We can’t give up on Great Salt Lake, we must stop the Inland Ports
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of Utah residents by promoting science-based health education and interventions that result in an environment that we can all live and thrive in. That’s an environment where we have clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, and food free of harmful pesticides and chemicals.
The Utah Inland Port Authority does not uphold these same values. Their proposed developments threaten 50,000 acres of wetlands around and near Great Salt Lake. Early estimates of the Port’s original project area in SLC showed the port could generate up to 11,600 new truck trips and 23,000 additional car trips every day — even at only half of its developable potential. Since that estimate, seven new project areas have been approved across the state, with more likely coming.
I recently joined the Stop the Polluting Port Coalition at a rally, calling for a full audit of UIPA. You can join our call for an audit here, or watch the press conference here:
It is time for the port authority to be put in time-out until it meets its obligations to the people. Nothing has been done by the Port to conduct a Human-Health Risk Assessment, even though it agreed to it. In fact, the Port has delayed looking into health risks for residents while rapidly approving new project areas. Every location deserves a health impact assessment of proposed activities, and residents deserve time to review the results and weigh the risks and benefits.
What is so crucial about health impact assessments of UIPA project areas? For six years, UIPA has touted its goal to create truck, train and air shipping ports across the state. The only truck train and air transport we have today relies on the burning of fossil fuels.
What happens when people breathe in fossil fuel exhaust? It dissolves in the blood and contaminates the brain, and every organ in the body. Diesel emissions already contribute to approximately 50% of total nitrogen oxide in the Wasatch Front airshed, with 51.5% on-road diesel emissions, and the majority of non-road diesel emissions comes from locomotives/railroad equipment (57.3% of non-road diesel emissions).
UIPA breached its obligation to the people to use its tax differential to complete health impact assessments. The assessments are not done, and that is the truth. UIPA, Governor, Senators, Representatives, Mayors, City Council people, PLEASE give us what you promised when you committed to completion of health impact assessments by December of 2023.
Clean air should always elevate our lives. We live in Utah, where life is elevated.
It’s important to mention also that the port’s operations and proposed developments directly threaten Great Salt Lake. Millions of dollars have been designated to protect the lake, with its levels still not at a healthy level. I hoped political leaders would do more, but I worry it is not quick enough to avoid health impacts from toxic dust.
That’s why UPHE decided to join a lawsuit suing the state for mismanagement of the lake, to force action.
And that’s why hundreds of medical professionals have signed on to our letter, calling on the legislature to act. “This decline threatens the health of over two million people who live immediately downwind of the lake. As the lake recedes, dust storms originating from the exposed lakebed are ultimately inhaled by Utahns throughout the Wasatch Front. NASA has identified specific communities most at risk from these dust storms, but residents of the entire Wasatch Front are at risk. Whereas these dust storms were rare a generation ago, now we have an average of fifteen a year. If the lake continues to shrink that number will only increase,” our letter says.
We will continue to safeguard the well-being of Utah residents to the best of our ability by drawing attention to concerning developments proposed by UIPA and with Great Salt Lake. The significant impact of fossil fuel emissions on air quality and the direct threat to Great Salt Lake further highlight the need for immediate action. UPHE is committed to ensuring a healthier and thriving environment for all Utah residents.
Please join us in our plea to political leaders to fulfill promises and prioritize the well-being of the community. Contact your representatives. Clean air should indeed be the foundation upon which Utah’s elevated life stands, and it is crucial to act swiftly to protect both present and future generations.
Coverage of the press conference and rally calling for a full audit of UIPA:
Coverage of our efforts to protect Great Salt Lake:
