Talk:Trona, California/Archive 1

The author's language is full of opinionated remarks, and it written in the reflective voice.

I agree. I looked it up because of a recent, disturbing trip through the Trona area. I actually agree with the opinions of the writer's observations about Trona, but the tone of the entry is completely inappropriate for an encyclopedia.

The author exhibits an extreme anti-capitalist (not to mention anti-Trona) bias and refers to it multiple times as "toxic" without basis. This sort of article does not belong in an encyclopedia, and it should be removed.

Trona Ca
As this page currently exists, it appears to be quite neutral and factual. Based on my visit to Trona about 10 years ago, I might agree with some of the observations and opinions expressed in the previous versions of this article, I agree that such commentary does not belong in an encyclopedia. This current revision though, does meet the standard for a dispassionate, facts based encyclopedia article.


 * I agree about the NPoV issues with the previous version, but I think some baby has been thrown out with the bathwater here. Issues of depopulation and pollution should be included, if they can be better documented and more factually stated.  As it stands, the current entry doesn't address key information regarding Trona's history and character.  ScottMainwaring 08:17, 17 February 2006 (UTC)


 * I looked up pollution via the EPA's superfund databases - and Trona isn't on any of this lists. Not proposed, not deleted, not current. Maybe if someone thinks it's toxic there they should take it up with EPA before taking it up with Wikipedia.

In 2004 IMC sold its Searles Valley hokding to Sun Capital Partners who renamed the chemical company, Searles Valley Minerals. They still retained the old "Three Elephant" brand for their bagged, borax, Pyrobor, V-Bor, boric acid, anhydrous sodium sulphate, and soda ash products. In 1990 a co-generation power plant began operations. The heat normally wasted and rejected by a coal-fired power plant is used in the various processes in the chemical plant of which the most energy consuming is operating the large triple-effect evaporators. While the actual power plant efficiency may be lower than a power plant using river or ocean water as a heat sink, the combined efficiency of the power plant plus the chemical plant is greater than if they had been independent of each other.

I don't know of any toxic problems that exist. In the past there were small releases of hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) which existed in the brine before it was heated. Since the threshold of detection by human senses is 4.7 parts per billion (possibly as low as 2 ppb), the released levels were tolerated by the residents as more of a nuisance than viewed as a toxic threat.

Finally visited
The place is not too far off from the LA Times article I had read and cited to the page. I took numerous photos, including the dirt football field and a dust storm. The place was as windy as advertised. --Bobak 01:51, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

From a lifelong resident
I've lived in Trona all my life. The wind is occasional (though it can be brutal when it does happen, the "toxicity" claim is unfounded, and the community is friendly. There are undesirable elements of the town, but I intend to make it my lifelong home after graduating college.  After telling people I've met about the strength of the community that I have back home, I'm confident that my likelihood of finding a place as nice as Trona anywhere else is pretty low.  Stop by the Trails if you're in the area and ask for Karen if you want to chat about the community.  She'll be happy to tell you what sort of life a person can build for himself.  18 Jan 2007

sign sign sign  sign  sign
&#91;&#91; hopiakuta Please do  sign  your  signature  on your  message. %7e%7e  Thank You. -]] 05:05, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

Searles_Valley Searles_Valley%2c_California
Please, someone, a chronology of how these names were applied.

Thank You,

&#91;&#91; hopiakuta Please do  sign  your  signature  on your  message. %7e%7e  Thank You. -]] 05:05, 13 December 2007 (UTC)