...Intrepid suddenly becomes a hero for forgoing profit to save the Bonneville Salt Flats!...
.....on its own website: www.save-the-salt.org. ....
Take the time to read this.
Sid.
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/salt_lake_fo/planning/documents.Par.17457.File.dat/Intrepid%20EA.pdf
Take the time to read this.
Sid.
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/salt_lake_fo/planning/documents.Par.17457.File.dat/Intrepid%20EA.pdf
The way I read it, we're screwed. All they have to do for reclamation is fill and level the ditches, plug the wells and remove the pumps. There is no reclamation plan in place.
Ron
Gentlemen, I have read the comments, but wonder where what we are to glean from any of them to move the conversation forward about reclamation? There are numerous, mulit-page documents that are associated with the mining leases, mining plan, EIS and EA"s. This single EA link is a not the full picture. Members of the Utah Alliance have been obtaining, reading, discussing and formulating a position statement that is intended to provide short- and long-term corrective actions based on hard science, engineering and racing observation and experiences.
I respectfully ask you avail yourselves of the many documents and images posted on www.save-the-salt.org before posting kneejerk commentary that helps nothing. None of you are "up to speed." the Alliance members are working many hours DAILY trying to achieve a level of good, solid knowledge so that we might effect serious, positive change.
We have one good shot at this with all the stakeholders and we need all of you to unify, to move towards a solidarity for the salt if for nothing else.
We MUST attack the the problem, NOT each other.
http://www.landspeedproductions.biz/timeline-for-bonneville-salt-flats-racing-mining-science-legislation.html
scroll down to 1914
Boys, with and without thin skin, the quote comes from railroad newspaper report not backed with any science. Understand that Jinx Vesco, Stuart Gosswein and I researched and wrote the very document you use to now berate us with.
To wit:
Chicago: “The Railway Age Gazette” pronounces “this natural racing-track is a level bed of salt, 98 % pure…
The salt-beds are 65 miles long and 8 miles wide. The estimated depth, in the middle, is 12 - 15 feet.”
Stainless, i am disappointed that you some others on this blog that want to attack members of the Utah Alliance personally. We have wanted to try and let the racers know a little more about our efforts to get the BLM to implement a reclamation program immediately. Some level of transparency has been lacking in past efforts as we all know. We decided to use landracing, Facebook along with our website to accomplish that purpose. however if the personal attacks continue we will drop landracing. The Alliance is under no obligation to talk to or share anything with anyone, we are doing it simply because we thought it was the right thing to do and the racers my like to know what's up. Think about....
By the way, have you made an effort to contact your congressmen as suggested on www.save-the-salt.org?
if you want to discuss this further, give me a call or send me an email. I am easy to find.
(date)
Re: Land Speed Racing at Bonneville Salt Flats
Dear Senator (or Congressman/woman) ______________
I am writing to you today to bring to your attention an issue that threatens the century old sport of land speed racing at Bonneville Salt Flats on the Utah/Nevada border in Wendover, Utah.
The condition of the salt flats has deteriorated to point that all five land speed races scheduled over four months this year and 2014 saw 3 of the 5 cancelled. This is a huge economic hit to the towns of Wendover, UT and West Wendover, NV.
The organizations that host the races work closely with the Bureau of Land Management to obtain permits to use the salt flats and to ensure that the racers and spectators adhere to strict environmental guidelines.
The degradation of this historic area is due in part to mining activity nearby. The mining companies, over decades have extracted potash by pumping brine from under the salt, resulting in a thinning of the salt crust. Weather has certainly played a part as well.
There are a number of cost-effective ‘fixes” that have been identified that will not inhibit the mining company’s operation. While the entire area is administered by the BLM, there is no plan in place to mandate ongoing reclamation or restoration.
I ask that you support our efforts to save the salt and restore the long-held history of land speed racing by mandating that the BLM immediately develop a plan to reclaim this wonderful national treasure, the Bonneville Salt Flats.
For additional information please contact the Utah Alliance to Save the Salt at www.save-the-salt.org.
Thank you.
(your name)
(address)
(city, state, zip)
(ph #)
(email address)
Mr. Gibson and all other frustrated, angry racers
If you wish to be sure about how aquifers "relate to the problem at hand = no salt" then I encourage you to spend time reading the volumes of documentation we have assembled for your review at: www.save-the-salt.org.
