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Show If) H ; I!, . 7 ,N ' 4 U-:Tp .-7 - . t ' - - - v -" D-- r ' - : - : V1: ! WESTERN TAR SANDS, INC. property in Uintah I county, near Vernal, showing overall view of j 540 acre Raven Ridge Property with drilling ap- x Wesflerra Year Sands launches pilo? plan? near Vernal ffestem Tar Sands, Inc., broke -rjund Tuesday, near Vernal for a pilot Ll to convert tar sands into bitumen " j petroleum product). The company slieves that this is the first such plant be constructed in the United States ij such conversion of tar sands. Hie plant, which is being built and J be managed by Tracor, Inc. for the I pany, is located on a 640 acre site in lintah County, 36 miles southeast of Vernal, which is one of the holdings of "1 fctera Tar Sands, Inc. Attending the ground breaking ceremonies were federal and state jivemment and agency officials, in-totry in-totry representatives and company iters. Louis I. Hart, Jr., president of Western Tar Sands, Inc., in welcoming toe attending noted that the activity as a "significant event" for the nation ad the energy industry as well as for the company. He further noted that full construction con-struction of the plant was expected to te underway within the next two months. Officials and. press-representatives aired in Vernal on chartered flights fan Denver, Casper and Salt Lake lily. The group met at the Vernal Elks lodge for lunch and a general briefing i Western Tar Sands pilot plant WWWMMWMWVWWWMWWW paratus testing for location and depth of tar sands. operations. President Hart introduced Lt. Gov. David S. Monson who gave a' short message from Governor Scott Matheson. After the briefing the group was bused to Raven Ridge where the formal groundbreaking ceremonies took place. Hart explained that his company would not comment concerning the cost of operations, "This is the reason for the pilot plant, but we would not be doing this if we didn't think it was economical." Hart also said, "We expect to be good Hti7fnR nf fh pnmmnnifv anH wo will be here for a long time." In the future, upon the proven viability of the company's unique process, Mr. Hart stated that it would be available for licensing to major energy organizations. During the proceedings several of Western Tar Sands, Inc. staff members and consultants in geology and engineering described the process and explained several exhibits of the project known by its location of Raven Ridge dealing with geology and reserves of the deposit. Western Tar Sands, Inc. holds patents for its unique process which utilizes a combination of solvent and ultrasonic extraction techniques to separate bitumen an asphalt-like hydrocarbon substance from tar sands. After extraction, the bitumen is then upgraded and can then be refined into gasoline and diesel fuel. Tracor, Inc. has tested the process in laboratory environments as a preliminary to the pilot plant phase of testing. In preparation for the plant construction, con-struction, Western Tar Sands, Inc. has conducted exploration studies to establish reserves of tar sands on the Raven Ridge acreage which will be |