Louise - yes, that's my reading of the situation as well, supported by a statement about company history that when they were formed they bought the Moab and Wendover plant so that they could learn about that technology and apply it to "depleted" mines. Which is very savvy. Here is what they say on their website:
•Two potash facilities in Utah—the Moab Mine and the Wendover Facility. The Moab Mine uses solution mining methods to extract potash and has productive capacity to produce 100,000 tons of potash annually. The Wendover Facility collects potash from natural brines and has productive capacity to produce 100,000 tons of potash annually. Both of these facilities use low-cost solar evaporation to recover potash.
•Two development assets in Carlsbad, New Mexico—the HB Mine and the North Mine. The HB Mine is an idled potash mine that we are in the process of reopening as a solution mine. The North Mine is another idled underground potash mine that we may choose to reopen in the future and that already has in place mine shafts and much of the transportation and utility infrastructure required for operation.
I'd also emphasise that my earlier point about companies "walking all over you if you let them without meaning to" doesn't mean that I think that Intrepid are setting out to deliberately take advantage of the local community, the racers or to deliberately ruin the race surface. That's the last thing any reputable company would do. In my experience, it's usually the case that even companies who operate completely within their remit sometimes produce unintended negative consequences in other areas. Point those consequences out to them openly and fairly, explain the impact of what they are doing and they will usually, like Intrepid, do as much as they can to mitigate those effects. That's what the BLM and STS have done successfully with them until now. But - situations change and evolve and the fact is that apart from a reduced area around the International Course, the area now available to racers is unstable and unreliable. Whatever the cause or causes are, right now, many people are pointing the finger at Intrepid, so imo it is in their best interests not only to continue the existing program, but to push it right up their agenda (and do so more publicly) so that the effects of their operation are clearly understood and shared. Failure to do that risks negative publicity for them (particularly if the hard core environmentalists pile in uninvited) whether they are responsible for ruining the salt flats or not. That's not a threat, that imo is what could happen if the salt continues to disappear. Do all they can to publicly demonstrate that they are participating in ramped up urgent action to identify the root causes and then save the salt while at the same time continuing their operations and they'll be hailed as a progressive company who really do care about more than profit. That reputation could help them in future ventures elsewhere. Fail to do that and people will continue to paint them as the bad guys who "stole the salt".
Of course, it may be that changed weather conditions are the real cause, it's nothing to do with Intrepid and racing at Bonneville will simply be a thing of the past. Or it may be that conditions will improve and things will be back to where they were 20 years ago. But I guess that's not a risk worth taking so hats off to STS for all their efforts and all those who want to join with them to ramp up the program. I hope you find a way of working together and channelling all those ideas. If I lived that side of the water I'd certainly be offering to help.
Robin
