DAQ-2024-011889

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DAQC-1184-24
Site ID 11716 (B1)

MEMORANDUM

TO: FILE – TAR SANDS HOLDING II – Tar Sands Processing Facility

THROUGH: Chad Gilgen, Minor Source Compliance Section Manager

FROM: Jared James, Environmental Scientist

DATE: November 21, 2024

SUBJECT: PARTIAL COMPLIANCE EVALUATION, Minor, Uintah County

INSPECTION DATE: November 21, 2024

SOURCE LOCATION: 3550 West 1500 South, Vernal, Utah.

Asphalt Ridge - 2 miles off US 40, west of Vernal; turn left by
the sign for Maeser = 2500 West and left onto 1500 South. Road
ends in pit. To the right is the processing plant and further right
is the county’s separation process and stock pile.

SOURCE CONTACT(S): Annette Burrows, Office Manager,

OPERATING STATUS: Inactive.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION: Recovery of bitumen in tar sands. The tar sands are excavated
from the pit similar to aggregate processing. The sands are
processed to remove the tar from the sand. The processing plant
has been down since February 2010, and is for sale. Currently,
the material is hauled from the pit to a stockpile area on the
opposite side of the property where the county mixes the
material with gravel and water. It runs through a separator to
remove large chunks. The material is then used on road projects.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: DAQE-AN0117160002-08, dated August 26, 2008.

SOURCE EVALUATION: The Division of Air Quality (DAQ), New Source Review (NSR)
section conducted a 10-year review of the source and discovered
that the site has not been operational since 2010. The source has
been sold multiple times and is currently undergoing another
transaction. NSR held a pre-NOI meeting with the newest
potential buyer which plans to construct a new source, which
would require a new Approval Order.

PREVIOUS ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS: None in the past five years.

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COMPLIANCE STATUS &
RECOMMENDATIONS: No compliance evaluation has been made, the source has been
inactive since 2010.

RECOMMENDATION FOR
NEXT INSPECTION: The source should be removed from the inspection cycle.

ATTACHMENTS: NSR 10-year Review Memo.
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DAQE-MN117160007-24

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Source File: 11716: Tar Sands Holding II – Tar Sands Processing Facility
THROUGH: Alan Humpherys, Minor NSR Manager – Air Quality
FROM: Katie Andersen, Environmental Engineer – Air Quality
DATE: November 12, 2024
SUBJECT: Tar Sands Holding II Inactive Site at Asphalt Ridge
The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) initiated a 10-Year Review for Approval Order (AO)
DAQE-AM0117160002-08 dated August 26, 2008. Upon conversations with the office manager,
Annette Burrows, and review of recent inspection reports, the DAQ has determined that the Tar
Sands Holding II facility at Asphalt Ridge is an inactive site. The site has not been operational
since February 2010 (see Memorandum DAQC-555-11) and has been through many sale
processes. According to a pre-NOI meeting with the newest potential buyer, the new
owner/operator will be constructing a new source at the site. The new owner/operator has been
notified that they will need to submit an NOI application for a modification of the source. Until
then, the source will be listed as inactive.

195 North 1950 West • Salt Lake City, UT
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144820 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4820
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone] • T.D.D. [phone]
www.deq.utah.gov
Printed on 100% recycled paper
State of Utah

SPENCER J. COX
Governor
DEIDRE HENDERSON
Lieutenant Governor

Department of
Environmental Quality

Kimberly D. Shelley
Executive Director

DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY
Bryce C. Bird
Director

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