Visual impact of the proposed Bruderheim Hazco sulphur storage site

The proposed sulphur facility east of Bruderheim will not be a pretty sight, regardless of what the final design may call for.

The 2002 design for the sulphur storage site at Thorhild (turned down by residents in that area) and at Gibbons (also turned down) provided for sub-surface pits, enclosed by berms.  It is not entirely clear what sort of design is envisioned for the proposed sulphur storage site east of Bruderheim.  The water table at the proposed Bruderheim site in the County of Lamont is quite close to the surface.  Storage of sulphur in sub-surface pits at that site will cause the sulphur to be immersed in or to be in contact with ground water. 

It appears that sub-surface sulphur storage of the design proposed for Thorhild and for Gibbons in 2002, and perhaps now for the County of Lamont as well, has never been used anywhere in the world (at least Hazco has failed so far to make information about previous use and experiences with the design available to the residents of Lamont County).

To prevent the sulphur at the proposed Bruderheim site from coming into contact with ground water will most likely make it necessary to apply the time-proven design used for all open-air sulphur storage sites throughout the world.  That means that we will most likely look at several large sulphur blocks that will be constructed above ground.  Therefore, the Hazco sulphur storage site near Bruderheim may — soon after it gets into operation — look like what is depicted in the photo montages at the right in the illustration of before-and-after pictures shown below.

Putting the County of Lamont on the map, and into the minds of people

Consider that the sulphur block shown above occupies only a portion of one quarter-section of land, and that the proposed site will occupy a whole section of land.  A section of land is a square whose sides measure one mile by one mile (1.6 km by 1.6 km).  The photo to the right is a close-up of a portion of the proposed site, taken from the north, from the curve in Highway 45 and from the turn-off north of the intersection of Township Road 560 and Range Road 202.  The view is across the section of land for the site.  The north side of the Hazco site will be at the power pole visible to the right of the photo.  The south side of the site will be a mile away, at the second fence row, right in front of the Triton assembly shed visible in the distance.   All of that expanse would be covered by the Hazco sulphur storage.  There would no longer be any cattle grazing south of the far side of the slough, no more hay or grain grown.

The following map puts the size of the proposed site into perspective in relation to the size of the nearby town of Bruderheim, just 1.5 miles or 2.4 km away. The site will be clearly and obtrusively visible from Highway 15 to the south (shown in the top set of photos above), and from the intersection of Highway 45 and Township Road 560 (shown in the lower set of photos above).

It may perhaps be proposed that trees should be planted to hide the site from view, but would it be reasonable to expect that trees in the vicinity of large sulphur blocks thrive or even survive (they quite likely won't — see example), aside from the fact that if a substantial fire should occur at the site the vegetation around the site will be killed off for good — possibly for miles around.

Once sulphur blocks are being constructed at the site, we will be stuck for good with the view of them.  That ought to put the County of Lamont and specifically Bruderheim on the map and into the minds of anyone driving past there over the years!  It is not an advisable method for attracting new residents and families to the County of Lamont or to nearby Bruderheim if we wish to prevent Bruderheim and Lamont from becoming ghost towns.

Sulphur blocks or piles of sulphur prills that are fifty feet high would be the tombstones for the County of Lamont.

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Posted July 27, 2005
Updates:
2006 10 16 (reformated)