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By J. R. Stone, J. T. Roy

ASARC09s continuous tapper for lead blast furnace is described. Its use throughout the company's plants has resulted in higher production rates, lower labor costs, and better working conditions. It has also permitted wide latitude in blast pressures, as well as in charge and slag compositions. The practice of tapping a lead blast furnace has remained essentially unchanged for many years. In principle, it is a batch operation discharging the products from the continuous smelting of lead-bearing materials. As such, it imposes certain restrictions on the proper functioning of the smelting operation. First, it calls for a highly developed sense of timing, and a considerable amount of physical effort on the part of the operator. Dirty and hot working conditions, as well as the hazards of flying metal and slag, usually prevail. These conditions have resulted in higher labor costs, both in rate and in amount. Labor turnover has also been high. Secondly, rigid control of mechanical and metallurgical factors must be maintained. Frequent oxygen lancing of the tap hole is needed to permit tapping, thereby increasing operating costs. Rapid increases in smelting rate, plugged tap holes, or forgetfulness on the part of the operator may permit the molten material to rise above the tuyeies and freeze the furnace. Also, the operator will often blow out the tap hole after draining, filling the area with fume. Composition of charge also vitally affects the tapping. The type of lead-bearing material being smelted will naturally affect the smelting rate, and thus the frequency of tapping. The amounts and types of fluxing materials, which determine the ultimate fluidity of the slag, must be regidly controlled. Finally, the batch tapping of a continuous smelting operation of this type appears to be wrong in principle. The molten material drains into the crucible at the bottom of the furnace where it starts cooling immediately and continues to cool until tapped out. While keeping the lead molten is no particular problem, maintaining a fluid slag at all times is often difficult, and sometimes impossible. These factors all point to the desirability of a method for the continuous tapping of a lead blast furnace. The expected advantages would be more desirable working conditions, lower labor costs, increased production, and a much wider latitude in both blast pressure and charge composition. CONTINUOUS TAPPING Historical. A number of devices, e.g., mechanical tappers, siphons, and lead wells, have been tried in the past in attempting to effect continuous tapping. None proved to be entirely satisfactory for tapping lead and slag simultaneously. It was not until 1955, however, that ASARCO designed and put into operation a successful tapping unit at its East Helena, Mont. lead smelter. This unit is described in detail in U.S. Patent NO. 2,890,951. Continuous Tapping Unit—See Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of the unit in place, showing front and side views. The component parts are identified in the caption. Fig. 2 is an actual photograph, front view, of the tapping unit attached to the base of the blast furnace. Operation. The operation of the tapping unit is quite simple. Essentially it consists of a narrow tapping bay surrounding the furnace tap hole, with a deep notch in the front wall. When the blast furnace is started this notch is open down to the level of the tap hole. Starting the furnace may be accomplished in several ways but the most satisfactory method is to plug the tap hole with clay, permitting metal and slag to build up inside the furnace. Before the liquid reaches the tuyeres, the plug is removed and the furnace is drained to the settler. The blast is then stopped momentarily while the notch in the front wall of the tapping bay is dammed with chrome brick and plastic chrome ore. The blast is again started, and the height of the dam is adjusted so that the liquid in the bay will counterbalance the internal pressure of the furnace. When the desired level is reached the slag and metal will overflow to the settler. It should be noted that the molten material ,is not siphoned from the furnace and that the metal 'acts as a liquid valve controlling the flow of slag through the tap hole. During normal operations the tapping bay is filled primarily with lead, covered with a thin layer of slag. Thus, the heavier lead plays the major role in compensating for variations in furnace pressures. Due to the high specific gravity of lead, changes in the liquid level in the tapping bay will never exceed a few inches. For this reason it is seldom necessary to change the height of the dam due to minor variations in operating conditions. Some turbulence of the liquid in the bay is essential at all times. This indicates that the level of the

Jan 1, 1963

By Sherwin F. Kelly

Twenty five years of exploration has shown that the "geophysical dollar" is worth $1780 in the Orange Free State, $1488 on the Witwatersrand, $85 in Sweden, $28,000 in the Transvaal and $3500 or more in the U.S.

Jan 6, 1951

By B. Wilshire, P. W. Davis

It has been shown that grain-boundary migration during high-temperature creep can reduce or even prevent the formation of intercrystalline voids, giving a considerable increase in ductility.' A similar observation has been made in a recent investigation of the creep properties of various grades of nickel and nickel alloys. The results can be illustrated by the observations made on: a) Pure vacuum-cast nickel (99.993 pct Ni) b) Impure vacuum-cast nickel (99.97 pct Ni) c) Pure nickel containing internal voids (produced by a process of intering). d) A substitutional solid solution alloy of pure nickel containing 1.16 pct Sn. All the materials were given a high-temperature anneal (>850°C) to produce a stable grain size of 7 to 10 grains per linear mm. The apparatus and techniques used to obtain the present results have been described elsewhere.' In this series, grain growth was observed only in the highest-purity, vacuum-cast metal. Thus we may consider that in the other materials grain-boundary migration was prevented by either preexisting voids or solute atoms. The effect of migration on the creep ductility of the above materials can be seen from Fig. 1, which

Jan 1, 1962

By L. F. Bishop

THE ore bodies of the Butte district1 are found in many different vein systems having many different structural characteristics; some are narrow with self-supporting ore but with weak walls; some are wide with weak or strong ore and weak walls; some of the veins dip steeply and others do not; some have well defined walls, and others, in the "horsetail" area, are mined to sample limits. Consequently, many types of stoping methods are used in mining these ores. The stoping methods used in the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's properties are the square-set and cut-and-fill. The square-set method is the principal stoping method used because, generally speaking, the ore and walls are weak, the ore is high grade, and good extraction is required. These square-set stopes may be classified as conventional, vertical slice, slot, timber rill, and Mitchell slice types. The conventional type square-sets are those of various shapes and sizes, mined by horizontal slicing to the boundaries of the stopes. The rock is slid to the chute and the filling is moved by gravity. The ore and waste may be handled with a scraper when local conditions require it. The vertical-slice square-set system is the type used in narrow veins that are mined in vertical panels. The slot stopes are stopes in wide veins that employ a slot across the vein instead of a con- ventional chute to handle the ore. The timber rill fs a type of square set in which the ore is mined as in inclined cut and fill but the square-set timber is used. The Mitchell slice is the type used for some broken or heavy ore blocks, or for pillar extraction between two converging slot stopes. The cut-and-fill method is used where the ore will stand without much support although the walls may be weak. The principal type of this method is the horizontal cut-and-fill, with mechanical scraping. The inclined cut-and-fill, or rill, stopes are used in some veins too narrow for scraping. The production from the various meth: ods in use for the second six months of 1944 are shown in Table I. [ ] This paper deals mainly with the vertical slice and slot types of square-set stoping, because of their effect on production locally and their potential possibilities here and in other districts, with sufficient reference to conventional square-setting for comparison.

Jan 1, 1945

By AIME AIME

Change of Meeting from Birmingham to Chattanooga. In consequence of the disturbed conditions attending a long¬continued labor strike in Alabama, the meeting of the Institute was changed from Birmingham, Ala., to Chattanooga, Tenn., where it will. begin on Thursday evening, Oct. 1, 1908. Information. of this change bad been sent to the newspapers through the Associated Press, and by circular to all members, when news was received of the sudden and unexpected termination of the strike referred to. It was, unfortunately, too late to change once more the arrangements for the meeting. But it is hoped that the cordial invitation of the citizens of ,Birmingham may be renewed and accepted at a future time, not too remote. Office Facilities for Visiting Members. A separate room in the suite occupied by the American Institute of Mining Engineers on the ninth floor of the United Engineering Society Building, has been equipped with furniture and telephone extension for the temporary use of members of the Institute or of sister societies, or visitors suitably accredited. Members of the Institute visiting New York for a short time, who need office facilities during their stay, or members residing in the city. who need temporary office accommodation, can arrange to have set apart for their exclusive use a room, equipped with office furniture, telephone, etc.,. in the suite of the Institute. It is not the intention to give possession of the room to any individual for an indefinite time, but to offer to members of the Institute an opportunity to acquire a well-located, well-equipped business headquarters to carry on transactions which

Jan 9, 1908

By P. B. Baxendell

The appraial of producing properties and profitability ntzalysis of a proposed capital expenditure are based on the same principles. In both problems a projection of future cash income is. cornpared to one or more capital expenditures. Several different methods have been in use either to compute a price to obtain a given earning power on the investment or to compute the earning power which will result from a given capital expenditure. One of these, the "Average Annual Rate of Return" method, computes in a simple manner the ratio of the present value of the future earnings after amortization to the present value of the undepreciated balances of the investment over the life of a project. This method, not well known generally, appears to have some rather unique advantages in reducing the computation work required, eliminating trial-and-error solutions, and providing a more accurate answer when applied to oil industry investments subject to the unit-of-production basis of amortization. Its derivation is given and its versatility demonstrated in the solution of certain everyday investment problems. A number of charts, useful in applying this method to profitability analysis and appraisal work, are provided. The current trend in the market values of producing properties is shown. INTRODUCTION Making sound capital expenditure decisions requires an objective means of measuring the productivity of individual investment proposals. Since the best measure of the economic worth of such proposals is their ability to produce profits, it is common practice to grade proposed capital expenditures according to their annual earning power as a percentage of the outstanding capital. The same principles which govern the determination of the rate of return of proposed capital expenditures also apply generally to the problem of determining the appraisal value or purchase price of income-producing oil and gas properties. Both problems are of prime importance in the producing phase of the oil business, where management is faced daily with decisions to drill or not to drill certain development wells, or with the determination of the appraisal value of producing properties. The common feature in both problems is that a projection of future cash income is compared with a known or estimated capital investment to determine itsiearning power or annual rate of return. In the case of development drilling, the cost of the proposed well can usually be estimated with a fair degree of accuracy and the problem consists of finding the rate of return on the invested capital. In the case of appraising producing properties, on the other hand, the desired rate of return is usually known in advance and the problem consists of determining the purchase price which, for the given income projection, results in the fequired rate of return. Certain accounting procedures common to the oil and gas producing business make these two problems and their solutions somewhat different from corresponding problems in other industries, and, in certain ways, simpler. The main difference is in the amortization policy which, for oil and gas production, is frequently on a unit-of-production basis, compared to the amortization on a time basis used in many other industries. The purpose of this paper is to discuss briefly the various methods currently in use for the measurement of productivity of invested capital in producing properties and, in more detail, the derivation and application of what will be called the "Average Annual Rate of Return Method". This rather interesting and not too well known method has some very definite advantages in the solution of many problems common to the oil industry. For the sake of simplicity, federal income tax considerations have been disregarded in the examples used, since they do not affect the principles involved. The use of the production payment route in the sale or purchase of producing properties, which has been amply covered in many other publications, has also not been included in this analysis. METHODS FOK MEASUKING THE EARNING POWER OF INVESTED CAPITAL, Of the many different methods used to measure the earning power of invested capital, four are applicable to oil or gas production ventures. Depending on whether these four methods utilize one or two interest rates, and whether a fixed amortization pattern is used, they may be classified as follows.

By F. A. Olson, S. L. Pohlman

A unique method of measuring weight loss as a function 3 of time, with a sensitivity of 10-5 grams, while leaching copper minerals with a flowing acid leach solution has been developed. Kinetic results obtained coupled with visual and microprobe analyses show topochemical reaction for the leaching of chrysocolla with sulfuric acid. The kinetics follow a shrinking core model and show ion diffusion through a product layer, chemical reaction at the unreacted core interface and mass transfer through the boundary layer as being important.

Jan 1, 1974

By Wm. A. Haven

ON the northern part of the globe, almost since the earliest days of mankind's history. ironmaking has been practiced in one form or another. Some investigators question the generally accepted belief that copper and bronze were in earlier general use than iron, explaining the greater age and abundance of copper relics by their greater resistance to natural oxidation. However, the occurrence of copper in its natural state and its greater ease of reduction from the simpler copper minerals is a strong argument that the making and use of copper came first. Nevertheless, good evidence exists that ironmaking was practiced in ancient India and China, as well as in ancient European countries. Some interesting vestiges of those early operations still survive and have a place, in the background at least, of a discussion of modern blast-furnace practice.

Jan 1, 1940

Executive A R LEDOUX, Chairman ARTHUR S DWIGHT CHARLES F RAND E P MATHEWSON J V W REYNDERS Membership E DEGOLYER, Chairman W Y WESTERVELT, Vice-chairman WILLIAM H BASSETT H G MOULTON C MINOT WELD Finance WALTER H ALDRIDGE, Chairman GEORGE D BARRON GALEN H CLEVENGER Library GEORGE C STONE,' Chairman JOHN H JANEWAY ALEXANDER C HUMPHREYS, ROBERT LINTON FREDERICK F SHARPLESS

Jan 1, 1923

Jan 1, 1967

By E. Hornbogen

The deformation mechanisms of a iron-phosphorus alloys were compared at 20oand —196°C. Alloying with phosphorus increases the resistance to slip, but has little effect on the resistance to twinning. The stress for onset of twinning is nearly independent of temperature, but there is an increasing tendency for cleavage along (112) twin boundaries with decreasing temperature and increasing phosphorus content. FIVE iron-phosphorus alloys and one high-purity iron (0.004 pct C, 0.004 pct N, 0.05 pct O) were vacuum melted and cast, then homogenized for 6 hr at 1100oC and water-quenched. Single crystals were cleaved from the coarse grains produced in this manner. The hardness was measured* on polished (100) surfaces of the crystals at 20" and -196°C. Laue back-reflection patterns indicated a deviation of not more than 3 deg from coincidence of the {100} plane with the surface. The deformation mechanisms were studied by relief effects on the polished surfaces. Yield points in compression (0.5 pct offset) were measured with polycrystalline material. At 20°C the addition of phosphorus to a iron leads to a change from slip to twinning as the main deformation mechanism, Figs. 1(a), (b). Between 2 and 4 at. pct P slip and twinning occur simultaneously. In alloys with more than 4 at. pct P twinning is the main deformation mechanism and slip was observed only in the neighborhood of twin intersections. All cracks at 20oC were on (100) planes, some initiated by twins.' From measurements made at-196oC, hardness and yield points of all the alloys were nearly constant and the same as the hardness of high phosphorus alloys that deformed by twinning at 20°C, Figs. 2 and 3. In the high-purity iron, plastic deformation at -196°C occurred by both slip and twinning, but deformation in the iron-phosphorus alloys appeared to be entirely by twinning. In the high phosphorus alloys a large number of cracks formed along the (112) twin boundaries and at intersections of twins, in addition to the (100) cleavage, Fig. 1(c). DISCUSSION In , iron, plastic deformation can occur either by slip or by twinning, depending upon composition,

Jan 1, 1961

Jan 1, 1966

By J. B. Dyess

TARNISH films on some of the common metals (particularly on copper and silver) have been of much scientific and commercial concern for a long time, but before the development of the electrical method1 of measuring film thicknesses there was no satisfactory quantitative approach by which to study the separate parts of these complex films. This method has been adapted to the measurement of duplex (cuprous-cupric) oxide films on copper .2 In the present work it has been used to measure tarnish films on copper when they were mixtures of cuprous oxide and cuprous sulphide, and also when they contained cuprous oxide, cupric oxide and cuprous sulphide, each component part being measured at a different potential value. Oxide-coated copper specimens, prepared by heating copper in air at chosen temperatures for given periods, were exposed to moist hydrogen. sulphide in air to form the various oxide-sulphide films studied. The comparative resistances afforded by (1) different thicknesses of oxide films, and also (2) equal thicknesses of oxide and sulphide films, against severe attacks of hydrogen sulphide were measured. The electrical method requires that the time be observed for the cathodic reduction of each part of the film substance, and these respective time values multiplied by the constant current give the corresponding quantities of electricity expended. Then each millicoulomb per square centimeter represents a film thickness of T= MX10 8 2D X 96,494 X 103 (a) where M is weight of oxide (or sulphide) giving one gram-atom of oxygen (or sulphur) for cathodic reduction, D is density of the oxide (or sulphide) and t is the thickness in Angström units per millicoulomb per square centimeter. The value of t for cuprous sulphide (cubical) is 14.27, and is obtained by substituting 5.78 for D and 159.20 for M in equation a. Previous values2 of t for cuprous and cupric oxides (12.36 and 6.39, respectively) were used in the present work.

