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Show I" CRRT: CR l 9 SUV";, :ALT lake ino CITY, UT AtpirtoiaMpirmbotmyoumxpiiw, (12) , 84101 .wtf Boy's basketball Teams: All pocket Win's im page mi nt it v7i-- , j n ' Awtor TnAjuHiWSWlznA WkA of Duchesne. ; and Western Uintah Counties Serving the residents ..,...,.. a mi SOS, T - W.TV . . - . - . - church Non-demoninatio- Uintah Basin steps to rythmn of love 12-1- 3 we - U pag9 Company wins approval for Tuesday, January 7, 1997 Roosevelt, Utah 84th Yaar Now 1 18 Pages 50 asphalt production facility i ANOTHER HURDLE PASSED IN RACE FOR page 3 FUNDINGS, Draft Environmental Assessment on Upalco Unit hits the streets By Leslee E. Whiting A two and inch thick report detailing predictable and probable environmental consequences to areas impacted by the propoeed $103.8 million Upalco Unit ofUintah Basin Replacement Prqject has been released for public review. Hie report addresses not only the features in the proposed action for the Upalco Unit, it also evaluates the three proposed alternative sites which combine about a doxen features in different ways, says Terry Holzworth, UBRP manager. It reflects all discussions weve had with the tribe and water users over the past three to four years. When it hits the streets thats when we find out if its what people really want, Holzworth stated. The main features of the Upalco Unit include construction oi the 24.000 acts foot Crystal Ranch Reservoir on the Yellowstone drainage; the enlargement of Big Sandwash Reservoir from 12,000 acres feet to 21.000 acre feet; diversion structure rehabilitation and the pi ping ofseven laterals in the Upper Country; and the stabilization of ten lakes on the Yellowstone River drainage. The Upalco Unit will carry water for irrigators in west Duchesne County as well as parts of west Uintah County. It will also hold 3,000 acre feet of industrial and municipal water for Roosevelt City. Holzworth says he feels the DEIS strikes a suc- cessful balance in most areas. Water operations still waiting to be addressed While he doesn't see any red major flags in Environmental issues surrounding construction iff the planned Uintah and Upalco water projects may be close to completion, but nothing ia final when it comes to how those facilities will be managed. We still have a long way to go to address the water operations and facility management the irrigators are concerned about, said Terry Holzworth, Uintah Basin report, he believes one issue which will receive discussion is the critical habitat for Replacement Project manager. Although all the water which will be made available from the Uintah and Upalco Units has been tentatively spoken for, the formal and binding contracts await the finalization of operational plana, such as who will be responsible for administering water flows and taking care of other duties. The date for signing final contracts is running several months behind schedule, Holzworth said. Irrigators and other water users signed up for the prqject water last summer. Although numerous concerns were expressed regarding costs, federal regulations and other issues, all available water was applied for. endangered fish on the lower two miles ofthe Duchesne River. UB. Fish and Wildlife operates a recov- ery program that along stretch of the river for Hump- back Chub and Rasorback Sucker. Adj u s t ments have been made in the Upalco Unit to stay within federal price ceilings, Holzworth detailed, and the $103.8 million construction tag is just below the ceiling limit -- t. NEW! PRESiDMMB6NAMEDi23 UBIC revenue down, change is expected county assistance. Uintah and By Cheryl Mecham There is nothing like it in Utah, or perhaps in the United States, like the Uintah Basin In Celebration or UBIC, that is. Three full days offree activities, entertainment and special events draw thousands of people from the Uintah Basin and beyond to participate in the annual celebration. But changes will have to be made in order for the celebration to continue, says 1996 UBIC President Bill Cxjk. problem is finances. According l ' ook, typically the UBIC comleft mittee would have $7,000-88,00- 0 over at the end of the annual summer celebration, this year there is just a little more than $4,500 to spend. It costs about $20,000 to do a good UBIC, Cook commented. There are various ways in which the committee accrues funding Cook explained, through vendor fees, the queen contest, the teen dance, and odds and ends, like the UBIC booklet One of the main reason funds are low. Code reported, is because oflow participation in the Mias UBIC Scho- larship Pageant which stimulates a good deal ofthe revenue. The contest was scheduled on July 3 last year, too close to the Pioneer Day holiday, Cook explained. . UBIC does receive municipal and Duchesne County each donate $2,000 and Roosevelt city pays for half iff the fireworks, about $4,000. The biggest portion of UBIC dollars go to fund, advertisement, fireworks and entertainment Because the daily and nightly entertainment ia free to the public, with the exception of the teen dances, revenue which the UBIC can generate through booth rentals, and advertia-in- g day a big part in