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2 <br />Solution mining of bedded and disseminated nahcolite <br />deposits will be accomplished by injecting heated and pressurized <br />water into a solution mining well in order to dissolve nahcolite, <br />then extracting the fluid from the same well as a nearly <br />saturated solution. Hence, the solution mining well is both an <br />injection and production well. Initially, three solution mining <br />wells may be operated concurrently; additional injection wells <br />will be added 'as required. <br />Each well will have an injection or mining interval <br />approximately 300 to 900 feet below the Dissolution Surface, <br />generally located from about 2,000 to 2,600 feet below ground <br />surface. A cavity with a height of the entire resource interval <br />(about 600 feet) and an ultimate diameter up to 225 feet could be <br />formed.' The solution cavities will be supported by undissolved <br />residual oil shale that constitutes about four fifths of the <br />original volume of the cavity material. The cavities are <br />expected to be structurally sound because only the sodium <br />minerals are removed; the oil shale matrix may remain nearly <br />intact and capable of resisting both wall and roof collapse. <br />The principal products that may be produced from nahcolite <br />(NaHCO3) are sodium carbonate (also called soda ash) and sodium <br />bicarbonate (also called baking soda). Soda ash is used in <br />several industrial processes including the manufacturing of <br />glass, various chemicals, pulp and paper, soaps and detergents, <br />water treatment products, cleaning preparations, and other <br />products. Sodium bicarbonate is used as a pollution control <br />agent (flue gas desulfurization and acid neutralization) and in <br />the manufacturing of food and flour, pharmaceuticals and <br />antacids, fire extinguishers, various household products, <br />laboratory reagents, and many other products. <br />EPA is hereby serving notice of intent to issue a Class III <br />UIC Area Permit to AmerAlia for the extraction of nahcolite by <br />use of a solution mining process. EPA has made a preliminary <br />determination to approve the permit application and by doing so, <br />it has determined that underground sources of drinking water <br />(USDWS) will be protected. <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br />Information submitted by the applicant, as well as the draft <br />permit prepared by EPA, are contained in the administrative <br />record for AmerAlia. This information is available for public <br />