C. Stephen Allred, assistant secretary of interior, land and minerals management, is expected to sign the EA soon, said BLM environmental coordinator Stephanie Howard.

One crucial aspect the EA will address — that of cultural resources at the site — was documented and addressed in the late 1970s.

The BLM also had a great deal of information already assembled on ways to deal with the estimated 1.2 million tons of "spent shale" that will be produced during the life of the project, according to Howard. The spent shale that becomes a byproduct of the retort process is chalky, and when wet it turns hard, but it is easily broken so it would not be useful as a cement. Thirty-eight acres on the 160-acre lease site in Uintah County have been identified as suitable for disposal of the spent shale, Howard said.

"If the spent shale is of such a quality that water getting into it will cause contaminants, then that area will be lined," she stated.

During the public comment period nine letters were submitted to the BLM and a total of 98 comments were included in those letters, Howard said.

Two main concerns dealt with air and water quality issues, Howard said. OSEC contracted with a third party to do the air quality modeling. Their findings were addressed and reviewed in the EA.

It's estimated that 172 million gallons of water — or an average of 220,000 gallons a day — will be needed over the life of the project, once it is up to full production, Howard said. Water will be taken from the White River.

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