If Utah County residents are hearing "sonic booms" that shake and rattle their windows many times a day, they are probably experiencing the effects of IRECO's open-air blasting.
Less than nine miles directly to the west of Utah Valley Community College, the IRECO Explosive Manufacturing Plant is detonating up to 985 "shots" per month. The effects of these shots come bouncing across Utah Lake like a ball on a ping-pong table. Their size ranges from 1 pound to 50 pounds. In addition, the company stores approximately 150,000 pounds of explosives in various bunkers.Last September, an accidental explosion destroyed several buildings and nearly killed several people at IRECO's plant. What made it worse was that IRECO did not have an active operating permit at the site. The County Planning Commission decided that the matter of explosives and blasting on the west side of Utah Lake needed to be looked into. They proposed that the County Commission eliminate future growth of explosives plants in the mining and grazing zones.
As a property owner on the west side of Utah Lake, I helped gather signatures from owners of approximately 90 percent of all private land located Between Saratoga on the north to several miles south of IRECO's plant. A total acreage of 6,230 acres was represented.
We presented this petition to the commissioners with the request that IRECO's open-air blasting and the proliferation of explosives in the area be stopped. (Over the past 10 years, the number of explosives plants has increased from two to seven and three of these plants own no land at all but are leasing from the state.)
IRECO invited the commissioners and members of a county-formed committee to visit their plant and witness the detonation of several shots. I requested that IRECO set off one of their 35-50 pounders (as they do 10 to 50 times a month). IRECO refused, stating that the "atmospheric conditions were not right." They in turn set off several 31/2-pounders as a representation to the commissioners of what was taking place at IRECO.
I have asked that the County Commission at least require IRECO to set off their larger shots at IRECO's remote site near the Tooele Army Depot. (So far no requirements at all have been placed on the company's blasting.)
Mark Jacob
Orem