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Show Vernal Express Wednesday, January 7, 2004 1 BLM to analyze Questar's field development Basin proposal in Bureau of Land Management -Vernal Field Office (BLM-VFO) has received a proposal from the Questar Exploration and Production Company's Uintah Basin Division regarding field development strategy strate-gy for the Greater Deadman Bench Oil and Gas Producing Region. BLM will accept the public's initial questions, concerns, suggestions, and data on or before Feb. 4. Public input will be factored into the alternatives alter-natives and issues analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering the project. To introduce the project to the public, BLM will host a public scoping open house and information meeting on Jan. 14, from 7-9 p.m., at the Uintah County Building, 147 E. Main Street, Vernal. On Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, BLM published a notice of intent to prepare pre-pare an EIS. The EIS will focus on Questar's (QEP) proposed gas and 011 development on about 99,000 acres in the Greater Deadman Bench oil and gas production region, located about 20 miles south of Vernal, Utah. The project area would involve about 85 percent BLM - administered public lands, 1 2 percent State of Utah - administered adminis-tered lands; and 3 percent patented land. Currently 278 oil and water injection injec-tion wells and about 300 gas wells with their attendant service roads exist within the project area. QEP anticipates the drilling of up to 1,239 new wells over a 10-year period or until the resource base is fully developed. Required infrastructures infra-structures in support of the proposed development would include electric power lines, roads, flow lines and pipelines, well pads (with pumping units for oil wells), central facilities, water injection facilities, gas treatment treat-ment and compression facilities. Gas would be transported via pipeline- to centralized compression and treatment facilities. Produced water would be trucked or piped to one of several existing QEP water injection plants where it would be re-injected into the oil reservoir or disposal zone via an injection well system. : ' i At ..thiiT-tirhe, . potential! issues ' involved wkh the proposal would include potential impacts on desert and semi-desert ecosystems and their dependent wildlife species (including antelope, sage grouse, white-tailed prairie dog colonies); noxious weed management; revege-tation revege-tation efforts; and, riparian habitat associated with the Green River corridor. cor-ridor. The scheduled open house and information meeting will afford the public an opportunity to become more familiar with the proposed project and project area and raise Hunters safety class to begin An Internet Hunters Safety class will begin Jan 24 which includes a 5-hour field day. Contact ccjackeasilink.com for information and registration. Farm prices go up Prices received by Utah farmers and ranchers during mid-December 2003, and November 2003, were up for barley, alfalfa hay, and other hay, according to the Utah Agricultural Statistics Service. The lamb price for November 2003 was $97 per cwt, up $1 1 from December 2002. The November 2003 sheep price, at $34, was up $1 from December 2002. Barley, at $2.31 per bushel, was up 3 cents from the previous month's price but 25 cents below last year. Baled alfalfa hay was $87 per tone, up $17 from last month, but $7 below last year. Other hay, at $76 per ton, was up $16 from last month, and $18 higher than December 2002. The preliminary all Farm Products Index of Prices Received by "Fanners in December, at 115, based on 1990-92100, is 2 points (1.7 percent) below the November Index. The Livestock Products Index is down 4 point (3.4 percent) from November while the All Crops Index is unchanged. Lower prices received for eggs, milk, lettuce and cattle more than offset higher commodity com-modity prices for corn, soybeans, broccoli and broilers, the seasonal change in the mix of commodities fanners sell, based on the past 3-year 3-year average, also affects the overall index. Increased average marketing of tobacco, wheat, milk and lettuce offset decreased marketing of cattle, soybeans, grapes and corn. any questions or concerns they may have on the proposed project with QEP and BLM representatives. Anyone having any information, data, concerns, or suggestions related relat-ed to the potential impacts of the proposed action needs to submit them to the Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078, Attn: QEP Field Development Project. BLM advises that comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review and will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Individual respondents may request confidentiality. confiden-tiality. If anyone wishes to have their name or address withheld from public review and disclosure under the FOIA, they must state this prominently at the beginning of any written comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions sub-missions from organizations or businesses busi-nesses will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. Firing range Impact Study underway The Bureau of Land Management is doing an in-house Environmental Impact Study of the remaining portion of the proposed land east of the Vernal land fill which is earmarked to become a fully developed firing range. The land, over 1,000 acres, would include a pistol, rifle and skeet range which could be used for hunters, target practice, law enforcement competitions and sharpshooting practice. "We had to close the Zufelt range by Fort Duchesne," says Uintah County Commissioner Jim Abegglen, who anticipates the new range will fill many needs of area marksmen. Commissioners hope the study will be completed by the end of summer so that development may begin. o-j o-j a9? o a Uintah County Animal Shelter Pea Off 7Dve Week I ti'f t - ' r- - The pet of the week at the Uintah