4. The development of mining operations to provide the lignite require- 

 ments; 



5. The development of an irrigation system for both mine reclamation and 

 general agricultural and livestock operations on the Dreyer Ranch requiring up 

 to 4.3 X 10/ m-^/yr (35,000 acre-feet/yr) of water; 



6. The construction of a water supply sustem, based on Missouri River 

 waters, to pump and pipeline up to 8.2 X 10^ nr/yr (67,000 acre-feet/yr) of 

 water to the plant site and to the reclamation, agricultural, and livestock 

 points of use; 



7. The construction of the following ancillary transportation, access and 

 utility facilities: 



a. A rai1v;ay spur from the plant site to some point on an existing 

 ra i 1 way ; 



b. A road connecting the plant site to some point on a highway; 



c. An electrical service line connecting the plant site with some 

 point on the existing power grid; 



d. A captive power plant (if the required electrical power cannot be 

 otherwise obtained at a feasible cost). 



8. To the extent that housing is not otherwise available, the construction 

 of a townsite to meet the housing needs of the construction work force. (Dreyer 

 Brothers, Inc. 1978) 



OVERALL STUDY SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES 



Dreyer Brothers, Inc., has submitted long-range plans, preliminary en- 

 gineering studies, and a conceptual plant design for the Circle West project. 

 Although this material provides substantial guidance, the project and process 

 information are not yet fully defined. Consequently, DNRC has determined that 

 a baseline study is the limit of evaluation that can be made at this time and 

 this study is not of the scope one might expect if Dreyer Brothers, Inc. had 

 applied for a siting certificate. Since the specific nature and scope of the 

 project has not been established, the studies are based on the assumption that 

 the first application will involve only one processing facility, manufacturing 

 either ammonia or methanol. Nevertheless, as the planning process for the pro- 

 ject evolves, the scope of the baseline study can be expected to concomitantly 

 evolve. In the event that Dreyer Brothers, Inc. decides to proceed with the 

 proposal, the baseline studies will be integrated into the complete evaluation 

 required by the Major Facility Siting Act, and Montana Environmental Policy Act 

 and other applicable statutes. It should be noted that, at this time, only the 

 vegetation, wildlife, and a portion of the aquatic resources studies have been 

 completed. 



In order to meet the statutory mandates and fulfill the contract with 

 Dreyer Brothers, Inc., DNRC designed the overall baseline study to: 



