Salt depletion aS oF aUGUSt 2015

SeMa’S HeRitaGe

SeMa’s roots are firmly planted at Bonneville. Member industry pioneers to try out new products in the 1930s and products and sponsored race teams have helped set scores 40s. these pioneers would adjust their equipment when of world records on the racetrack that nature created. racing and then go back to the garage to create the next generation of equipment. Many of these inventors then When it was formed in 1963, the “Speed equipment started companies and helped create race sanctioning Manufacturers association” represented companies organizations. producing performance equipment for many land speed trailblazers. in subsequent years, the industry blossomed and Founding SeMa members like ansen, B&M, Crager, the renamed “Specialty equipment Market association” now edelbrock, eelco Manufacturing, Grant industries, Halibrand, embraces the entire distribution chain, including Hedman, iSKY Racing Cams, Je pistons, Milodon, Mooneyes, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and marketers. Schiefer Manufacturing, trans-dapt, Weber Speed equipment and Weiand have been joined by scores of other Speed equipment will always represent the heritage of companies that produce high performance parts. Whether it SeMa. in fact, Bonneville played a crucial role in SeMa’s is a 1932 hot rod, a 1960s muscle , a or formation. Bonneville, along with el Mirage, Muroc and anything in-between, Bonneville is the proving ground for other southern California dry lakes, were primary venues for SeMa member companies and their customers.

Vintage photos courtesy Hot Rod Magazine Front/back cover photos courtesy LandSpeed Productions SavinG tHe Bonneville Salt FlatS the Bonneville Salt Flats is a unique land formation in the Bonneville Salt Flats are over 60 miles long and divided northwestern Utah that beckons visitors from around the in half by railroad tracks and highways. world. For racers, its surface is unequaled. the hard salt began in 1914 and since 1932 the racetracks have been crust is perfect for both speed and safety. But there is a located on the north side and the potash processing plant on problem. the once 13-mile race track is now less than the south side. the two activities existed in harmony until the eight miles due to salt erosion. 1960s, when the BlM began issuing leases allowing salt to be transferred south through miles of ditches north of the For more than 50 years, the land speed racing community highway without scientific proof that there would be no has sounded the alarm that Bonneville is being destroyed by damage to Bonneville. potash is extracted from the salt government mismanagement and neglect. the U.S. Bureau through solar evaporation, and the salt is a waste product of of land Management (BlM) has been the land’s custodian the process. since 1946, and the agency’s traditional response to the racers’ concerns has been to call for geologic studies. Until 1997, the salt transfer was a one-way street. the BlM at least six studies have been completed over the decades allowed an estimated 50 to 75 million tons of salt to be and a seventh is underway. Frankly, Bonneville has been removed from Bonneville and not returned. in fact, much of studied to death. the salt is currently located in a huge mine evaporative processing pond that sits on land controlled by the BlM.

1910 1932–1957 1949 Future Salt lake City Mayor ab ab Jenkins begins a three-decade First “Bonneville national Speed Jenkins becomes first person to ride career setting 56 speed and trials” (precursor to modern a motorized vehicle across BSF. endurance records. “Speed Week”). 1914 1935 KEY First unofficial land First World set by teddy tetzlaff, who notes MOMENTS (300 mph) set by Britain’s Sir that the salt surface coolness did . new record not overheat tires. tire companies prompts land speed racing begin sponsoring events as way IN TIME community to move from daytona to test tires. Beach, Florida. 1915 1946 1846 Salt Lake Tribune article observes destructive activities from salt U.S. Bureau of land Management ill-fated donner-Reed party crosses mining: “The world’s greatest (BlM) becomes BSF custodian. the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) on natural speedway is being 1956 the way to California. torn up and ground up and 1947 General Motors names the 1957 pontiac model “Bonneville” after dispensed to the public in cartons Britain’s John Cobb runs 400 mph ab and Marvin Jenkins set every 1907 and packages.” race car on BSF as part of Utah’s american record with the new car. Western pacific Railroad Centennial. the official program completes tracks across BSF 1917 declares “The salt is like concrete... noting numerous construction potash mining begins. Its extreme hardness gives speeding difficulties due to the salt thickness maximum traction…” and hardness. Salt mining begins at BSF but eventually converts to 1917-1918 Brine collection ditch dug at Salduro potash production. loop, with spoils piled up to create the dike. the dike’s mud tailings will infiltrate the adjacent racing area’s salt crust in future years through wind and water erosion. 1919-1925 victory Highway (Highway 40) constructed across BSF.

1840s/1900s 1910s/1920s 1930s/1940s/1950s the racing community and mine owner created a salt brine the rest of Bonneville, to increase the brine salinity as it is return program in the 1990s that was implemented with BlM deposited on the salt flats. additional pumping infrastructure approval. When pumped at average levels of 1.2 million will be needed but sources of salt and water have already tons/year, the program stabilized Bonneville’s crust and been identified to accomplish the salt replenishment. demonstrated small increases. However, in recent years, the pumping has been severely limited. Since the BlM has not previously pursued a restoration plan, the Coalition/alliance is turning to lawmakers at the racing community has issued a comprehensive plan for both the state and federal level to support the effort. restoring Bonneville. the community is represented by the to date, the Governors of both Utah and nevada, along Save the Salt Coalition, of which SeMa is a partner, and the with U.S. Senators and Representatives, and the Utah State Utah alliance. the Coalition is an international group of legislature have called on the BlM to take action. these businesses and organizations with a vested interest in efforts have included plans that would direct the BlM to Bonneville. the Utah alliance has partnered with the restore the international race track to its original 13 miles Coalition to provide expertise and governmental connections within 10 years. at the state and local levels. Bonneville is listed on the national Register of Historic the Coalition/alliance’s restoration plan, if implemented, places and deemed an area of Critical environmental will dramatically increase the amount of salt brine being Concern. Yet, the BlM has allowed its health to reach critical pumped every year and channel it through the Salduro condition despite these designations. loop, an unused salt reservoir artificially segregated from