County Animal Shelter is a very large male tabby cat. He is very affectionate and very playful. The Animal Shelter has a 30-day, no fee fostering program which will help adopting families determine if they wish to keep the pet permanently. perma-nently. Animals at the shelter can now be viewed online. Go to Petfinder.com to find up-to-date pictures of animals who need good homes. A link can also be found at vernalcity.org. If you wish to foster fos-ter or adopt one of these or another animal, or if your pet is missing, We heard you call "Go West". . . and we listened! For more than 20 years, Sisk & Co. has offered Colorado oil and gas contractors significant savings through competitive rates and our customized Energy Insurance Program. We're now offering the same cost savings and expert service to contractors based in Utah. Through Sisk & Co. you can: Access multiple regional and national carriers for the best rates available Learn valuable risk-reduction strategies to realize additional savings Benefit from the personalized customer service that has made us the broker of choice for the region SISK & CO. Expert solutions for oil and gas risk management For more information on our oil and gas insurance programs, call Pat Nickodemus at 1-888-333-6620. i Li , C Debbie Perrigo, Christy O'Prady and Marci Wilken were recognized for their work and donations for the Animal Shelter during the past two years. Jones Hole Community Hike planned for Jan. 10 Mayor Bill Kremin, Debbie Perrigo, Brenda Gurr and Sherry Gines give recognition to Robert and Teresa Kay for a $5,000 donation to the Animal Shelter. Many enjoy the power of relaxation "Relaxation and meditation can have a very powerful effect on the body," writes Steven Fahrion, Ph.D., director of research at the Life Sciences Institute of Mind-Body Health in Topeka, Kan., in "Drug-Free "Drug-Free Healing" by the editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books. Fahrion continues to say, "It can help you cope with all kinds of stress related problems. including migraines, peptic ulcers and anxiety." As a result, he counsels that people who develop and retain peace of mind do experience "mental and physical healing." Fahrion continues to point out that researchers have found that relaxation relax-ation and meditation techniques can boost immunity, short-circuit anger, curb smoking and relieve insomnia, back pain, high blood pressure, motion sickness, impotence, premenstrual premen-strual syndrome, menopause and irritable irri-table bowel syndrome. .: "L think everyone can benefit from ' learning how to relax." Learning to neutralize the effects of stress is one of the most important aspects of preventive pre-ventive medicine," Andrew Weil, M.D. says in the article. Weil is a teacher of alternative medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, and is founding director of the university's universi-ty's Center for Integrative Medicine. As a physician, Weil emphasizes natural nat-ural and preventive medicine. Among the suggested techniques is deep breathing, one of the simplest ways to relax. Meditation is defined by the authors as a type of intense inward concentration that allows the individual individ-ual to focus on senses and be able to perceive each moment "as a unique event." Autogenics, progressive relaxation, and gentle stretching are also suggested sug-gested to aid relaxing and achieve meditative balance. Not every technique is suggested for the individual, and the authors suggest doing further research and experiment with the methods until finding those with the best results. Seeking professional help for chronic problems is also suggested. Jones Hole, one of the most spectacular spec-tacular spots in Utah, is uniquely beautiful in winter. The creek never freezes over, and snow is draped over every rock ledge. Hike leader, Loren Webb will meet winter walkers at Basin Sports at 10 a.m. on Saturday, for an unusual look at the Hole. Since the area has received so much snow, make sure you bring excellent excel-lent winter clothes, and good boots for walking in snow. Participants will wak 1.5 miles down the trail, to visi the new bridge which the rangers of Dinosaur National Monument installed this summer. Just beyond the bridge, are the Fremont pictographs and a frosty Ely Creek Falls just beyond. After eating at the campground at Ely Creek, hikers will walk back up to Jones Hole Fish Hatchery, returning to Vernal about 4 p.m. DOG LICENSE RENEWAL NOTICE Pursuant to ordinances: 6.16.010 Vernal City, 6.20.010 Uintah County and 13.02.005 Naples City. All dogs within 30 days of reaching 4 months of age must have a current dog license. Each dog will need a current rabies vaccination certificate cer-tificate and will need to have the appropriate licensing fees paid (no dog will be licensed as spayed or neutered without proof that surgery was performed). Licenses expires on December 31, 2003. Licenses not renewed by January 31, 2004 shall carry an additional LATE FEE. You may license dogs at either Uintah Animal Shelter at 1387 East 335 South or at your Veterinarian. Next year renewals will be handled by mail outs. Should you have any questions please call: Uintah Animal Shelter at 781-7297. Thank You! 1 I(2) The Independent Advantage: Choice the TEAVITT Service GROUP Sawgs Schaefermeyer-Leavitt Insurance Agency is a full service agency representing many fine companies including: Colorado Casualty, Allstate, St. Paul, Mid-Continent, The Hartford, Metropolitan, EMC, Farmers Union, Progressive, and many other fine companies. Our experienced staff provides coverage for oil and gas service serv-ice companies, contractors, small to large business, and home and auto owners. If you would like quotes, policy changes, or policy renewal services please call us. We take pride in offering the finest insurance products and exceptional customer service to all our clients. 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