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Show County geologist pinpoints possible environment hazard By TOM BUSSELBERG SALT LAKE CITY - A county geologist is working to provide long-range environmental planning aimed at helping minimize earthquake, earth-quake, landslide or other damage to inhabited areas. Mike Lowe, splitting his time between Davis and Weber counties, is in his first year in that position. Created by the U.S. Geological Survey Sur-vey and Utah Geological and Mineral Survey, program goal was to "employ full-time staff geologists to collect and translate technical hazards information for use by planners and local government officials." Among activities already carried out, Mr. Lowe has spearheaded site investigations at two proposed water tank sites in North Salt Lake. A "preliminary geologic hazards evaluation" evalua-tion" was conducted to determine if the sites could be safely used. "These evaluations are very important in hillside locations where the possibility of surface sur-face fault rupture and other geologic hazards could turn a public facility into a hazard to the public," he told the county council of governments, govern-ments, last week. A similar site investigation was carried on in cooperation with the Utah Geological and Mineral Min-eral Survey for Lay ton. In addition, site investigations and geologic report reviews were conducted for three potential poten-tial county jail sites, he said. "The geologic characteristics were so similar monetary and accessibility factors should be used to determine deter-mine the site," Mr. Lowe said. Site investigations of homes in Farmington and Bountiful experiencing foundation cracks were conducted, he continued. Homeowners were told of possible causes of the cracks and advised to retain private consultants. Over the past year, several landslide sites have been studied, as well. |