No BLM decision yet on Utah potash site

Tooele, Utah — Mesa Exploration has appealed for support from Tooele County officials while awaiting word from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) about its plans to explore in the Utah desert for potash. Complications have occurred because Mesa has its eye on a site not far from the Donner Trail, which BLM officials say is considered a pristine area and an important resource that has to be considered. Mesa President and CEO Foster Wilson told Green Markets that while exploration plans wouldn’t interfere with the trail, it’s still not good enough for BLM. “We told them that we’d keep a mile away, but they want an unobstructed view with no human development,” Wilson claimed. “Sounds like a wilderness area to me, but they have not designated it as such and haven’t indicated what the policy is. We have been trying to get drill permits from the BLM for over a year. And now it looks as though they want to reject our project. They feel our drilling could lead to eventual mining and spoil the ‘experience and cultural value’ of the Donner trail, which crosses Pilot Valley. We had told the BLM from day one that we would not cross the trail or drill within 1/2 mile of it, but that’s not good enough for them, they basically want no development, period. We’ve spent a fair amount of money on this project, including $120,000 for state leases, which we will have to drop.” The BLM insisted, however, that it is still considering the application. Kevin Oliver, BLM west desert district manager, told Green Markets that no decision has been made to approve or deny the application. “We have had a mineral evaluation, and that report indicates prospecting would be necessary since we don’t know yet if there is a valuable resource. I can confirm that a segment of the California National Historic Trail does bisect the area and is a pristine and important resource that we have to consider.” The project would be similar to Intrepid Potash Inc.’s Wendover operation, which is not far away. Wilson claims it could possibly add 40 to 50 new jobs, plus royalty revenue, to the U.S. government and state.