Deseret News | Great Salt Lake still eyed for oil rigs

Reader comments
Great Salt Lake still eyed for oil rigs

samhill | 7:33 a.m. Aug. 18, 2008

I hope they get the permit and that, if they do it safely and cleanly, extract HUGE amounts of oil from beneath the lake.

Viewed objectively, I see no intrinsic difference between the manmade disturbances exemplified by the "spiral jetty" and those of a drilling barge. In fact, since the barge will probably be there for a much shorter period of time, it would be the least offensive of the two.

Dave | 7:56 a.m. Aug. 18, 2008

We should not allow drilling as long as there is the slightest chance that a single brine shrimp may suffer emotional distress. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people who visit and play in the lake daily. We can purchase all the oil we need from foreign countries.

Mahonri | 10:30 a.m. Aug. 18, 2008

"Cultural artificts"? The bulldozed jetty is in no danger from oil rigs and drilling. The site 200 yards south of it had a number of oil rigs in the past. Oil still oozes to the surface every day.
If we can get the oil, drill there and through the floor of the State Capitol too. We need the gasoline.

Comments continue below

Art? | 1:36 p.m. Aug. 18, 2008

How is dirt bulldozed into a spiral shape art? It constantly amazes me what passes for art. I'd put the drillrig right in the middle of the spiral. That would be art!!

To Dave | 6:07 p.m. Aug. 18, 2008

I assume you are being sarcastic here...yes?

And to Mahonri, you say that oil oozes to the surface? Sounds like drilling for the oil and restricting it to pipes and pumps would actually improve the quality of the lake in that area.

I know there is oil out there. My husband work on an offshore rig 25+ years ago on the Great Salt Lake, and they found oil. It was just too thick to pump then. New technology should make it easier.

I personally have never heard of the Spiral Jetty until recently, as it relates to the oil drilling proposed there. Must not be too popular of an art object.

To those who oppose | 9:04 p.m. Aug. 18, 2008

I would question how many people have actually been to the lake?

Asphalt not gasoline | 12:14 p.m. Aug. 19, 2008

Read the article, the heavy oil will be used for more asphalt, not gasoline. More roads, thats just what we need.

To: Asphalt not gasoline | 3:16 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

You mean cheaper roads. That IS just what we need.

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