1963 late1960s-1970s 1974 Federal government issues Studies undertaken by Utah Utah Geological and Mineral potassium leases covering Geological and Mineralogical Survey study compares salt crust 24,670 acres adjacent to the Survey and the U.S. Geological thickness between 1960 and race venue. Fourteen miles of Survey to determine extent of salt 1974, concluding there was a collection ditches allow for loss at BSF. 100% decrease in cubic yards of withdrawal of salt brine. salt crust over 4 feet thick during 1970 that time period. 1965 last World land Speed Record set Mining company requests at the BSF by . Salt 1975 permission to begin pumping loss forces international land Bonneville Salt Flats Race track from the collection ditches for speed racing community to move added to national Register of potash processing. record-setting venue to Black Rock Historic places. desert, nevada and other 1982 locations due to reduced length of 1966 1979 Britain’s sets 633 Mining company abandons BSF race track. mph record at . Salduro loop ditch. U.S. Geological Survey and BlM study concludes: “Weather cycles 1972 may partly explain changes on 1985 1960s interstate 80 constructed across the Bonneville salt crust. But the 30,203 acres of BSF designated Racers first notice a problem with BSF replacing Hwy 40. activities of man, such as as area of Critical environmental the salt crust. withdrawing brine and constructing Concern and identified as the surface-drainage barriers, have 1973 Bonneville Salt Flats Special altered the hydrologic environment 1963–1970 Recreation Management area. BSF hydrogeology studied by Utah and have had a profound effect on (“Spirit of Geological and Mineral Survey. america”), art arfons (“Green the salt crust.” Monster”) and Gary Gabelich 1989 (“the Blue Flame”) focus worldwide Save the Salt Coalition founded attention on jet and -powered by racers, businesses and cars. Records increase from 394 community members with mph to 622 mph. common goal of saving BSF.

Photo courtesy of LandSpeed Productions 1960s 1970s 1980s ReCoMMendationS FoR SavinG Bonneville the following are key elements of a plan to restore the Bonneville Salt Flats and its 13-mile long track.

• Increase Salt Brine Pumping: dramatically increase the amount of brine being pumped onto Bonneville to at least 1 million tons/year.

• Reconfigure Salt Laydown: pump brine through the unused Salduro loop, a large salt area artificially segregated from Bonneville. the brine would be fully saturated with salt when channeled back onto the salt flats.

• Sources of Salt/Water: an evaporative processing pond contains at least 100 million tons of salt that could be returned to Bonneville. new water wells could be drilled, if necessary, to dissolve and transport the salt in a brine solution.

• Remove Salduro Loop Dirt Berms: Carefully remove the dikes that artificially segregate the Salduro loop from Bonneville, which have eroded over decades and caused significant salt crust contamination. Bonneville Salt Flats

1992 2002 2011 2015 Bonneville nationals and Speed 5-year pumping agreement expires Mining company and BlM all 2015 racing events cancelled Week officials forced to change but mining company voluntarily prepare draft environmental due to rain and mud international timing procedures continues pumping operation. assessment (ea) on mining contamination from adjoining due to reduced speedway length, plan. Racing community areas. Save the Salt eliminating the required two-way 2004 urges a mandatory salt Coalition/Utah alliance develop a runs within an hour. officials laydown component. draft restoration plan. Utah Gov. focus only on setting national BlM study of the 5-year pumping Gary Herbert and other high- program notes that the 6.2 million records. Save the Salt Foundation 2012 ranking Utah/nevada lawmakers (nonprofit organization) is tons of salt transferred did not send letters urging BlM to pursue established to help raise funds to produce the anticipated 2-inch BlM approves mining plan and a restoration program. save BSF. increase in salt thickness. final ea that requires mining However, replenishment of the company to pump at least as aquifer will eventually add more much salt as is removed. 2016 1995 salt to the existing crust. Coalition/alliance refine the Save the Salt, BlM, the state of 2013 restoration plan and pursue Utah and the mining company implementation by BlM. Gov. negotiate a voluntary agreement Racers observe continued Herbert signs a resolution passed for salt brine to be pumped onto degradation of BSF and by the Utah legislature urging the BSF for five years during the worsening conditions. Save the BlM to restore BSF to safe land winter months. Salt Coalition seeks BlM speed racing conditions. Save the permission to experiment with a Salt Coalition pursues federal dry salt laydown as a means of 1997 legislation to give the BlM 10 extending the race track. years to restore BSF race track to Salt brine pumping begins. U.S. 13 miles. Geological Survey study notes 2014 that “maximum salt-crust thickness was 7 feet in 1960 and 5.5 feet BlM denies request for dry salt in 1988” and concludes that laydown absent an ea. the “with an estimated net loss of Coalition is permitted to deposit salt from the shallow-brine 2,000 tons of salt on the mud aquifer, the dissolved-solids surface at the end of the access concentration must be maintained road to BSF racing area. by dissolution of the salt crust.” YEARS 1990s 2000s 2010s SEMA 1575S.ValleyVistaDrive DiamondBar,CA91765

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