FRONT PAGE A1 www.tooeletranscript.com TUESDAY TOOELETRANSCRIPT Tooele, Grantsville meet on diamond today See A10 BULLETIN April 3, 2007 SERVING TOOELE COUNTY SINCE 1894 VOL. 113 NO. 90 50¢ Of Utah’s ‘toxic six’ half call county home Area ranked 21st in nation for toxic releas- es; total emissions increase since 2004 by Karen Hunt STAFF WRITER Tooele County companies take three of the top six spots for most toxic releases in Utah. EnergySolutions, U.S. Magnesium and Clean Harbor’s Grassy Mountain facility photography / Troy Boman released just under 30 million Residential construction and home prices continue to climb in Stansbury Park, most new homes are priced near $200,000. pounds of toxic substances into the land or air in 2005, according to the Environmental Protection Stansbury edging out G-ville in race to get big fast Agency. That was a nearly a 300 percent increase from the year New residential construction spreading north, south, and west of growing commuter community before. All that waste combined, by Mark Watson The first phase of the project will however, only roughly equals STAFF WRITER include 40 lots and two subsequent the 30 million pounds released Stansbury Park and Grantsville phases will add another 100 lots. by the second-largest polluter in the state — Kennecott Smelter file photo seem to be in a race to see which com- On the east side of Benson Grist Kennecott Smelter and Refinery munity will hit the 10,000 population Mill is an Ivory Homes development. and Refinery in Magna, which sits just over the county line. in Magna is the second-largest mark the quickest. According to cen- Realtors say that project will include polluter in the state. sus reports in 2004, both communities 150 townhomes and 150 single-family Kennecott Utah Copper Mine hovered around 7,000 in population. houses. Concentrators & Power Plant in into the water, and around PA Three years later, however, it appears Stansbury Park is spreading out in Copperton on the other side of spokeswoman Barbara Conklin, that Stansbury Park is at 8,400 and every direction except east of SR-36 the Oquirrh Mountains was the EnergySolutions disposal of Grantsville at about 8,000, according where large gravel pits are located. top releaser of toxins on the waste into on-site landfills is one to estimates from Tooele County and Several homes are being built in and list, producing almost 97 million of the more problematic types Grantsville City. around the new Stansbury Park High pounds that went into landfills, of emissions because of its per- “I think Stansbury Park is growing a School, which is currently under con- the air and water. manent nature and the potential bit faster than Grantsville,” said Barry struction south of the main popula- The EPA ranks Tooele County for leakage. The EPA encour- Formo, chief building inspector for tion base in Stansbury Park on Bates as No. 21 in the nation for toxic ages methods that neutralize or Tooele County. Canyon Road. The new high school emissions, and No. 2 for the destroy waste wherever pos- According to local real estate seems to have spawned development release of dioxons — some of the sible. agents, one engine driving that growth on the south side of the community. most toxic chemicals known to The report indicates is people fleeing the congestion of Salt Gee said his company has built hun- science. Salt Lake County holds EnergySolutions toxic releases Lake Valley for rural suburbia in Tooele dreds of homes the past few years in second place for toxic emissions jumped by over 23,000 pounds Valley. Most of those people continue Stansbury Park, as has Ivory Homes. nationwide due to Kennecott’s from the year before,. to work in Salt Lake City even after photography / Troy Boman Houses in Grantsville are also influence. Mark Walker, spokesman for The under-construction Stansbury High School is flanked by even they make the move. spreading out in every direction, espe- The report, which is based the company, said the increase newer residential developments near the south end of Stansbury “There are a lot of professional peo- cially south and west. A massive resi- on information supplied by in 2005 is because the Clive facil- Park. The new school has drawn some development southward. ple who have moved here and still dential development is planned for the companies across the nation, ity accepted waste from Rocky work in Salt Lake,” said Steve Goodsell ily houses selling for $198,000 and up. west side of Grantsville which would scrutinizes how toxic materials Flats, the former nuclear weap- of ReMax Lakeside Realty. “We’ve sold 15 of the first phase. A lot of these include 