Open letter to an ‘inland port’ community in Utah

James Westwater is among many community members across the state who have growing concerns over their new neighbor, the Utah Inland Port Authority. The Port Authority has swept in and claimed tax dollars from over eight communities since its initial creation in Salt Lake City in 2018. 

What has not happened in the last five years, however, are environmental impact studies, or human health risk assessments. 

In approving new project areas across the state, the port claims to have a long and thought-out process. What doesn’t seem to be thought out, though, is whether these communities are interested in this type of development. Many residents have expressed frustration through public comments about not feeling involved or knowledgable about what is going to happen. Despite largely negative public comments, the Port Authority has gone on, time and time again, to approve these areas. 

“I think it was a serious mistake for the city to approve the Inland Port project without first requiring — and then widely publicizing — a thorough, rigorous, independent, science-based study of the project. This should include the need for, legality of, and likely consequences. For example, what is the possible or likely damage to the health and well-being of the residents of Spanish Fork and their neighbors, and the damage to irreplaceable wetlands, wildlife habitat, irreplaceable high-quality farmland and our very pleasant, relaxed, healthy lifestyle, and the character of our community with its rural, agricultural surroundings,” Westwater wrote in an open letter published in the Daily Herald. 

Westwater mentions UPHE in a list of concerned organizations, and concludes his letter, “It is common knowledge that industrial development comes with pollution and harm to the environment and human health. Again, may I emphasize that it would be a major mistake for the City of Spanish Fork to proceed with this project without first requiring a serious, rigorous, science-based, independent study of the need for, and likely adverse consequences of, the Spanish Fork Inland Port project, aka the Verk Industrial Park. Furthermore, it would also be a huge mistake to not make the results of such a study widely available to the public, and to let the citizens of Spanish Fork vote on whether or not they want this major change in the character and health of their community and the environment in which they live, and in which their children and future generations will live.”