discovery and development of resources tied to the desire for an improved standard of living is the requirement for vast amounts of raw materials and energy related resources as presently known sources are exhausted exploration efforts must be intensified and expanded through out the world to insure a continual flow of necessary minerals the search for new mineral deposits by utah and its affiliates spans the globe and includes such areas as the western united states australia canada the south pacific brazil africa and green land expanded activities into new geographic regions are expected to be directed toward the same types of com modities traditionally mined by utah in areas where the investment climate and mineral potential are favorable and where the environmental impact of the mining project is acceptable search activities are conducted with an aware ness not only of the future market potential of these minerals but also with an eye towards the fullest practicable recovery of the reserves and the conservation of the overlying land surface the exploration effort in 1974 will place greater emphasis on new geographic regions this shift is the result in part of a reduction in costly drilling programs in australia where recent expressions of policy by the australian government with respect io new mineral development by overseas companies have created uncertainties as to the outlook for future investments in that country once exploration activities have dis covered the mineral deposit from which a new mining operation will emerge utah concerns itself with the effect of the operation on the natural and human resources in the region of influence an evaluation of proposed mining activities and their sites is made so their develop ment will incorporate acceptable environ mental standards in the course of surface mining activity land is unavoidably disturbed and at utah operations major emphasis is placed on reshaping the land and establishing viable vegetation to this end grading and seeding is conducted and research has been undertaken to determine optimum methods and plant species for vegetation of mined lands utah also places great importance on the preservation of human resources as industrial health safety and working con ditions are accorded emphasis in all of utah's activities motivated by a growing awareness of the need for minerals particularly energy related resources exploration and mining activities will necessarily continue in order to expand the availability of these essential products in so doing it is neces sary to implement realistic reclamation programs designed with an awareness of human needs and environmental con siderations the costs of which will not disproportionately alter the price of the end products probing remote areas of the earth to discover new sources of essential minerals is the role of a vigorous explora tion program land restoration protection of human resources and monitoring of the surrounding environment are high priority activities in a modern mining development