699 lots in the first phase with plans mined, accepted or produced ons plant near Denver, Colo. Richmond American Homes is developing a buyers work in downtown Salt Lake,” said K.C. for another 1,400 houses at some point in the onsite are disposed of. Some EnergySolutions accepts and massive community west of Benson Grist Mill Gee, representing Richmond American Homes large operations like Kennecott disposes of waste from across where they will end up building 140 single-fam- at the development. SEE RACE ON A5 Smelter — which releases over 100,000 pounds of its toxins into the air, over 8,000 pounds SEE TOXIC ON A5 Land rush not Toxic releases in and around Tooele County Weight in pounds WATER LAND AIR TOTAL* slowing down Kennecott Utah Copper Smelter & Refi nery 8,249 29,999,877 121,592 30,182,120 by Mark Watson EnergySolutions 23,379,569 23,381,340 STAFF WRITER Land prices continue to sky- U.S. Magnesium 1,076 4,127,968 4,129,084 rocket across Tooele Valley Clean Harbors 2,166,568 179 2,188,818 and real estate insiders say the Grassy Mountain market isn’t showing signs of Clean Harbors 3,653 1,189,189 loosing power anytime soon. Aragonite *Total also includes off-site disposal Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2005 data) Coldwell Banker broker graphic by John Hamilton Brad Sutton scrolled through some of the listing prices for real estate lots last week and was stunned by the increase Club to close rather than go dry in prices over just one year. He said some half-acre lots in Tracks owner plans to use downtime during Tooele Valley had increased in liquor license suspension for remodeling value by $30,000 or more. “I’m awed by the fact by Suzanne Ashe occurred at a charity event for Bikers that the same lot selling for STAFF WRITER Against Child Abuse, which featured about $50,000 last June has Tooele’s only upscale pub will bikini models posing on bikes with increased in some cases by be closed for almost a month after patrons for photos. Applegate was more than $30,000 now, and its liquor license was suspended by dismayed that this was considered there appears to be no end in the Utah Department of Alcoholic lewd. The bar hosts a number of sight,” Sutton said. Beverage Control for overserving events throughout the year featuring Tooele Prudential Real scantily clad female models, includ- photography / Troy Boman customers and for lewd conduct at a Estate broker Vicki Griffith ing a monthly bikini contest. Evidence Technician Linda Vrieze holds a ukulele from 1993. The 1,500-square-foot evidence room charity fundraiser hosted at the bar is also amazed at the sudden holds a wide array of items ranging from cassette tapes to baby strollers. last December. The suspension went The second infraction occurred jump in prices. into effect March 19. when undercover DABC agents “Just two years ago, an acre Tracks Brewing Company will spied alcohol being served to intoxi- of agricultural ground prior Tooele police doing spring cleaning close its doors Wednesday after a cated customers. to development would sell for previously scheduled comedy show Tracks manager Nate Piep said $10,000,” she said. “Now the Unclaimed evidence may end up being auctioned, destroyed or and won’t open again until April 26. the bar will institute some new poli- price per acre has increased Though the 38-day suspension of cies and revise its dress code in to at least $35,000.” appropriated by the department the club’s liquor license does not response to the sanctions, but he did Griffith said some improved by Suzanne Ashe such as cable cutters, a battery charger and drill bit mandate closure, owner Dayne not give specifics. lots on Tooele’s east benches sets are in a separate pile. These are the items Kirby Applegate has decided to close the The last time Tracks was cited are selling for up to $175,000. STAFF WRITER hopes to keep because they could be useful to the club and use the downtime do a bit for a violation was three years ago, “Values continue to go up. The Tooele Police Department’s evidence room is department, he said. of remodeling, create a new menu, Applegate said. That was when a They’re just not making land bursting at the seams and even a 1,500-foot, fenced- Other larger items such as bicycles and wheel- and gear up for a grand re-opening, patron was served a fresh drink anymore,” she quipped. “We off overflow area in the department’s basement is chairs will be sent to an auction house in southern rather than try to attract non-drink- before his previous drink was were selling five-acre lots in teaming with all manner of unclaimed items. California to be sold on www.propertyroom.com.