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Show BLM activities report The I'intah Basin Public Land news, a newsletter of tlx- Vernal District Bureau of Land Management, highlighted the following activities in the August issue ruorosKD phosphate PIPELINE PKOJECT AVAILABLE Copies of the summary from Chevron's proposed M mile phosphate slurry pipeline from Vernal to Rock Springs are available at the BLM District Office. The proposed slurry pipeline would connect the existing Chevron phosphate mine 10 miles north of Vernal to a proposed fertilizer plant 5 miles southeast of Rock Springs, Wvo There would also be two water supply pipelines and intake structures and a 6 4 mile railroad spur. Water for the project would be allocated from the Fontenelle Reservoir The phosphate would be mixed with sulfur from Chevron s gas wells in the Overthrust Belt to produce the fertilizer Alternative routes, etc are now being analyzed and public comments will be requested on the Draft EIS when it becomes available in January 19S3. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TV) BE RELEASED Oil shale and tar sand isynfuelst development in the I'intah Basin is the subject of a Draft Environmental impact Statement i EIS 1 to be released Aug .0 The EIS will address five projects proposed to begin construction within two years lEnercor Rainbow Project. Magic Circle Cottonwood Wash Project. Paraho-l'te Project. Syntana-L'Uh Syntana-L'Uh Project, and Tosco Sand Wash Project and four projects still in early-planning early-planning stages i Enercor-Mono Power P R Springs Project. Geokinetics Lofreco and Agency Draw Projects. and Sohio Asphalt Ridge Project). The Bureau of Land Management prepared the draft statement in cooperation with other federal agencies and the State of L'tah. Copies of the draft statement will be available after Aug. 20. Public hearings will be at 7 p m. at the following locations: September 21, I'intah County Courthouse, Vernal; September 22, Rangely Town Hall, Rangely; September 23. Salt Palace Salt Lake City. VERN AL DISTRICT MAKES W ILDERNESS RECOMMENDATION The Vernal District has been studying in detail, Daniels Canyon for possible designation as w ilderness. The area is 2.94'. acres in size and is located next to Dinosaur National Monument aod the Josie Morris Ranch. The final report on the area has been completed The District Manager's apparently occuring. Other items of study include impacts to wildlife from potential energy development projects and key big game areas. During the week of June 14, DWR and BLM personnel captured 22 new-born fawns in the Main Canyon-South Canyon area and equipped them with radios that will enable Jim to monitor movement of each individual fawn for a 2-3 year period. The radio also has a built in mechanism to indicate mortality. This important feature provides quick observation for cause of death. Each fawn was tagged, weighed and certain measurements taken before being released. To lessen the impact from human handling and the potential for abandonment by the mother, careful training was conducted for everyone involved. The fawn was usually not in captivity over 3-5 minutes for the entire operation. Each person wore surgical gloves that were "saturated" with sagebrush aroma in an effort to leave man's scent behind. recommendation is that the area is not suited for Wilderness designation. The public is invited to comment on the completeness of the report and on BLM's recommendations Copies of the Wilderness Study Report are on file at the BLM District Office and the I'intah County Courthouse. The public comment period is from Aug. 1 to Sept. DF.F.R F AWNS TAGGED IN BOOKCT.IFFS What is happening to deer fawns in the Hookcliffs Resource Area? That is the principle question that hopefully will be answered from a 3-year cooperative study with the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Vernal District. This important deer study is being guided by Jim Karpowitz of DWR in an attempt to determine reasons for fawn losses that are |