OCR Text |
Show ff r Guidelines change for repository final EA Eight changes are expected in guidelines to be used for the final environmental the findings for the other sites too. While Davis Canyon registered eight changes, Yucca Mountain, Nevada has six. Deaf Smith County, Texas has five changes and 10 changes were made in findings for the Richton Dome, Mississippi site. head of the DOEs Site Hanford, Washington came up Evaluation Branch in Washwith 15 changes. In Utah, DOE has decided the ington, four changes in findfor Davis Canyon pertain ings potential of underground fracto transportation. Two changes tures in salt of Gibson Dome involve environmental characis small. Dissolution of the salt teristics and one change apiece at the Davis Canyon site is now was made in the categories of considered a greater problem by tectonics and rock characDOE than in the draft environteristics. Davis Canyon finishmental assessment. Salt ed with no new favorable a creep, geologic phenomenon conditions and three new that marks underground moveconadverse ment of salt bodies, is less a potentially ditions. problem in Utah than at any of The avalibility of highways the salt sites being considered, and railways at Davis Canyon said Parker. was originally rated as favorThough the proximity of a able. After a close look, DOE national park presents comhas now rated it as unfavor- paratively stricter environable. Based on regional meteormental standards, Parker said DOE has also a repository at Davis Canyon ological data, decided transportation probwould violate none of the ably would not be disrupted applicable standards. DOE does not believe it will significantly by inclement have to apply to the state of weather. DOE has found no favorable Utah for a Protection from conditions present in the guideSignificant Deterioration, a line for environmental characpermit that allows an interistics. The environmental dustrial facility to emit polproblems a repository would lutants into the air, Parker said. In acknowledging Canyon-land- s present cannot be mitigated National Park, DOE has either, according to DOE. By said the past the National in far, Davis Canyon is the worst site on the environmental Park Service Organic Act of 1916 does not pertain to the guidelines, said Parker. DOE has determined the host nuclear waste repository berock at all of the salt sites, cause the repository site would including Davis Canyon, will lie outside park boundaries. not support underground structures as well as originally believed, so the guideline for the rock characteristics has been Open house to altered, said Parker. discuss forest EIS The difference between the draft environmental assessReed C. Christensen, forest ments, which were published supervisor, announces the last December, and the final availability of the Draft environmental assessments is Environmental Impact Statebased largely on the comments ment (EIS) and a Proposed sent to DOE regarding the draft Land and Resource ManageEAs according to Parker. ment Plan for the Manti-LaSa- l More than 21,000 comments National Forest. The proposed were sent to DOE concering the plan will guide management of draft EAs and 5,000 of the National Forest System lands comments pertained to Davis for the next 10 to 15 years. Canyon. Very few changes in current Parker said the final environmanagement are proposed. mental assessments will conTo assist the public tain 2,000 pages and over the review period, the during Monti- three volumes. The documents (Please turn to page 3) will include an index listing el 4 - Fall lingers on in southern San Juan. Alvin Reiner photo Sami Juami Rocoird TUd HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 25 Vol 67 No 39 cents November 13, 1985 Voters cast ballots for change, unseat 5 incumbents if Five of six incumbents seeking reelection were unseated in municipal elections last Tuesday in Blanding and Monti-cellThe only official to retain o. office is Keith Redd, Monticello mayor, who begins his third term as the most popular vote getter on the Monticello ballot. In Blanding 69 percent of the votes for mayor went to political newcomer Jim Shumway. Kay Johnson, making his second bid for a seat on the city council, received 55 more votes than other council candidates. Francis D. Bud Nielson, retiring in December as city manager, received two write-ivotes for councilman. Unofficial vote in Blanding was: mayor, Jim Shumway, 501, Cleal Bradford 222. For city council, Kay Johnson 381, Kim Acton 326, Don Smith 325, Carl Osborn 211, and Dale n Slade 196. Unofficial vote in Monticello was: mayor, Keith Redd 325, Ron Sharp 173, and A1 Haskins 139. For city council, Bemie Christensen 316, Lee Nielson 314, Isauro Pee Wee Barela, 192, Carl Eisemann 153, Kirk Helquist 150, and Monte Dalton 120. Commenting on his victory, Shumway said, I truly appreciate the hard work that many people put forth on my , Petition asks for hearing on health care 1 j 1 'i I 1 A petition being circulated in Blanding and Monticello asks for a public hearing on the possible sale of San Juan the Health Care facilities hospital, the nursing home and the ambulance service. Petition sponsors say the hearing is needed to inform the public on the particulars and why the sale is being considered. A spokesman for the petition sponsors says many people are concerned about the long term effect the sale might have on health care in the county. According to the spokesman, all county health care employees are fearful for their livelihood, adding one of the prospective buyers cut employee benefits tremendously after buying the Kanab hospital. If health care employees become discontented and seek employment elsewhere, the hospital and nursing home could no longer offer quality care, the spokesman said, adding there is speculation this asses-men- t for Davis Canyon due December 20. The changes were revealed in a Department of Energy (DOE) briefing session Nuwith Utahs High-Levclear Waste Office. The briefing did not resolve the question of exactly where Davis Canyon will end up in the final rankings. According to Jerry Parker, would result in doctors sending patients to other hospitals which would ultimately turn the hospital into an emergency center only. Petition sponsors say it is wrong for county commissioners to make a decision that will effects have such long-term without considering public input, adding the loss of the hospital would effect economic growth. The spokesman said alternatives, such as a medical taxing district, should be considered. The proposed sale raises questions. The public is entitled to answers. Bonneville Health Systems, Care Enterprises, and Southwest Management of Colton, California are among the firms who have expressed interest in purchasing San Juan County health care facilities. Petitions have been placed in grocery stores, drug stores and other businesses in Monticello and Blanding. behalf in the campaign. The present mayor and council have accomplished a great deal. Now my time is coming. I sincerely hope I can do what the people elected me to do. I look forward to four years of service to Blanding with input of the citizens. Monticello Mayor Redd said he feels the vote for him was a vote of appreciation for some of the things we have been able to accomplish. He said he is enthusiastic about working with the new council. I particularly thank those who served as campaign workers and those voters who voiced their appreciation to me and their confidence in what we are trying to do. Weather everyone who sent in comments along with a reference as to where in the document DOE has responded to particular concerns. DOE has made changes in |