Press Conference: STPP Coalition Demands Port Authority NOT Waste Taxpayer Dollars For Construction Of A New Transloading Facility

Who/What: Members of the Stop the Polluting Port Coalition (STPP) will be holding a news conference calling on the Utah Inland Port Authority NOT to waste millions in taxpayer dollars to fund a transloading facility at their upcoming (June 16) board meeting.

When: Thursday, June 10, 10:30 am

Where: 808 North 6550 West, Salt Lake City, in front of a newly constructed Amazon facility (visually interesting location, adjacent to warehouses under construction, and we will have a background of people holding signs) 

Issue Background: The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) recently announced its intention to build a new transloading facility to move shipping containers between rail and trucks, using taxpayer money to increase the profits of giant corporate land holders, such as Rio Tinto and Colmena Group. According to a May 18th UIPA news release, this transloading facility is also part of a deal UIPA is striking with the Port of Oakland. No details were provided about cost, scale of operations and cargo. Yesterday, we learned that UIPA has a similar deal in place with the Port of Long Beach. In March, UIPA intended to vote on a budget amendment to start funding a transloading facility, but due to problems noticing the budget hearing as required by law, they withdrew the issue.  They will revisit this budget amendment at their upcoming meeting on June 16 at 4 pm.

Stop the Polluting Port has been circulating a sign-on letter to James Rogers, Chair of the UIPA Board, demanding that no action be taken to fund the transloading facility at the June 16 UIPA board meeting, and that the public be given complete information with a 60-day public comment period before any future action.  So far over 800 people have signed.