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with sodium bicarbonate production initiated on February 25, 1991. Also an amendment <br />• (to update plan) was submitted to the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division <br />February 27, 1991. Sodium bicarbonate production was periodic through 1991. In 1992- <br />1994 on steam operations increased to meet growing market demands. In 1992, North <br />American Chemical Company (NACC) acquired 50°~ of NaTec's interest in the project <br />creating White River Nahcolite Minerals, Ltd. Liability Company (WRN). In 1995 NACC <br />acquired the remaining 50°~ and WRN is a wholly owned subsidiary of NACC. Process <br />and hydrology monitoring reports were submitted throughout 1995. Operations at WRN <br />were essentially continuous throughout 1995 to meet market demands. <br />2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AREA <br />2.1 Location and Regional Setting <br /> <br />The WRN sodium leases (4) are located in the Piceance Creek Basin, Rio Blanco County <br />of northwestern Colorado (see Figure 2-1). The sodium lease tracts are located between <br />Yellow Creek and Ryan Gulch approximately 41 miles from Meeker, Colorado and 55 <br />miles from Rifle, Colorado by automobile. The climate of the area is semi-arid, annual <br />precipitation averaging 11-13 inches. Precipitation generally occurs as snow from <br />November to March and as rain during the remainder of the year. The vegetation is <br />predominantly sagebrush, pinyon, Utah juniper, western wheatgrass and needle and <br />thread grass. <br />• 2 <br />