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VERNAL, Utah (AP) -- The government has received thousands of comments, most of them identical, criticizing a natural gas project that would create 11 miles of new roads in Uintah County.
A company called Enduring Resources is proposing Rock House, a project with the potential of 55 gas wells as well as pipelines and well pads on state, federal and private land, about 40 miles south of Vernal.
"Approximately 11.2 miles of new roads would be constructed to access the proposed well pads, and if the associated wells go into production, approximately 9.7 miles of surface gas lines would be constructed along the proposed access roads," says an environmental assessment from the Bureau of Land Management.
A letter to the BLM was posted on the Web site of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, known as SUWA. The letter states that the development "would definitely have adverse impacts on the visual resources, the area's abundant natural quiet, and wildlife."
Kelly Buckner of the BLM's Vernal office said 32,975 comments were made by form letter created by the group, with the statements identical except for names and addresses.
"There was a second form letter that had 103 comments," he said.
The Natural Resources Defense Council and The Wilderness Society have joined SUWA in asking for a detailed environmental-impact statement. The project is a mile from the White River.
"The White River is one of these very special places in Utah that people feel passionate about," SUWA attorney Stephen Bloch said.
The state said the project has the "potential to produce significant emissions" that might affect air quality.
Buckner said he didn't know if the BLM would order a broader environmental review.
"The fact that these people have responded tells me that the ... process is working correctly," he said.
------ Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
