Pump all summer???

[Ron Gibson]

I am under the impression it was explained that the brine percolates into the lower layers where it is pumped from wells rather than the ditches. Racing salt goes away.

Ron

[bbarn]

My understanding is that the plan includes blocking off the drainage to the south. Apparently they aren't getting that much of their production from the race course area and it could be halted with minimum effect. I think that may have been part of the PRI presentation. If not it was in some of the more recent information that's been published.

Pete

I recall that as well from the PRI conversation. Getting the ditches closed stopped/slowed the flow of the surface and allowed for a retention pond to raise the saturation from 26 to 28% then over the dyke onto the surface.

[Milwaukee Midget]

My understanding is that the plan includes blocking off the drainage to the south. Apparently they aren't getting that much of their production from the race course area and it could be halted with minimum effect. I think that may have been part of the PRI presentation. If not it was in some of the more recent information that's been published.

Pete

Which brings to the fore a potential problem -

I understand Intrepid is looking at the possibility of backing away from their public leases, precisely because so little potash is being extracted from the race track side of the road.

IF they back away, I suspect they'll be disinclined to maintain pumping.

And they own the pumps . . . 

[Steve Cole]

My understanding is that the plan includes blocking off the drainage to the south. Apparently they aren't getting that much of their production from the race course area and it could be halted with minimum effect. I think that may have been part of the PRI presentation. If not it was in some of the more recent information that's been published.

Pete

Which brings to the fore a potential problem -

I understand Intrepid is looking at the possibility of backing away from their public leases, precisely because so little potash is being extracted from the race track side of the road.

IF they back away, I suspect they'll be disinclined to maintain pumping.

And they own the pumps . . . 

That's the real trouble spot. If Intrepid tries to back away, the government only has what they made them pay for the reclamation fee and I doubt that will cover too much. So its going to cost the tax payers no matter how you look at it, or its not going to get done. There is no short term fix and everyone needs to understand that, it is going to take years but the longer we wait the longer its going to take.

[bbarn]

Anyone know the amount of Intrepid's bond? That is all that there will be to fall back on if they abandon the station.

I said in a post a while back that there is a distinct possibility that the corporate structure would allow for them to close down operations and dissolve (no pun intended) the part of the corporation that holds the responsibility for reclamation at Wendover while the parent company continues to do what it does. Corporate lawyers are smart that way.

[Stan Back]

I hear the BLM's calling a big "summit" on May 17th.  Hope somebody has a plan by then that can be rejected, modified or implemented.