There is a movement within Uintah County to protect not only Ashley Springs, but all precious water sources, from pollution. The Uintah County Water Source Protection Coalition formed from an impromptu meeting on April 13, 2012 following an open house sponsored by Agrium at Western Park on April 4. Click here to read the article by the Vernal Express.
Agrium is one of the world's largest phosphate companies in the world. They have purchased the mineral rights from SITLA and have begun drilling test holes in the area between Taylor Mountain Road and Dry Fork Canyon Road. The total acreage of the mineral lease is a little over five square miles. This property sits over both sides of Ashley Creek which provides 80% of the water supply to Vernal City. Ashley Creek serves both water treatment plants within Uintah County.
Ashley Springs runs through a fragile limestone Karst system which could be adversely affected by drilling and mining practices. There are major concerns about the impact of phosphate mining in this area. There is substantial risk that blasting energy traveling downward will break up and dislodge rocks above and within the underground flow path. This could compact and obstruct the path resulting in reduced water flows from Ashley Springs. These impacts would be permanent and there would be no way to mitigate the damage.
Brad Grammar, the plant manager for the Central Utah Water Treatment Facility, stated that if something were to happen to this supply that pumping water from Red Fleet Reservoir would cost twice as much to treat and would double city water costs.
Concerns about phosphate mining in this area are not just a Dry Fork Canyon issue. Not only could mining affect the water supply for the Ashley Valley, there are safety hazards related to trucking phosphate through residential areas, damage to the roads, blasting consequences to housing foundations and damage to homes, pollution from dust and chemicals, loss of wildlife habitat and loss of recreational opportunities.
Currently the permit to drill from the Division of Oil, Gas and Miining has not yet been completed by Agrium, but they are drilling test holes. Agrium was deliberately vague about their plans during their open house, in spite of the fact that they displayed a five year plan in a powerpoint slide show. It is reasonable to believe that the Utah Phosphate Company, a shadow company of Agrium based out of Colorado, is moving to develop a phosphate mine as soon as possible.
Local levels of authority, the Uintah County Commissioners and the Vernal City Council, have stated that they are opposed to phosphate mining in this particular area. Although, they do support mining in other areas of the county, this particular location needs to be protected as a source of water for the Ashley Valley. The Division of Oil, Gas and Mining issues permits but does not monitor the site. The Department of Environmental Water Quality, Division of Drinking water, states that they do not have jurisdiction. The federal Environmental Protection Agency states that they have no jurisdiction because it is state land.
There are fingers pointing in a lot of directions without anyone claiming ultimate responsibility for protecting Ashley Springs. Therefore, it is up to residents of Uintah County to ensure that the County Commissioners and the Vernal City Council members do all they can to protect valuable water sources when they are threatened.
This website has been established as a central base of information for the Uintah County Water Source Protection Coalition. Anyone interested in receiving emails as information may contact:
uintahcountywaters(at)gmail.com
For an opportunity to write for this website, please contact uintahcountywaters(at)gmail.com and ask for permission. This site will be set up to facilitate multiple authors. All constructive comments will be welcomed.
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