction will not only affect the water levels of Electric Lake, but it will also impact the trout in Huntington - Geek. driIGng into because the lake serves as the backup cooling supply for the Huntington plant Last year, underground workers at Skyline encountered a water pocket while believe that the water originates from an underground source. Since the initial testing was completed, little speculation has became concerned that the wa- ter being drained into the Sky- line mine may be coming from Electric Lake. The lake is owned been made about the origin of the water. At least, that was the situ- atkm until recently. Utah Power officials recently I? - radio translator hearing are doing. Smith suggested that die commission either give his station one ofthe frequencies and unplug the Salt Lake station KLSN or do sway with it and put on another station with a different format in its place to provide more variety. Currently, county citizens have access over the FM band to only a few formats with two stations carrying country music, two carrying young adult contemporary, one oldies station and a i eniiplf of fdlKuriO"11! nrinnK. Whati: any one individual can pick up also has to do with the location in the county and what kind of receiver the person may have. That is because FM radio waves dont pass well through cliffs and hills. So if a transmitter is direct line of sight .there is a good chance it cannot be receded in an area. When the item on the agenda that concerned this issue came up commissioner Bill Krompel first asked Frank Brady, the counties communications specialist to explain the situation. Currently, the county holds four lioensesforFM transmission and relay, stated Brady. Many years ago, the county purchased them from the stations that originally installed the equipment because the Federal Communi- aLa Gaoonsuxnmiaaoaaeciaeamat the stations that broadcast on translators cannot own them. Presently, the stations relayed through the translators from the ? 1 v , - , . ; AV A. s' i n v 't, Hi jv' Strr r 1 . ov A- - - V In the late 1960s, Anderson said the translators were set up by the various stations that wanted to relay from the W&atch According to Utah Power spokesman Dave Eskelsen, the lake has been losing approxi- - Local public health district addresses West Nile virus Due to the mounting concerns, Southeastern Utah Health District recently responded with the following information regarding the virus. Tbdate in 2002, the West Nile virus has been detected as far west as Wyoming and Colorado. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, from 1999 through 2001, there were 149 cases of the West Nile virus human illness in the country. The cases confirmed by the federal health agency resulted in 18 deaths. From January to Aug. 21, 2002, there have been 269 human cases confirmed. Eight deaths have been reported in Louisiana, one death in Illinois, one death in Kentucky, one death in Tkxas and two deadis in Mississippi The virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, according to local health officials. It can infect people, horses, many types of birds and some other animals. The virus is not, however, transmitted from person to per- - Front Anderson owned AM station KOALat the time and the county commissionen asked ifhe would have a problem with the stations moving in. Anderson indicated that he had no intention ofbuilding an FM station and didnt see a problem as long as Caibon lawmakers would revisit the issue at a later date if local FM stations came into being. We put in FM stations in 1977. But by that time, the com--, mission had changed and they never took it up again, he said. (Continued on page 8A) by the power company. from a severe and sometimes fatal illness known as West Nile encephalitis - an inflammation of the brain. Carbon County residents can effectively reduce the chances of becoming ill from the virus and other mosquito transmitted dis- virus. Wfesatch Front were KISN.KSFT, KODJ and KSOP, explained Brady. The two public radio stations in the area are not hosted on the translators because they have licenses and equipment Bradys technical rundown of the situation was followed by comments from Ibm Anderson, owner of KARB, one of the country format stations. This situation that we are in is pretty unique, stated Anderson. However, it is unique to Utah notjust to Carbon County. There are a number of places m the state that have the same situ- - could affect the amount of gravel on the stream bottom, which in turn would decrease spawning habitats. Because there is so many factors at stake, the investigation into the matter is expected to move at an accelerated pace. (Continued on page SA) Many Carbon County residents are becoming concerned about contacting the West Nile lij son. West Nile virus will actually have no symptoms. Some infected patients will, however develop mud symptoms i signals through the county's translators. In question ms the practics the county has followed yrars of rriaying Wasatch Front ndio signals on the translaton. tha tinclude fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Less than 1 percent of the in- fected eases by exercising caution, indi- cated the health district. The risks can decreased by people protecting themselves from mosquito bites. The local public health department recommends limiting the places available for mosquitoes to lay eggs, eliminating standing water sources from around the home and applying insect repellent when venturing outdoors. . Wmring long sleeves and long pants treated with repellant will further reduce the risk of becoming infected along with staying indoors during peak mosquito feeding hours - from dusk until dawn. The U.S. States Department of Agriculture has confirmed through the National Veterinary Services Laboratories that, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 19, 2002, there were 644 cases of West Nile virus reported in horses in 23 There isavaocine available for hones which helps to protect the animals from contacting the dis ease. The vaccine requires ministering two shots three to six . In addition, there is no evidence to indicate that an indi- -' vidual can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds or horses. The majorityof the individuals who become infected with tbe laccesi to radio stations for Carbon resi-de- nti One ItigMghtof the Iasi commission meefingwas a public heaiingreganl-in- g what Carbon Mmakare should do about chanting the FM radio going - The reduced water flows the wal of the coal mine. The water quickly filled the section and continues to drain into the mine. The company's concern is that the water may possibly be coming from Electric Lake. Therefore, an investigation by Utah Power will ensue to determine where the water from Electric Lake is going The banks of Electric Lake show the significant amount of water loss the storage facility has suffered in 2002. The water loss has Utah Power officials concerned Commissioners conduct At that time, Smith made a presentation suggesting that the county shoulddiange what they equals about mine. where the water is coming from. The presence of water in acoal mine is not a new occurrence. In fact, the Skyline coal production owned translators. In question was the practice the county has followed for years of relaying Wasatch Front radio signals on die translators. The issue was brought to the commission about a month ago by David Smith, the new owner of the KUSAFM station in Price. ot to the amount of water an average family uses in a year. Because the storage level at Electric Lake continues to drop at such a rapid rate, Utah Power plans to launch an investigation to determine whether the water is being lost into the Skyline coal , The Carbon County Commission met on Aug 21. One of the highlights of the meeting was a publk hearing regarding what the lawmakers should do about changing the FM radio signals going through Carbon County acre-fo- 326,000 gallons and is equivalent ceed with mining efforts. Since then, conditions have changed and several speculations By RICHARD SHAW Staff reporter ofwater per month for the past several A year has passed since workers at Skyline mine located near Scofield hit a water pocket As a result, water started pouring into the coal mine. At the time, workers began setting pumps into the water-fille- d section and clearing as much of the liquid as possible out of the area in order to pro- voir. Soon after hitting the pocket at the mine, an investigation was launched by Arch Coal to determine the origin of the water. The results of the initial tests .. suggested that the water was coming from anew source, one which was thought to have had no exposure to die atmosphere. The tests conducted by the coal company focused on the presence of the chemical isotope tritium in the water. Tritium is produced by hydrogen bomb tests and shows up in all surface water on the planet. The preliminary tests at Skyline revealed little presence of tritium, thus leading officials to mately 600 acre-fe- et individuals will suffer weeks apart For more information about die vaccine, Carbon County residents with hones should contact a local veterinarian. As public concern continues to spread across the nation about West Nile virus, Carbon County residents may receive additional information by contacting Tfcrrie TWight at the health department 1. office in Price at , 637-367- . |