Jan 1, 1939

By B. N. Das, P. A. Beck

THE o phases have a complex tetragonal structure with Lo/ao = 0.52 and 30 atoms per unit cell.1 A large number of such phases are now known to occur in various binary systems of the transition elements and they exhibit the following typical features: 2,3 The composition of binary o phases is variable, ranging from approximately A4B to ABI. With only a few exceptions, in the o phases the A-ele-ment comes from the V- or Cr- group of the periodic table, while the B-elements are from the Mn-, Fe-, Co-, or Ni- group. In the first long period the corresponding o phases of the V- and Cr-series have approximately the same compositions. However, as the B-element changes from Mn to Fe to Co to Ni, the mean composition shifts monotonously toward higher A-contents.2-4 For example, if the mean compositions of the various o phases with vanadium are compared with each other, the composition shift mentioned above becomes plainly visible: V 30Mn0 80 Vo.45Feo..,, Vo .,Coo. 45 and Vo.5Nio.3. Similiar composition shifts, although not the same composition values, were observed in u phases formed by second and by third long-period transition elements.3'4 This behavior, very characteristic of o phases, is in rather sharp contrast to the usually quite well-behaved stoichi-ometry of the Laves phases. In the latter, the AB2 stoichiometry predominates, with A the large atom and B the small atom.= The p phase occurs in the four binary systems of Mo or W with Fe or Co. On the basis of their crystal structure determination, Arnfelt and westgren6 ascribed to the p phase in the Co-W system the ideal composition W,Co7. Since all four binary pphases have nearly the same composition, it would seem quite plausible that some definite stoichiometry such as A6B7, might be characteristic of this phase, as AB2 is of the Laves phases. On the other hand, it has been noted,7 that the phases occur at average electron concentrations near to those at which the various cr phases are found. Also, it has been pointed out by Shoemaker and associates8 that structurally the a phases and the p phases are somewhat related to each other; both of these structures may be described in terms of suitable stackings of quasi-hexagonal layers'of atoms. By studying a suitably chosen ter- nary phase diagram, one might expect to be able to find out which one of the two conditions, the analogy with the o phase or the constant ratio between the number of large atoms and the number of small atoms in effect governs the behavior of the p phase. Several isothermal sections of ternary systems containing o phases have been investigated. In all cases where two binary o phases occur, these were found to be connected b a more or less straight ternary o phase field.7' '10 Such elongated o phase fields were also found in ternary systems in which only one of the limiting binaries is known to contain o phase. In this manner a latent o forming tendency could be detected and the virtual composition of a "binary o phase", which does not actually occur as such was approximately determined by extrapolation. The behavior of the phases, including their composition shift, is analogous to that of the classical electron compounds, as described by Hume-Rothery.11 In order to decide whether the p phase is essentially a "size compound" like the Laves phases, where a fixed stoichiometric ratio is quite generally maintained between the "large atoms" and the "small atoms", or whether the p phase is typically an "electron compound" in the same sense as ois, it was decided to investigate an isothermal section of the Mo-Mn-Co system. The Mo-Co system12 and the Mo-Mn system13 each are known to have a binary o phase. It could be therefore expected that a ternary o phase field will connect these two binary cr-phase fields. The p phase is known to occur in the Mo-Co system. If the p phase should turn out to form an elongated phase field extending deep into the ternary system, the following considerations mighto apply. The atomic radius of manganese (1.314for C.N.12) is between the va,lues for Mo (1.40Afor C.N.12) and for Co (1.26Afor C.N.12). If it is assumed that p is a "size compound", and that Mn is substituting for the smaller Co atoms in the p-structure in the ternary system, the y-phase field might be expected to extend parallel to the Mn-Co binary line. If Mn is substituting for the large Mo atoms in the p-structure, the p-phase field may be expected to extend parallel to the Mn-Mo binary line. On the other hand, if the p-phase turns out to be an "electron compound" like o, the ternary p-phase field should extend parallel to the ternary o -phase field connecting (Mo,Mn)owith (Mo, Co) a

Jan 1, 1961

Jan 1, 1971

By A. M. Gaudin

This year the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers has chosen to give me its Robert H. Richards Award, a distinction which is widely regarded as the highest honor in the field of mineral engineering. I am deeply moved by this tribute, which suggests not only regard for my service to the profession but also the affectionate esteem of my fellow mineral engineers. You have made me happy at the prospect of the permanent association of my name with that of Robert Hallowell Richards and of the distinguished recipients of the award, Arthur Fay Taggart, Frank R. Milliken, John F. Myers, Edward William Englemann, C. Harry Benedict, Edward W. Davis and Arthur W. Fahrenwald. I wish to thank you all for an honor so generously bestowed. Professor Richards is known to us all as a legendary figure, and we can read about him in the Richards Memorial Volume of our Transactions. Some of us have even had the good fortune of knowing him. I count myself among those lucky few. In its intangible attributes the Award recalls those things for which Professor Richards stood: for Science in Art, for thoroughness, for meticulous accuracy, for bold imaginativeness, most of all for professional integrity. Now, as in his day, these attributes are central to an engineer's creed. They are appropriately needed in a formulation of a definition of the mineral engineering profession.