There you will learn:
~ that without properly recharged aquifers there can be no salt crust upon which to race.
~ how Intrepid Mining has been helping to restore the salt crust.
~ what is in play right now at federal, state and local levels to restore the Bonneville Salt Flats to safe racing conditions.
The Utah Alliance was formed in direct response to the lack of action and/or communication on the part of Save The Salt and the Save The Salt Coalition. Several of the people involved with both groups are now working diligently with the Utah Alliance to effect a robust reclamation plan.
We cannot and will not respond to everyone. We, the VOLUNTEER Utah Alliance members, as well as the salt, don't have that luxury of time.
The racing community must do its part and become informed to each person's individual degree of comfort, or you must trust us to work on your behalf that we all want the same thing - a safe raceway.
Know this: the most effective thing you can do RIGHT NOW, THIS WEEK, is to call or write to EACH ONE of your elected officials. We have made this easy by posting detailed instructions at:
http://www.save-the-salt.org/take-action/
If Stainless can do this, so can the rest of you. You will be amazed at the degree of positive impact such a collective effort by individuals racers can have.
See you on the salt.
Hey Stainless, thanks for the support! We collectively can make a difference. Hopefully others will follow your lead.
Roger Lessman
My windows 10 won't open the document on "save the salt" site. Says Word is opening in protected view, but nothing happens. Anyone help?
Ron
GREG MILLER - Director, Larry H Miller Family of Companies.
Let's see if this posts. Wayno
Let's see if this posts. Wayno
I see the governor's letter as very good news.
the nav bar apparently has limits on length/content. made some edits so it now is back on the main page.
Only 3% eh? The old fart cynic in me wonders where the the other 97% productivity is supposed to be coming from. My wanabe youthful optimistic view sure hopes it isn't from across I-80 on the South side...........
Ed
Here is some news regarding our Legislature doing something.
Let's hope there is more action than the usual "Har-ump, Har-ump!"
http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HCR008.html
Utah Alliance Save the Salt
January 29 at 12:21pm ·
The Utah Alliance has been notified that the "Bonneville Salt Flats Restoration Plan" completion has been delayed for approximately 6 weeks due to our engineer's busy schedule. But the good news is the annual pumping of salt brine from Intrepid's ponds back onto the flats north of I-80 has begun on time. While we wait for "The Plan" the UA will continue to consolidate our position and provide legislators both in Utah and Nevada with current as well as historical documents to help them fully understand the demise of the BSF and the BLM's role in that demise. My computer dictionary defines demise as: "the end or failure of an enterprise or institution." The institution of land speed racing is hanging by a thread and the BLM is responsible. They have failed to live up to their mandate to manage the BSF as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The damage can be reversed, the salt has not disappeared, but immediate action is necessary. Be prepared for a full court press in the coming months.
Yep, their engineers are busy all right. They are trying to engineer Bunkers and Dikes around all the Offices and Outpost's of Federal Land Management and/or under control of The Department of Interior nation wide.
Unfortunately I am afraid Our position on the Hot List at BLM offices has slipped below Self Defense Training for their Employees and may well be there for some time to come. The BLM is very proficient using "Stall Tactics" as they have proven time after time in the past in responding to inquiries and requests for information or actions.
Bob Drury
Interested parties will find an recently published, in-depth article "The Rape of Bonneville" by author and motorsports writer David Tremayne posted on the Save the Salt and Utah Alliance website. it was publilshed in the April 17, 2016 issue of Grand Prix Magazine in Europe.
http://www.savethesalt.org/
http://www.save-the-salt.org/
News Alert - May 5, 2016
Please see post: Department of Interior Bonneville Salt Flats Fairy Tale
on Save the Salt Coalition or Utah Alliance website links below
http://www.savethesalt.org/
http://www.save-the-salt.org/
Is there a liaison at Intrepid who would be willing to talk directly with us about our "simple solution"? Since we all know BLM and the Utah Alliance will take decades to make any form of decision, maybe working around them is the more appropriate solution? It would be good press for Intrepid to help save the salt, even if it simply means taking baby steps at this point. You have to assume someone there is reading this forum in attempt to stay one step ahead of us.
Unable to find any new press release dated 5/10/2016 on either site.
Mark;
Regarding your first paragraph- isn't that pretty much how the whole government works these days? The present political climate is based on many folks finally getting fed up with things as they are.
