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<br />. <br /> <br />.1 <br />r' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />t- <br />~ <br />(,.,'1 <br />~ <br /> <br />SPECIAL STUDIES (continued) <br /> <br />water quality have been previously collected. Maintenance and operation of <br />these stations should be continued. In addition, biological data should be <br />collected on the watersheds above the gaging stations. These would provide <br />information on factors relating to levels of salinity monitored by the <br />gages. <br /> <br />Grazing treatments could be instituted on several watersheds or <br />new gages installed on watersheds with existing grazing systems. New <br />gaging stations are also needed in areas not present ly included in the <br />BLM salinity monitoring network, such as areas in northeastern Utah <br />and \4yomi ng. <br /> <br />K. Saline Water Use and Disposal Opportunities Study <br /> <br />Water and Power is making an appraisal investigation to study alterna- <br />tives to current methods of onsite brine disposal. One innovative option <br />involves a pipeline collector system to use saline water to support energy <br />development. <br /> <br />The appraisal study has two thrusts: One IS the investigation of <br />using saline water for energy development. Second is the feasibility of a <br />pipeline collection and disposal system for saline water and other col- <br />lected wastewaters, such as wastewater from powerplants and oil shale <br />development. <br /> <br />About 250,000 acre-feet (310 x 106m3) per year of saline water <br />could be collected for disposal or for use in energy development - for <br />cooling coal-fired powerplants and for use in slurry lines which transport <br />coal. Of special concern in this study are legal and institutional, <br />environmental, and cost-sharing issues. To assure that these issues are <br />addressed early, special steps are being taken. A series of legal, insti- <br />tutional, and financial options have been discussed with the Forum's work <br />group. Those options are designed to be compatible with the existing law <br />of the river and normal Federal cost-sharing procedures. To assure that <br />environmental issues are identified and addressed, the study will include <br />an environmental assessment of the al ternatives that appear to hold the <br />most promise. Public involvement activities will be conducted throughout <br />the study. <br /> <br />122 <br />