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Show Power Supply Source Visitors at the Bonanza Power Plant September 18, 1985, will have the opportunity to see perhaps the largest single construction undertaking ever to be located in the Uintah Basin. The massive structure, located in Kennedy Wash, about 30 miles southeast of Vernal, presents an imposing skyline in the desert setting. Major buildings of the plant reach 200, 300 and 600 feet above the valley floor. From the main plant facility, major tennacles reach out in several directions for both receiving and sending. A rail line enters the site from Deserado Mine near Rangely, Colorado. A water line from the Green River some 19 miles to the northwest, supplies vital water needs. Transmission lines which will carry electricity from the plant, extend east to Rangely, north to Vernal, and west to Upalco and Mona. Construction work on the power plant has extended over the past four years. Although groundbreaking ceremonies for the plant were conducted August 28, 1981, immediately after signing of financial do- cuments, work actually began July 14, 1981, to prepare the site for construction. The ground work started one day after about nine months of construction effort, most of the exfor the cavation, piling, pile caps and foundation work was complete. Seen here are pile caps Boiler and Baghouse with the lower section of the chimney. UNDERGROUND PREPARATIONS-Aft- er project approval was received July 13. Several years of work had preceded start of construction, however. A number of potential sites were studied. Water and coal sources were identified. Routing for power lines was established, and studies were made to determine the affect of the project on the environment, on wildlife, and on the communities in the immediate vacinity. All of this material was assembled and published in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Then after revisions, a final document was published. This effort was necessary for project and financing approval. The first major work at the plant site was site preparation. Millions of cubic yards of dirt were moved to level the site, and excavate for the main structures. W.W. Clyde Construction Company performed this work, completed in 1983. Other early major contracts included substructures and foundations. Work on this contract began in August, 1981, by Centric, and continued through 1982. Concrete for all structures was furnished from a batch plant located on site, ooperated by Acme Concrete. A total of more than 110,000 cubic yards of concrete went into plant construction. Work also started immediaon the water system. Collection wells were developed by Ranney, while the water line tely to the power plant was constructed by Erby. Prior to start of work on the site, contracts had been let to Westinghouse for the turbine generator, and to Foster Wheeler for the steam gene- rator (boiler). Some of the milestones of construction of the project included start of the chimney shell November 9, 1981, with completion July 7, 1982, more than two months ahead of schedule. The turbine foun- dation was completed April 22, 1982. ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT-Sever- al domi- nant features of the plant construction were for control of the environment. Top photo left, shows sections of the "Baghouse" being assembled. The baghouse will remove fly ash from boiler flu gas. Below, left, is shown the "Scrubber" under construction. Three large vessels will be used to remove Sulphur Dioxide from flu gas. late April, 1982, steel was well underway. Here Boiler steel surrounds coal bunkers, with the turbine pedestal in foreground. STEEL ERECTION-- By |