continued success in funding the event Proposed changes for the UBIC include the possible addition of a Walleye Tournament, and the discontinuation of the rodeo, which he says, didnt help out, in raising funds, and more sensitivity will be given in scheduling iff events to draw the largest crowd. Any decisions involving changes will be considered and initiated by the incoming president and committee members because Cook is stepping down as president He will, however, continue to work with the in assisting with regulations and vendors to protect the community and keep it as safe as possible. One ofCooks final duties as UBIC president is to pass on his title with all of the accompanying responsibilities, which he says is inthe works because the 1997 UBIC president is expected to be named this week. com-mitt- ee The federal share of the Upalco prqject is $87.9 million, local cost sharing is $15.8 million. The local share will be paid through a refinancing arrangement the Central Utah Water Conservancy District worked out several months ago on an existing debt with the federal A GREAT WAY TO START THE YEAR-T- he first baby of 1991 was bom to Frank Jr. and Danielle lessen of Altonah. Little Phyllis Baelci lessen was bom on at foe Uintah Basin Medical Center on Jan. 1 at 1 1:50 p.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. 1 1 oz, and 1812 inches long. She was delivered by Dr. Keith Evans following a 15 12 hour labor. Gifts to foe lessens from local merchants include $225 worth of gift certificates, diapers, formula, baby accessories flowers, a $50 savings bond, and many more gifts for baby and mother. Pictured left to right are proud 2 12 years old, and little sister Phyllis. , parents Frank and Danielle lessen, big sister Dezarai, Can ferruginous hawk st with encroaching oil activity? co-exi- .... government Copies ofthe DEIS for the Upalco By Lezlce E. Whiting Unit will be mailed out to those who An Altamont man, who is recoghave requested copies, to irrigation com panies and a copy will also be nized as an authority on birds of available at the Duchesne County prqy, says he believes a middle ground'eanbe reached when itcomea library. to Comments on tlie Draft Environ- a dispute over an oil companys mental Impact Statement are now plans to drill oil wells on land which being taken, and public hearings is home to the protected ferruginous have been set for Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at hawk. Altamont High School; Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Salt Lake County Commission chambers; and Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. in the Ute Tribe auditorium in Fort Duchesne. The DEIS contains information collected and summarized by consultants with CH2M Hill in conjunction with the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, and Stetson Engineers, a Mtsa, Arizona firm retained by the Ute Indian Tribe. It includes the following draft technical reports: Aquatic Resources, Water Quality, Cultural Resources, Water Resources, WetlandRipari&n Resource, Threatened and Endan-SEE UPALCO UNIT on page 3 Howard Brinkerhoff, who has 27 years of personal, hands-o- n experience with birds of prey, ia offering his services as a mediator to work with Inland Resources, Inc. and the Vernal District's Bureau of Land Management in reaching a compromise to allow some type of oil in the area south of Myton dwel-opme-nt which would not compromise the health of the ferruginous hawk. Hie BLM has luted the ferrugi- nous hawk as a special status species. The designation affords the bird special federal protection in eases when its habitat may be impacted. The bird was taken off Congress' endangered species list several years ago. IIS - lobby where the planned pharmacy will be located. The leaks also forced the closure of the Pink Shim for the time being. The leaking roofhas not caused problems in patient rooms, according to Allred. Despite the inconvenience, hospital operations have not been totally disrupted and there is no threat of health or safety risks. We are fully operational and are manufacturers warrantee, ex- functioning well. The water hasnt , plained Kyla Allred, public relations effected anything else, she said. We fpokeepereon. But the hospital, along are managing with buckets, plastic with numerous other buildings drop cloths and warning signs. Efforts were underway to remedy throughout the state, has discovbecause the problem earlier prior to the time ered they are the manufacturer has gone bank- the snow and rain, nut Allred says no contractors were available. rupt. We have been told that there are After reviewing repair options two million square feet iff this type of bids were let and Clarks Roofing, out of Salt Lake City, was retained raffthathssbeenreplacedinutab, Allred detailed. We have 28,000 on an emergency basis to install the square feet that needs replaced and new raff. Work is expected to begin 4,000 square feet of that ia leaking around Jan. 20. The new roof will be made of badly. Buckets line the main hallway Samafil, which is similar to the PVC and front entrance, where the seam membrane which was on the previjoins the old addition with the new ous raff, but is much stronger and physicians wing. The hospitals has more reinforcements and has emergency room was so inundated been around for 30 years, Allred said. by leaks that it had to be moved into No cost estimate was available. a room in the new addition just off A - VLoV-- V.. - ) i j r r--: ip- ih KJl:(..