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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3645 1. A 130 mile pipeline from Dotsero Springs to the stateline and the altecation of over 5,000 acces of natural vegetation for the evaporation ponds on Bureau of Land Management lands would result in a significant environmental impact. 2. The expenditure of $232,000,000 would likely affect the local economy, particularly labor, during the three year construction period. Based on the 1982 Lower Gunnison and 1979 Paradox Valley rns I:eports, employment in the area could inccease by 1000 during project implementa- tion. Another economic concern is the annual cost of operating and maintainng this rroject. This cost has not been published, but it will be the responsiblity of the federal government. 3. The removal of 15,500 acre-feet of water from the Colorado River creates a major water rights question involving the definition of beneficial consumptive use. Under Colorado water law, evaporation of saline water is not considered a beneficial use. Meeker Dome unit The Meeker Dome, the site of several abandoned oil and gas exploratory wells, is located about three miles east of the town of Meeker. These wells, acting as conduits, were allowing saline water from deep qeological formations to flow through shallower acquifers and pollute the surface waters of the White River. In 1968, the saline flow from this area was estimated at 3 cfs and carried approximately 57,000 tons of salt per year. One well was plugged in 1966, and the flow was substantially reduced. In 1979, technical investigations indicated that seepage was continuing at a rate of 1.4 cfs with a salt load of 22,000 tons. under the Bureau's problem identification program, three additional wells were cleaned and plugged. Monitoring of the , -11- \ \