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Aquatrain Project w w ~ "J The Aquatrain proposal evolved during the study of the Saline Water Use and Disposal Opportunities. The project was conceived as a saline water pipe- line carrying plastic capsules of dry. clean coal to the West Coast, and is a cooperative program among Federal, State. and industrial interests. The concept is being broadened to include other technology options. The primary purpose for Federal and State participation is to provide an inexpensive salinity control strategy for the Colorado River. The primary interest of W. R. Grace & Company is to provide a low cost method of transporting coal from northwest Colorado to domestic and export markets on the Pacific Coast. On July 1. 1982, Reclamation established the Saline Water Transport and Use Office in Denver, Colorado. to be the Federal focus for Aquatrain studies. Under current schedules, which assume availability of needed authority and funding, the studies are expected to be completed by 1985. with construc- tion begi nn i n9 in 1987. Schedu 1 es wi 11 be adjus ted to meet i dent if i ed needs and availability of funding and authorization. Research and Support Studies In Section 203 (b)(2) of Public Law 93-320. the Secretary is directed to undertake research on additional methods for accomplishing the objective of this Act. utilizing to the fullest extent practicable the capabilities and resources of other Federal departments and agencies. interstate insti- tutions. States. and private organizations. The Bureau of Reclamation has been aided in this endeavor by many agencies and institutions. The results of a consortium study on economic impacts of salinity have been published in summary form as the "Colorado River Salinity - Economic Impacts on Agricultural. Municipal, and Industrial Users." The document is intended to provide a more comprehensive working tool with which Reclamation and other planners can better account for the impacts of salinity in the future planning for the Colorado River. A research pragr am i nvo lvi ng ev apor at i on ponds is cont i nu i ng . Five staged interconnected ponds and a single control pond were constructed near Henderson, Nevada. in the surrmer of 1981. The study. expected to last 4 years, is directed toward maximizing the evaporation rate of saline water. In desalting options. higher recovery results in less reject brine and, consequently, lower costs for brine disposal. Various pretreatment methods are under study. along with different desalting options. A final report on the LaVerkin Springs pretreatment study was published in November 1981. xxi