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<br />6
<br />
<br />Description of Proposed Prototype Tracts
<br />
<br />A call for nominations of areas for oil shale leasing was published in
<br />the Federal Re~ister November 2, 1971. At the close of the nomination pe'rie,
<br />(January 31, 1972) 15 companies had submitted 23 nominations. 1\10 additional
<br />nominations were received from the State of Wyoming. Of the 25 nominations
<br />submitted to the Department of the Interior, five in Colorado were super-
<br />imposed or very nearly so, and two nominations in Utah covered essentially
<br />the same area. Thus, the number of individual tracts, each of which is
<br />approximately 5,000 acres in area, totaled 20. These were distributed as
<br />follows: 13 tracts in the Piceance Creek Basin of Colorado, 4 in the Uinta
<br />.Basin of Utah, and 3 in the Washakie Basin of Wyoming.
<br />
<br />The nominated tracts were reviewed by a selection committee of Federal
<br />and State experts. Six tracts -- two in each State -- were recommended for the
<br />prototype program. Following further review by the Department of the Interior
<br />and representatives of the Governor's Advisory Task Force in each of the three
<br />States, the selection of 6 tracts for the proposed prototype oil shale program
<br />was announced April 25, 1972.
<br />
<br />The general geographic location of the six proposed prototype tracts is
<br />shown in the attached map, (Page 7). They were designated Colorado C-a and
<br />C-b, Utah U-a and U-b, and Wyoming W-a and W-b. The type of mining primarily
<br />dIScussed rn-the Final EnvironmentaI:Stateme-nt for 'each tract is that type
<br />Which the Department feels would be the most likely method to be utilized.
<br />However, lessees would have the option to submit plans for any method of
<br />development, which must then be approved by the Department before starting
<br />development. Colorado tract C-a was evaluated as most likely to be developed
<br />by surface mining, Colorado tract Cob and Utah tracts U-a and -b by under-
<br />ground mining, and Wyoming tracts W-a and -b by insitu development.
<br />
<br />For the six tracts as a whole, between 8,000 and 11,000 acres of land
<br />surface, both on-site and off-site, would be required for construction of
<br />mines, excavations, plant facilities, storage areas, and processed shale dis-
<br />posal areas. An additional 1,700 to 2,000 acres would be altered -- in part
<br />permanently __ in the construction of roads, utility corridors of power, natural
<br />gas, water, and shale oil product lines. A maximum of approximately 13,000
<br />Acres would be required for prototype development over a 30-year period, which
<br />is less than 0.1 percent of the oil shale land surface area in the States of
<br />Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
<br />
<br />CollllllOn to each
<br />lines, transmission
<br />determined by their
<br />report.
<br />
<br />of the six tracts
<br />lines, and access
<br />size, length, and
<br />
<br />would be the need for oil storage, pipe-
<br />roads. Effects of such facilities -- as
<br />probable route -- are analyzed in the
<br />
<br />Sufficient amounts of ground water are believed to be available to support
<br />prototype development at both of the Colorado tracts. Therefore, large quantities
<br />of surface wat~ would not be required. About 8,000 acre feet of surface water
<br />per year would be needed to support underground mine development in Utah and
<br />about 3,500 acre feet per year of surface water would be required to support
<br />Wyoming in-situ development. These amounts of water are available for such uses.
<br />
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