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<br />0; <br />(D <br />r- <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />;:.) <br /> <br />C~ <br />C <br /> <br />This is the first of two papers International Bio-Resources, <br />Inc. (IBR) is preparing to evaluate its proprietary Salt <br />Tolerant Emergent Plant (STEP) process for the beneficial use <br />and disposal of Glenwood Springs Saline water. This report has <br />two central objectives: <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />to identify and <br />species for their <br />concentrators. <br /> <br />evaluate salt tolerant emergent plant <br />potential to function as saline water <br /> <br />o to define the range of environmental and performance <br />criteria for emergent plant production so as to guide <br />preliminary engineering efforts as well as the search <br />for sites suitable for process implementation. <br /> <br />The STEP process is a pollution control technology. It is <br />designed to collect, make beneficial use of, and dispose of <br />Glenwood Springs saline outflows through the managed production <br />of salt tolerant plants having low water use efficiency. <br />Evapotranspiration of water produces a concentrated brine' <br />suitable for disposal. Concurrently, plant biomass is produced <br />that is suitable as a livestock feed, as well as a feedstock for <br />chemicals and materials manufacture. <br /> <br />7his provides Colorado with additional employment opportunities <br />and a diversified employment base. Prospects for growth and <br />expansion of the STEP pollution control technology are provided <br />as added incentitive to investors. The Colorado Basin benefits <br />!rom the reduced sali~ity of the river, and from the fact that <br />this technology is transferable for the treatment of other <br />problem saline sources. <br /> <br />vP~Three biological processes must function efficiently to maximize <br />no~Y the overall effectiveness of the STEP technology. First. the <br />~_ candidate plant must be able to grow and reproduce in the Grand <br />b.~ ~ Junction region in order to make beneficial use of Glenwood <br />O( \~ Sprlngs sallne water. To accomplish this. the plant must be <br />~~ able to photosynthesize efficiently in saline waters and produce <br />sufficient energy to maintain growth and salt balance. <br /> <br />Second, the plant needs to actively transpire against a high <br />salt concentration gradient within the soil. This will permit <br />salt concentrating to be accomplished by the plant at levels <br />that make brine transport and disposal more economical. <br /> <br />Third, the plant needs to continue to synthesize compounds that <br />are valuable to the nutrition of livestock and/or to chemicals <br />manufacture. This mandates that mechanisms must exist within <br />the plant to protect it from salt degradation. <br /> <br />Each of these is given careful consideration, comparing <br />biological capacities and characteristics recorded for salt <br /> <br />-xxx- <br />