Regards, Neil Tucson, AZ
Neil,
Yes, I believe you are correct. The problem, as I see it, is that angry people continue to vote against their own self interest(s), electing representatives who are in bed with the ultra wealthy elites. Why does this happen? I wish I knew.
But, it is also important for me to note that many of the "angry Hippies" that were protesting at the '68 Democratic Convention with me, and wanted to ultimately "change the World", have somehow turned into a cadre of insult shouting, would be "hipsters". They want to build border fences, deport minorities, prevent immigration of those with religious beliefs that do not match theirs, and "Police the entire Globe". Using nuclear arms, if necessary . . . . . . . etc, etc, etc . . . . . We, as taxpayers, can not continue to fund these "burdens".
I can not fathom what has happened to my friends from high school and college. It is no surprise to me that the "Donald", "loves the under educated."
Louise, I sincerely apologize for this thread hi-jack and will say no more.
Respectfully,
Mark
work an elitist like you, looks down his nose at.
The WITCH OF BENCAZIE IS YOUR BITCH.
jl222
While the BLM acknowledged last summer that the salt crust was extremely thin or absent entirely from some areas of the salt flats, the agency's scientists have struggled to explain the crust's change and variability. The BLM has tapped the U. to study the salt flats, hoping to understand whether the crust's decline is the result of human activity or some complex but entirely natural cycle, as others have suggested.
The link below is a companion piece to Emma Penrod’s recent reports in the Salt Lake City Tribune.
We find the writer to be woefully ignorant of the situation and will be submitting a rebuttal. Interested parties might consider posting comments of their own.
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3915182-155/editorial-racers-can-wait-while-salt
Ok - I'm just the dumb Brit around here so I'll stick my head above the parapet. ... I'm still unsure if it adds anything at all to the debate other than to prove to other academics how clever those involved in this study are. A sort of geological one-upmanship. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh because I'm sure they are all nice people who enjoy their work but this just the sort of stuff either promoted by or seized on by those wanting to maintain the status quo or protect their own backsides.
Robin
Agree with all the above statements . . . . . .
The OPERATIVE QUESTION, Where did 3.5 feet of Halite thickness go to? remains unaddressed by the powers that be.
And that is just the way they want it to stay . . . . . . until EVERYTHING of value is EXTRACTED.
If you haven't already seen it, check out the new letter from the UA to the BLM. It's posted on the home page of this site.
Mike, with all due respect, Louise reported facts while You are countering with YOUR opinion as is nothing more than that. You seem to enjoy stirring the pot as much as helping Us out. We support You and Your business but We don't necessarily have to. Bobone suggestion don't, Bob. really don't care doing just fine without your business, and yes I mean that.
Back to what started this, the snow cat. IMHO it is a necessary evil. The problem lies with idiots getting stuck out on the salt. The snow cat driver provides a service and probably doesn't know where they should or shouldn't cross and shouldn't be criticized too harshly. If there are no cars to yank out he doesn't ever get on the salt. Look to the root cause to eliminate a problem.
problem now is that the salt is much more fragile than ever before
and even folks that are not idiots can get stuck
also folks that are simply not aware of the environment are going to
get out there from time to time and get stuck
folks running a rescue service with a vehicle that destroys fragile salt
would hopefully understand that tracks/courses that have been painstakingly prepped and dragged could be avoided
coming up with a good safe course isnt what it used to be, and mishaps are propagated
by trenches and soft spots etc
how many cars and possibly more so "two wheeled" machines having poor outcomes d/t bad sections will it take
decades of mismanagement has enabled what we have today
No skin off My Acura either Mike. It's a three hour round trip into Keystone Automotive and They Always Have It. With your "take it or leave it" attitude and Your constant dismissal of any evidence contrary to research by others (and Yes You were right about this Year so far but one thirty minute thunderstorm may change that at any time)Wow! you lost me acura, but anyway, its funny you should mention the Museum, Im doing that for Wendover, they need it, the Salt flats history needs to be told and what better place than in a Wendover Museum. But anyway that must be my pompous attitude breaking through, because everyone knows that I make one heck of a bed! Oh and by the way do you race, really havent even heard of you BOB.
but I wonder how much support You are losing for the Museum with Your pompous attitude. You have made Your bed, now You sleep in it.
Sincerely, Bob