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7 <br />. 0-1000 <br />ENGINEERING <br />P O BO% 3300] <br />BUILDING 4], DENVER FEDERAL CFNTER <br />DENVFR.COLORAD080:35do0T <br />Mr. R111y Frank, Protect Coordinator <br />Bureau of land Management <br />Nhite River Resource Area <br />PD Box 928 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />Oear Mr. Frank: <br />(enclosure) with Yolf Ridge Corporation representatives. githough the <br />proposed rater supply has been adequately described for purposes of the <br />EI5, ft should be at least acknowledge0 that a1[ernntive supplies may be <br />considered to conserve freshwater sources. <br />SEP f 9 19Ai; Finally, re note that the proposed solution mine caultl produce from <br />50,000 to 500,000 tons per year of nahcolite. Even 1f brine leakage <br />from mine cavities, process fac111t 1es, and from other sources could be <br />held to 30 percent; S,000~to 50,000 tons of new salts is every signifi- <br />cant potential source of salt loading to the Colorado River. As such, <br />we can only emphasize the importance of the proposed ground-water moni- <br />toring wells and intensl v! surface water monitoring. Additional <br />controls or mitigation measures may have to be considered if monitoring <br />reveals any new salt loading to the river system. <br />This office has reviewed the Draft Environmental irpact Statement far <br />the Rolf Ridge Corporation Mtne Plan for a Nahcollte Soluttmn M1ne <br />(July 1986). Our review vas focused primarily an the potential Impacts <br />on the Colorado River system, particularly sai lniiy. Yhf le the use of <br />219 to 875 acre-feet Der year Of rater for the Drolect is considered <br />minuscule in terms of depletions one salinity fwpacts, the basic water <br />resource and quality aspects must be examined in larger context. <br />N <br />0o In order to obtain cumulative rater depletions, the Rolf Ridge Ml ne <br />estimates must be added to the following oil shale depletions for the <br />Plceance Bas1n: <br />Federal Tracts C-a P 33,000 barrela per day 6,200 acre/ft/year <br />L-b P 14,000 barrels per day 2,263 acre/ft/year <br />Private Oeveloplnent Total P 194,000 barrels Der day 38,865 acre/ft/year I 57 <br />(Exxon, Union, <br />Chevron, and <br />Paci(1c Shale) <br />TAUS, the cumulative total depletions for the area (including <br />Yolf 0.1dge) could total more than 48,000 acre/ft/year of <br />Lolarado River Yater or ground-water sources which supD1Y [he <br />Colorado River. <br />This office has commented on all the oil shale IEIS) drafts vith a con- <br />sistent suggestion that a sign if scant portion of this total voter <br />reou irement could be met with [he use of saline eater from nearby <br />sources such es Glemlood-DOtsero Springs. <br />In fact, we have recently completed an in-house study vAfch exmalned the <br />potential for use of saline water in the solut tan mining industry, end <br />ve think the concept has merit. Please share our study findings <br />7 <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />Enclosure <br />Sincerely yours, <br />Al 0.. Jonez, Chief <br />Colorado 0.1rer Mater Oualtty Office <br />57 <br />27, <br />56 <br />