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Show Jack-Straws By Jack Wallis . J Governor Matheson recently met with representatives of nine companies which have applied for financial assistance through the Synthetic Fuels Corporation for Utah projects, along with local officials, legislators and representatives of Uintah, Duchesne, Emery and Carbon counties. The meeting was held to outline a new state strategy to help alleviate socioeconommic impacts that may accompany ac-company the proposed oil shale and tar sands projects. The Governor stated that the state's role in the industrial development was to form a partnership in identifying the socioeconomic problems and act as a coordinator of information and provide assistance to both industry and local government. The Governor stated the state wants to encourage natural resource development develop-ment and at the same time protect and enhance the quality of life in the state. The Governor pointed out that natural resource development in the state occurs almost exclusively in the non-metropolitan areas. Even though these areas are anxious for energy development growth and willing to commit substantial local monies, those resources are often inadequate to meet the needs and demands for facilities and services. "Though long-range tax revenues in these regions may pay for long-range community needs, the front end costs far outstrip the immediate available revenue", the Governor stressed. In response to this problem the state has designated the Department of Community Com-munity and Economic Development as the lead agency to coordinate mitigation mitiga-tion planning between individual energy projects and affected local governments. In addition, a state interagency task force will review plans and provide assistance to local governments and energy project sponsors. The state encourages en-courages local governments and energy companies to organize sirniliar teams to coordinate with one another and the state. The state has given six steps for j;: ... . '. . mitigation planning which include, 1. obtaining the necessary information concerning projects, 2. making socioeconomic assessments, 3. draft mitigation plans, 4. draft final plans for local approval,, 5. accept mitigation plans and 6. monitoring plans by a joint task force. The benefits of following this strategy was pointed out by Governor Matheson as follows: 1. a predictable process that is agreed upon by and includes all affected af-fected participants, 2. formalized communication com-munication channels, 3. common data and information sharing, 4. economics and efficiencies of scale in project design and financing, 5. clearly specified roles and 6. jointly implementation implemen-tation and monitoring. This is an admirable objective and we think the Governor has the problem well in hand if he follows through with his strategy for helping small communities com-munities with their synfuels socioeconomic impact problems. Our concern has been that the state does not exploit the valuable mineral resources of an area without returning to the affected area the needed impact requirements such as new roads, schools, water and sewer facilities, police and fire protection and other needed services caused by a fast population increase caused by mineral resource development. We welcome the development if it can be handled in an organized manner. We feel fortunate to have our homes, businesses and livelyhoods already established in an area with such a promising pro-mising future. The Governor appears to have our best interests in mind by his desire to help prevent many of the problems that arise in sudden growth areas. We congratulate con-gratulate him for his determination and efforts in encouraging natural resource development in the state and at the same time protecting and enhancing the quality of life. We hope this fine balance can be maintained and that local leaders, state leaders and industry leaders can work together cooperatively that all may benefit as partners in developing the synfuel industry of northeastern Utah. |