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<br />r .., <br /> <br />, 'j <br /> <br />( ". <br />. , <br />.....J <br /> <br />~ - <br />_J <br /> <br />differing public reactions in relation to environmental and <br />economic standpoints. Our population and resulting demands <br />for energy continue to increase and more generating facilities-- <br />whether thermal, nuclear, or other--will be required or severe <br />shortages will occur. <br /> <br />Another secondary impact of AQUATRAIN would be improved air <br />quality in some areas. New coal-fired powerplants using fluidized- <br />bed combustion technology could replace existing oil- and <br />gas-fired facilities. eliminating S02 emissions and reducing <br />nitrous oxide emissions. Coal-fired powerplants would produce <br />minimum emissions by using the best control technologies available <br />and possibly by using coal that has been cleaned to remove <br />ash and sulfur pollutants. The new powerplants could be built <br />in remote areas, resulting in benefits to metropolitan environments <br />and societies where oil- and gas-fired powerplants are now <br />in operation. Substituting high-grade coal for oil and gas <br />in powerplants will result in conservation of those resources <br />for other beneficial uses, lowering the need for future synfuel <br />plants. <br /> <br />Another factor influencing costs and benefits is the potential <br />of marketing CO2 at the pipeline's terminus. CO? could be <br />sold for use in industry or for enhanced oil recovery, rather <br />than being recycled or vented to the atmosphere. Income derived <br />from this sale would decrease the system's total costs and <br />lead to more economical shipping rates for commodities. <br /> <br />Private industry financing of AQUATRAIN's salinity control <br />function will save a substantial portion of taxpayers' dollars <br />devoted to this purpose, making those funds available for <br />other pressing needs. Use of the pipeline system to take <br />saline water from just one source (Glenwood-Dotsero Springs, <br />Colorado) of the 16 major saline sources could save about <br />$280 million in single purpose Federal costs for collection <br />facilities and evaporation ponds which would only waste the <br />water. Desalting plants or evaporation ponds--the least costly <br />salinity control alternatives after AQUATRAIN--could cost <br />taxpayers between $4-8 billion (constant 1982 dollars) if <br />used throughout the Colorado River Basin, and would have far <br />more severe environmental impacts and greater energy requirements. <br /> <br />Coal royalties and severance taxes resulting from the project <br />would add to State and Federal treasuries. Additional economic <br />benefits include jobs that the project would create, including: <br /> <br />* Construction, operation, and maintenance of the pipeline <br />system <br />* New and expanded coal and possibly trona mining and processing <br />facilities <br />* Construction and operation of new powerplants <br />* Growth of port facilities <br />* New and expanded industries created by the availability <br />of low-cost transportation of coal and other commodities, <br />increased freshwater supplies, and stabilized electric <br />rates to the consumer (through low-cost delivery of high- <br />quality coal and/or coal products) <br /> <br />31 <br /> <br />( \ <br />