GENERAL50647

• Permit No: M1983194
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 8/5/1987
• Doc Name: MEMORANDUM-WOLF RIDGE CORP MINE PLAN FOR A NAHCOLITE SOLUTION MINE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
• From: DIV OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• To: EIS REVIEWERS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

1. SUMMARY
of the base of the lower aquifer in contact with saline minerals
would increase by approximately 20 percent within the lease
tracts.
The resources descn'bed as being affected under the No
Action Alternative, io most cases, would be impacted to
a greater degree under this alternative because of the longer
(34year) project life. In addition, mined out cavities and
potential subsidence a~uld complicate future oil and gas
drilling within the sodium weU field. Potential surface
subsidence of less than 1 foot would also occur. However,
Done of these impacts would be significant if the identified
mitigation measures are employed (Appendix C).
1.2.3 50,000 TPY Alternative
This alternative would involve construction and operation
of a 30-year solution mice producing 50,000 tpy of sodium
bicarbonate, it would essentially be an expansion of the
2-year pilot project to a 30-year commercal facility. It would
involve similar, but less expansion than described under the
Proposed Action, except the access road would not be paved
and the Lacy Station warehouse/rail loading facility would
not be built. Approximately 90 acres of additional land
would be associated with expansion of the weU field.
Additional evaporation ponds would be required, affecting
approximately 10 acres.
The only potentially significant impacts associated with
this alternative would be to local groundwater quantity and
quality. There would be a 2.0 percent reduction in average
daily flow from Yellow Creek. This would be mitigated
through a state required water augmentation plan. The base
of the lower aquifer, in contact with saline minerals, would
increase by approximately 10 percent within the lease tracts.
Other resource impacts would be similar, although greater
than those addressed under the No Action Alternative,
because of the 30-year project life. Potential surface
subsidence of less than 1 toot would also occur under this
alternative.
1.2.4 500,000 TPY Alternative
This alternative would involve construction and operation
of a 30-year solution mine producing 500,0()0 tpy of sodium
bicarbonate. It would involve: substantial expansion of the
approved pilot project well field and plant site (affecting
up to 818 additional acres), additional evaporation ponds
(affecting up to 88 additional acres), a commercial
transmission power line into the plant site, bulk product
loading and handling facilities on-site and at Lacy Station,
and acoal-fired generator and associated facilities.
Impacts to all resources would be greatest under [his
alternative. Potentially significant impacts would occur to
air quality, groundwater quantity and quality, cultural
resources, and riparian-wetland habitat along Yellow Creek.
The environmentally preferred alternative is the No Action
Alternative. BLM's preferred alternative is the Proposed
Action.
1.3 Major Issues/Controversies
The draft EIS lists a number of major issues that were
identified as the result of the scopiog process (Section 1.4,
page 1-2). A number of these issues have received additional
scrutiny as the result of an appeal by WRC of two stipulations
contained in BLM's May 2, 1986, approval of their pilot-
scale project (Phase II) mine plan. These stipulations, which
were developed by BLM primarily through analysis of the
pilot project in an environmental assessment (EA No. CO-
017-86-07), were applied to minimize and/or alleviate
potential environmental impacts related to WRC's proposed
well completion and abandonment procedures, The two
contested stipulations, which are found in the draft EIS,
page 2-13, Section 2.3.1.7.3, read as follows:
1. The annulus between the weU bore and the 8 5/8-
inch well casing will be idled with cement from the
bottom of the hole to the top of the A-groove.
2. A "Notice of Intent to Abandon" will be submitted
by the designated operator/lessee to the authorized
officer prior to abandonment of any well developed
within this project. The notice will contain an "as-
built" diagram of the weU and will describe any changes
from the approved abandonment/plugging procedures.
The authorized officer will review and approve or
approve with modifications the notice within IS
calendar days of receipt. No special form for this notice
is required, As a minimum, the following plugs will
be required: (l) a steel bridge plug will be pktced at
the base of the production casing; (2) 50 feet of cement
will be placed above this plug; (3) a cement plug will
be placed SO feet below the Mahogany Zooe through
to 50 feet above the production casing smb; and (4)
65 feet of the cement will be placeA at the surface.
The intervals between the cement plugs will be filled
with 9 pound/gallon or heavier drilling mud. Other
cement plugs may be required, based on analysis of
the cement bond logs and the temperature survey log.
WRC appealed these two stipulations, arguing they were
unreasonable and unwartanted given the nature and degree
of impact anticipated from the pilot project. The major points
raised in the appeal were:
l-2