- 10-ye- ar out-of-lu- ck Jobs Now to 2005 exist. Brinkerhoff, of Falcons Ledge resort, has worked in the oil field himself and has gained as a master recognition world-wid- e falconer. The bigger picture is theres another solution. If we can bring more (ferruginous hawks) back then the BLM wouldnt be so nervous and Inland could get on with their drilling, Brinkerhoff detailed. This is not a political maneuver, the reality of the threat to these birds is real, but it doesnt mean things have to John Dyer, Inlands chief operatofficer, agrees. He has located research on studies of the ferruginous hawk conducted in Montana and northwest Colorado which observed the birds living amiably in the middle of oil fields. They put up artificial nesting structures and increased the num the front Minor leaks in the roof of the Uintah Basin Medical Center which manifested themselves last winter have become such a problem this winter that the entire roof must now be replaced. There are no leaks in the roof in the new addition which open in October. The raff - which was put on six years ago - came with a . ing Hospitals roof in need of urgent replacement - 144 4. five months of work, bricklayer Chris FINISHING TOUCHES-Aft- er Watson lays foe last .block ia the control center of the Duchesne County Public Safety Complex, as foreman Martin Gibbs looks on. BAT Masonry out iff Salt Lake Cky has laid 68,000 unfs of block sipce Aug. 1. The last of the blocks were finished last Thursday lari. 2. Gitfos expects his crew to have their work completed and cleaned up Jan. IS. Photo token by CurtU Cesspoock Occupational therapists72 Coosmetologists ............. 69 Medical assistants 59 58 Paralegals Medical records keepers .56 . (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) i. . County takes over as sole operator of library Bv Lcxlee E. Whiting As anticipated, Duchesne County assumed aide operation and administration of the Duchesne County IftMeevelt City library on Jan. l.The switch from joint ownership and management of the library was necessitated by a three-yea- r old state law which requires cities to divest themselves of any interest in y run libraries. Hie divestment means the library will now be called the Duchesne County library. It also frees up about city-count- T 119 aides 102 Home health aides .. 92 Systems analysts 90 Computer engineers aides 83 ... Physical therapy 83 Electronic paginated 82 Occupational therapy 80 Physical therapists Residential counselors .. 76 Human services workers. 75 Home-car- e INCOMPLIANCE WITH LAWj. city-coun- ty llW ber of birds, he related. Dyer submitted about 500 pages of new research he uncovered during the public comment period on the SIMs Draft Environmental Statement. And he cays the BLM received numerous letters during the public yean. Ifthe BUtTs final Record of Deci- comment period, most which supsion, which is due out at the end of ported Inlands position through the month, denies the request for substantive new information. By drilling permits baaed on the potenSEE OIL ACTIVITY on page 3 tial impact on the hawk, the company would be forced to sharply curr- . tail their ml production activity in Basin. Uintah Fastest-Growin- g the But Brinkerhoff says he believes a reasonable solution can be found. There is a lot of work that has been done, progress and wildlife can co- abut down. MANUFACTURER BIAMEDFORLEAKST By Lezlee E. Whiting Inland has applied to the BLM for permits to drill 50 new wells in an area where 14 ferruginous hawk nests are located. Just one pair of ferruginous hawks have returned to the area to nest over the past four The coat to the county is a little higher, explained Lariy Roes, outgoing commission chairman, but we didnt have to raise taxes Its working out pretty good. Hie administrative change also brings a shift in the makeup ofthe hbrarys boardofdirectora. The board had previously included eight members, four representing Duchesne County and four representing Roosevelt City. The board is now made up iff six members. One of those members, Ksrolyn Gillman, of Pleasant Valley, wss appointed last $35,000 in annual revenue for week by coamissioaerm. Other board Roosevelt City. The money has been membera include: Marilyn allocated to repay a Community Steinmetz, of Neola, who serves as Board cons loan. traction Impact chairman; Virginia Nclsen, of Because Roosevelt City is no Roosevelt, Nancy Miles, longer contributing taxes to fond of Altamont; Dona Hanaon, of operations at the library, the change Duchesne; and Kayleen Silver, of was expected to result in a slightly Tabiona. The countycommiasiooer who will higher Ubraiy tax rata for all county residents, but no such increase was sit on the board will ba named later included in the countys 1997 bud- - this month when mib commia-eio- a fa- assignments are given. vice-chai- r, . |