Sage Energy Partners announced Wednesday that it has completed security hardening at its Duchesnge salt water disposal facility following a nation-state cyberattack detected earlier this spring.
Details of the cyberattack
In a press release, Sage Energy Partners and Sage Water Resources (SWR) stated that on March 15, the company detected unauthorized activity on the programmable logic control automation system at its Duchesne location. Forensic analysis conducted alongside federal law enforcement and cybersecurity experts confirmed the incident was a malicious logic manipulation by an advanced nation-state threat actor.
Mitigation and system restoration
The company noted that the unauthorized changes were detected and mitigated before any physical or environmental damage occurred, thanks to the response of an early morning truck driver and the SWR operations team. The operational logic has since been restored and is now protected by a Virtual Private Network.
Grand County water planning proposal
Separately, Grand County officials are preparing for a public hearing on June 22 to discuss a proposed Water Use & Preservation Element. As Moab Times reported, the proposal aims to guide long-term planning for growth and development in relation to available water resources.
Legislative requirements for water preservation
The proposed element was developed following state legislation requiring counties to address water preservation in their general plans. Planning and Zoning Director Andrew Jackson stated in an email that the plan is intended for future development rather than existing homes and would not require current residents to remove existing lawns.
Future growth and irrigation strategies
The proposal suggests that future growth should be planned around available water supplies, with strategies including moving outdoor irrigation from treated drinking water to non-potable sources. According to the element, Grand County's population is projected to grow from approximately 10,000 residents in 2025 to about 14,300 by 2065.
