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Show Utah development director tells of community impacts Utah is committed to support the Uintah County energy development area and give support to companies involved in energy development,' said Reid Searle, Utah Director of Economic a,id Community Development at last weeks Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce meeting. Searle named six companies that have oil shale, tar sands and energy projects in Uintah County. They are White River Shale Project, Tosco, Inc., Paraho Development Corp., Geokinetics, Inc., Sohio, and Deseret Generation and Transmission Cooperative. All of the energy projects will probably not go, but if two or three do it will cause impact in the area, Searle said. The state will see that the necessary permits are available and give all the help possible to companies coming into the state to develop energy resources. TheUintahBasinarea could increase from its 30,000 population to 70,000 in endears, if the proposed developments materialize. This growth can bring benefits as well as problems, Searle S ned. The benefits will provide mo e services, buildings and retail shopping outlets. The problems include Jning and building regulation enforcement en-forcement and inadequate utility facilities. To succeed in accommodating rapid growth, good planning is necessary, and community leaders must take issues in hand and keep the area a nice place to live, Searle said. More outside money is necessary in growth areas, Searle pointed out. As population increased outside the taxing ai-ea state and federal funds must be used Community impact funds and new community development funds are available usually on a matching basis from the federal government. If federal funds are received, a program manager not directly atts entity is necessary, Searu State committments are n funds are secured. (S Searle said the state can, revenues with local govJ 'as, this is why an amendment , help state and counties' , monies with cities when 101 impacted areas. A Le needs to be passed that matching funds to area w community development rapid population growth. T Good community piar. sh, include the federal govert K" and all available agencies', 3s hand in hand to come up,-' to growth problems andas 6 quality of community life P energy office is here to 0 :01 assistance the state can the pressing growth profci1 pact the growth may q l concluded. p1" be |