Show Impact guidelines proposed to tally cost to energy project sponsors Existing residents should not have to subsidize energy development In the county is the basis for a document of guidelines for governing entities and energy companies to follow in mitigating impact to Uintah County A draft copy prepared by the Vernal City Uintah County Planning Office has been submitted to local entities for approval The document Is very specific as to what energy companies impacting the area should pay because of their impact It takes the big mitigation spectrum and narrows it down to some some specifics said Robert Nicholson county city plan plan- planner ner about the guidelines The need for impact assistance from major project sponsors stems from two problems says the report First the time lag between when money is need need- needed needed ed by public entities and when property tax and other revenues become available Money is needed front up to provide the necessary public facilities and and ser ser- services services vices to the increased population The second problem addressed in the document is that only Uintah County the Uintah School District and the Uintah Water Conservancy District receive pro pro- property property perty tax revenues from the develop develop- development development ment of the energy projects Cities water and sewer districts and the Ute Tribe are not able to tax these projects because they are outside their jurisdiction Housing The guidelines for mitigating housing housing suggest that project related employees housed in the urbanized areas of Uintah County should be In predominately ap- ap approximately approximately proximately 75 percent permanent housing No more than about 25 percent of the project related employees locating In the urbanized areas should be housed in trailers recreational vehicles or single single- wide mobile homes supports the report Project related employees found liv- liv Ing In unapproved locations such suc as along the Green River or White River would either have to relocate to approved approved ed housing sites or his employment be terminated The guidelines leave it up to the energy company to furnish or subsidize quality housing by building guaranteeing oc- oc occupancy occupancy with an independent builder or subsidize housing costs of project employees Continued on page 4 Impact Continued from page 1 Education With education needs substantial lead time is required to construct school front end for for- formula formula buildings with money a mula is provided as a guideline for deter deter- determining determining mining what a project should pay The formula takes 20 percent of the total population generated by the project art multiples it by annual per student cost to come up with the annual financial obligation to the school district Law Enforcement The guidelines suggest that based on the total direct and induced population for an energy project the project sponsor spon- spon sponsor sor will pay the cost of putting an officer In the field f for r the first year at a cost of per officer For each year after the first year the cost of supporting the officer required shall be negotiated with the main burden on the government entity Guidelines for officer to population ratio is 3 per 1000 for Vernal City and 2 per 1000 for Uintah County Naples ci- ci city city ty and Ballard City Water and sewer Because the connection fee and mon mon- monthly monthly use fee should represent the cost of 01 operating and Improving the system it itis itis is the logical dollar e figu a to use in deter deter- determining determining mining impact mitigation measures The guidelines suggest the project sponsor pay up front up front money for areas of necessary water systems im- im improvements improvements other areas where the im- im industry can assist is by prO pro providing viding bond guarantees which gives the bonds a better rating and assures assures their marketability or the industry can pro pro- provide provide vide direct grants to the water entity The proposed guidelines in sewage disposal service are similar to those sug- sug suggested suggested for tor water tacking the impact to the connection fee Parks and To ensure adequate facilities are available to meet future growth project sponsors will be responsible for pro pro- providing providing viding facilities for the projects project's direct and induced population Funds for the park are based on six acres of parks per 1000 population and cost of the park land assumed at per acre Park development fund average per acre to develop the theland theland land Roods Roads The report supports participation of major energy and other resource developers in widening east Highway 40 extending South Street widening and rebuilding South Street and constructing constructing ting a truck bypass route According to Nicholson copies of the Impact mitigation guidelines have been given to each entity for their approval Presently the entities are reviewing the guidelines |