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<br />.:> <br />J <br /> <br />As the agency responsible for leasing all federally-owned mineral resources, opportunities <br />occur for BLM and cooperating agencies to reduce saline water discharge from oil and gas <br />operations. Production water disposal requirements are outlined in "Notice to Lessees and <br />Operators of Federal and Indian Oil and Gas Operations". BLM has worked closely with the <br />New Mexico Oil Conservation Division to plug several orphan wells having no clear owner, and <br />BLM anticipates many more wells can be plugged under this industry-funded program. <br /> <br /> <br />relative salinity control priorities. Watershed rankings have been completed for Colorado and <br />Utah, are underway in Wyoming, and are planned in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. <br /> <br />BLM's approach to controlling salinity is to manage for proper land use to ensure healthy <br />ecological systems and processes. Proper objectives for rangeland, recreation, energy and <br />minerals management have the greatest potential for reducing salinity from public lands. <br /> <br />BLM Units Included in the Plan <br /> <br />RT.M Units ComDleted: Control of point sources (either flowing wells or springs) by the <br />BLM at varlous locations has reduced approximately 8,000 tons/yr of salt discharge, and <br />nonpoint source salinity control measures have been completed which control 2,800 tons/yr. <br /> <br />BLM Units Beinf ImDlemented: Flowing wells and springs continue to be controlled at <br />varlous locations. It is estimated that another 6,000 tons of salt reduction can be accomplished <br />at known point sources. <br /> <br />Implementation of salinity control activities is underway in Colorado at Milk/ Alkali, <br />Exclosure, and Baking Powder Basins. The Montrose District plans to revise its plans for <br />salinity control at Spring Creek Basin and Disappointment Valley. BLM and Reclamation have <br />developed a draft Interagency Agreement for work in the Grand Valley. Lower Wolf Creek and <br />Milk/Alkali are being maintained, and monitoring is underway at Lower Wolf, Elephant Skin <br />Wash and Mi1kI Alkali. <br /> <br />Utah's comprehensive planning for salinity control is completed at Sagers Wash and is <br />underway in the Vernal District portion of the Red Creek Basin. Implementation is underway <br />at Sagers Wash and Castle Peak-Parlette. <br /> <br />Monitoring at two climatological and 82 watershed sites is proceeding to support more <br />salinity control activities in the Richfield and Cedar City Districts, and the Vernal District's <br />Castle Peak Project. BLM is also engaged in a cooperative monitoring effort with Reclamation <br />at Sagers Wash, Utah. <br /> <br />The draft Muddy Creek-Ordersville watershed plan and ElS (BLM/SCS) is scheduled for <br />completion in 1993 and will establish implementation dates for this 1,700 tons/yr salt removal <br />effort (of which 1,390 tons/yr is BLM). The USDA portion would be funded under P.L. 566. <br /> <br />4-10 <br />