Jan 6, 1957

Preheating Feature of Leyner Oil Furnace for Heating Drill Steel The No. 3 Leyner oil-burning furnace, used for heating drill steel, is now made with a preheating chamber. By this addition it is claimed that the heating capacity and, effeciency of the furnace are increased about 50 per cent. This preheater is a section which fits between the body and cover of the furnace of the old design. It may be attached to an old furnace by simply changing a few bolts. Referring to the illustration, it will be seen that the lower chamber is used for the final heating and the upper one for preheating. The type of burner now furnished with this furnace is suitable for either high- or low-pressure air. It hats merely to be throttled for high pressures and when this is done, it, is as efficient as burners designed especially for high pressures and eliminates the noise common to such burners. This furnace burns petroleum or any of its oils, such a, gasoline, kerosene, distillate, etc. Oil heating has many advantages. The steel cannot be injured by absorbing injurious elements such as sulphur, phosphorus or other impurities which :ire present in nearly all coals, nor from unequal heating since the flame imparts a uniform temperature; further, o lie steel is in full view of the operator at all times.

Jan 3, 1916

By John S. Brown

The northeastern United States embraces that area of the Appalachian Mountains, and adjacent territory, beginning on the south at the Potomac River. It thus extends from the flat-lying Paleozoic terrane of the Appalachian plateau on the west, across the folded Paleozoics of the Great Valley and adjacent ridges (Paleozoic and Precambrian), over the Piedmont and New England metamorphic complex (mixed Paleozoic and igenous rocks), broken by the great Triassic rift remnants, onto the subdued coastal plain of Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments. Although not noted as a metal mining region, the area does contain numerous substantial and several outstanding mines, chiefly of the more prosaic metals, particularly iron, zinc, and copper, as well as many minor occurrences of these and a few additional items. These deposits occur to some extent in every subdivision of the area. The region to date (1966) has produced almost 500,000,000 tons of medium to lowgrade iron ore, especially magnetite, including ilmenitic magnetite; 50,000,000 tons of highgrade zinc ore; and 5,000,000 tons of lowgrade copper. In the past, it has yielded small amounts of chromite and nickel, and at present is a large producer of titanium. Precious metals are conspicuously absent, and so also are the Tertiary or Mesozoic igneous phenomena so commonly associated with mines of the West. Hence, a survey of the extensive mineralization · of this region should be instructive

Jan 1, 1968

By G. Gabra

The kinetics of acidified thiourea leaching of pyrite concentrate was investigated at temperature ranging form 20 °C to a 60 °C. The effect of various parameters on the dissolution rates are discussed. The gold extraction was found to be zero and first orders with respect to Fe (111) and thiourea concentration, respectively. The order of the reaction with respect to sulfuric acid was found to be zero. The activation energy was determined from the Arrhenius plot as 2,039 kcal mole -1 (for a freshly prepared acidic solution containing Fe (111) as the oxidant and at 800 rpm stirring speed. This relatively low activation energy value suggests that the gold extraction is controlled by a-physical phenomenon. Under optimum conditions, more than 90% of gold has been dissolved in about 30 min. and 95% in 60 min. Attempt to recover gold from thiourea solution using active carbon is also discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By Ta M. Li

How will phosphate producers in southeastern Idaho fare with growing governmental regulations and environmentalism of the late 1970's? With a similarity that is reminiscent of the battles between the coal industry and environmental-conservation groups earlier in the decade, Idaho's future growth and a nation's need for phosphate fertilizer products remain uncertain. The catalyst that brought the issue to the forefront was the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing the development of phosphate resources in southeastern Idaho. Although the final EIS was published in August 1977, resolution of rational and orderly growth in this potentially vital region remains stifled as Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus virtually "sits" on it.

Jan 1, 1978