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<br />Page 4 <br />On September 14, 1990, c:lanton met with Roger Day of NaTec, who informed us <br />that VRRA gave verbal approval to spud 26-90-5 on Sunday September 16, 1990. <br />The WRRA denies verbal aipproval. The District Office gives verbal to spud by <br />an APD approved September, 17, 1990. The drilling of 26-90-5 as planned by <br />NaTec in the APD involves a change of mine plan. This change creates a 1,000 <br />foot solution cavitie which differs from the 300 to 600 foot solution cavities <br />analized in the NaTec mine plan and EIS. A check with the EPA and MLRD shows <br />that both agencies were notified about the changed cavity length and MLRD <br />approved the change but EPA had not yet responded to NaTec. Ralph Costa <br />recommends approval of this change subject to the following conditions: <br />(1} The percentage recovery of sodium on a per acre basis must not exceed the <br />percentage recovery implied in the original mine plan. <br />(2) The company must suk~mit a revised mine plan which covers the change to <br />solution cavities of lengths up to 1,000 feet. <br />(3) After completion of hole 26-90-5 no further drilling will be approved <br />without an approved mine plan. <br />On September 28, 1990, CDO approved the sundry to finish well 26-88-1. This <br />well needed to be drilled deeper to intersect the Boies Bed. <br />On October 5, 1990, the District was faxed a copy of hole difficulties for 26- <br />90-5. NaTec kicked off of the original hole drilled to the top of the Boies <br />Bed and could not re-enter. Approval was given to use the new hole as the <br />hole to be cased with the condition that cement be brought up to the kick off <br />point when setting casing. NaTec requested that a 30 to 50 foot pillar be <br />left from the end of the aborted horizontal hole and the beginning of the <br />solution cavity. BLM has not approved at this time the 30 to 50 foot pillar. <br />We requested a detailed ~~ross section from the directional company and the <br />directional surveys in order to analize the situation. Ste also requested the <br />proof of cement placement and other data that supports the 30 to 50 foot <br />pillar. As of October 2:Z, 1990 we have not received this information. <br />On October 12, 1990, Roger Day of NaTec contacted Ralph Costa and requested <br />permission to lengthen horizontal hole 26-90-5 by 50 feet. Day said that the <br />horizontal survey package used to monitor the drilling process was 50 feet in <br />back of the bit. In our meeting of October 3, 1990 with NaTec, Day informed <br />us that the technology NaTec was using would place the survey package <br />immediately behind the drill bit. Day said that the survey information he had <br />so far showed that he was right on target but that he wanted to advance the <br />survey package up by 50 1`eet so that he would knox exactly where he xas. <br />Costa gave verbal approval saying that the drilling could proceed beyond hole <br />88-1 by exactly 50 feet. No mention of stipulations was made during the phone <br />conversation. After the phone conversation a letter was sent stipulating the <br />following: <br />(1) The 50 foot variance granted is solely for the purpose of adequately <br />surveying the initial cavity configuration and could not be used for the <br />removal of nahcolite. <br />(2) Under no circumstance shall solution mining begin beyond hole 88-1. - - <br />(3) All future variances shall be sent to the District Office in writing and <br />