Laserfiche WebLink
<br />w <br />W <br />l.) <br /> <br />The disposal of production waters in unlined pits is only allowed if an applicant can show that <br />the waters will not harm the environment If production waters will eventually be discharged <br />to surface streams, a NPDES Permit must be obtained. <br /> <br />Surface disturbance activities associated with drill-pad construction, roads, seismic trails, and <br />pipelines also increase sediment and salt yields. Fragile soil and watershed areas are identified <br />through BLM's planning process. These areas are usually located on steep terrain, sparsely <br />vegetated, and highly erodible. BLM mitigates surface-disturbing activities within fragile soil <br />and watershed areas to prevent accelerated erosion of saline soils. <br /> <br />The future development of oil shale in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming has the greatest potential <br />of all mining activities to increase the Colorado River's salt loads. These increases result from <br />consumption of good-quality water, mine dewatering, and the leaching of both raw and spent <br />shales. <br /> <br />Recreation Management <br /> <br />Many types of recreation uses such as camping, picnicking, hunting, fishing, river rafting, and <br />off-road vehicle use occur on public lands. Some of these uses may increase salinity by <br />decreasing ground cover and compacting soil, thus increasing sediment and runoff. Through <br />BLM's planning process, sensitive soil areas are identified and conflicts between recreation <br />uses are addressed. Mitigation measures and limitations on amount and location of recreation <br />uses to meet salinity control objectives are developed. <br /> <br />Point-Source Salinity Control <br /> <br />Many point sources exist on the public lands. Point sources can occur as either wells or <br />springs. Several wells have been plugged (see section in Major Salinity Control <br />Accomplishments) and future flowing wells will be plugged as the situation warrants. BLM <br />has developed and currently maintains a water-use inventory to identify and characterize water <br />uses and respective sources on the public lands. Saline springs will be identified through this <br />inventory. Control of saline springs will be analyzed through BLM's planning process, with <br />major sources (for example, Sinbad Valley) brought to the attention of the Bureau of <br />Reclamation. <br /> <br />BLM Salinity Control Budget <br /> <br />The Bureau of Land Management's Colorado River salinity control activities are funded by the <br />Soil, Water, and Air Management programs. Included in the costs of salinity control activities <br />are inventory, planning, monitoring, improvement projects, project maintenance, and program <br />development. As implementation of activities described in this report proceeds, a special effort <br />will be made to identify salinity control funding needs through the normal budget process of <br />requesting funds for soil, water, and air management activities. <br /> <br />Total annual appropriations to soil, water, and air resources programs, excluding the <br />Hazardous Materials program, since Fiscal Year 1981 are shown below. Starting in Fiscal <br />Year 1982, the BLM's general administration costs have been funded by Congress as a <br />separate line item in the budget. 1981 amounts were adjusted by subtracting general <br />administrative costs. Decreases in funding over the last 7 years are due to decreases in <br />appropriations. Also, since 1984, the soil, water, and air resources programs have contributed <br />funding to the BLM Hazardous Waste Management Program. <br /> <br />15 <br />