If you are opposed to Agrium mining phosphate on either side of Ashley Springs, then please write letters to the following entities:
We need as many letters of concern as possible to be sent.
1.
Utah
School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA)
675 East 500 South, Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT. 84102-2818
Address
your letters to Director Kevin Carter
and
also to the attention of William
Stokes, Mineral Specialist
2.
Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM)
P.O. Box 145801
Salt Lake City, UT. 84114-5801
Address
your letters to Director John Baza
and
also to the attention of Paul Baker, Minerals Program Director
3.
Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 144820
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4810
Address
your letters to Director Bryce Bird
Information and questions that may be helpful when considering
what to write:
1.
The School
Trust Lands Agrium is interested in mining are located on either side of Ashley
Springs, Vernal’s main water source.
2.
Ashley Springs supplies 80% of the water used by
Vernal residents and the water is of exceptional quality. Water from
Ashley Springs requires relatively
little treatment and is delivered by gravity flow. If Vernal should be
forced to replace it with water from Red
Fleet the quantity and quality of water available to Vernal residents
could
dramatically decrease. The price of treating our water would likely
double. Water bills would likely quadruple due to scarcity and
increased treatment, infrastructure, and pumping
costs.
3.
Toxic pollutants like selenium, radioactive isotopes, arsenic,
cadmium, copper, and lead are frequently found, in significant amounts, in association
with phosphate ore and can contaminate nearby water sources.
4.
Mining this area will result in the removal of
plants and soils protecting the watershed
for Ashley Springs. Disturbance
of the watershed has the potential to decrease the quantity and/or quality of water in Ashley Springs.
5.
Blasting may fracture, collapse, or otherwise
alter the limestone aquifer that delivers water to Ashley Springs, potentially decreasing
the water supply to the Springs and to local wells. Fractures from blasting may also allow
contaminants to find their way down into the Springs and into area wells. There is no way to know for sure how blasting
and removal of the overburden above the phosphate deposit will effect Vernal’s water supply.
6.
This proposed mine is very near residential
areas. Blasting associated with
phosphate mining can cause small earthquakes and can crack foundations of
nearby houses. Blasting can also vastly increase dust in the air and disturb wildlife and residents with
noise pollution.
7.
Access to the land in consideration is upon public
roads used to access private homes and lands administered by the US Forest
Service. These roads are not appropriate
for heavy truck traffic and would create hazards for families living nearby and for hunters, and
others using these roads to enter public lands.
8.
Vernal’s desirability as a place to live will be
diminished by a phosphate mine so close to town. Views
of the nearby mountains will be spoiled. A mine so close to residential
areas will significantly lower property values and may reduce the
potential for
growth in Vernal due to water shortages.
9.
What is the value of a pristine Spring that
supplies 80% of the water to a community the size of Vernal? Will a
reclamation bond for this amount be required of the Corporation that is
considering mining near Ashley
Springs? How can an aquifer be reclaimed
after it is destroyed or polluted with toxic substances?
Things to remember
when writing your letters:
1.
Write
your own letter. Do not copy and paste
from this email or from anyone else’s letter.
Only original letters in your own words have influence. These are just
ideas for you to consider. You don't have to be a great writer just
tell them your concerns and how you feel. Feel free to include concerns
you may have other than those listed above.
2.
Tell them who you are, where you live and why
this issue matters to YOU. Don’t worry
about trying to include every point.
Talk about what matters to you but don’t leave out the water issues. The potential harm to our water supply is our
strongest argument against the mine.
3.
Keep a copy of your letter. We (The Uintah County Water Source Protection
Working Group) would also like a copy of all the letters written for our records (if
you are willing). It is important for us to
document
everything in case there is
an eventual law suit or hearing of some sort. You can black out your
name and address if you feel the need to. You may email a copy to
uintahcountywaters@gmail.com or
send a hard copy to the Uintah County Water Source Protection Working
Group, c/o B. Durant at 7623 Mountain Dell Dr., Vernal, UT. 84078
