Residents speak out in strong opposition of Weber County Inland Port, again citing public input issues
Earlier this week, residents rallied at the Utah Capitol Building ahead of the Utah Inland Port’s meeting, where they once again disregarded widespread public opposition to their proposal and approved a project for Weber County.
Last week, the Weber County Commission, in response to controversy surrounding the project, hosted a “listening session.” While encouraging at first, Weber County officials seemed to follow suit of the Inland Port, and drastically limited the actual listening of residents’ concerns. The local community has been difficult to silence on this though.
Weber County resident, Patty Becnel, had an op-ed in the Standard Examiner, where she wrote, “Who will pay the additional health costs of increased asthma and heart disease the port will generate? How will the health of the GSL be ensured? If we continue to allow the ports without check, we will endanger the GSL, the ski industry, the global brine shrimp economy, and lose the outdoor industries that add billions to our income. We will be known for high taxes, poor air quality, impossible traffic, and a disregard for bird populations.” She reiterated these concerns at the May 20th rally.
“As Unitarian Universalists in this community, we are speaking out to say that we need to protect, not exploit, the environment that sustains us and of which we are a part.
Inland Port development would require the infilling of fragile wetlands, building and paving of roads, trenching of water lines and sewer pipes, and construction of electrical lines. After completion, there would likely be hundreds of vehicles throughout the area each day — many of which would use diesel-powered engines. If we allow the Inland Port to fast-track development in this rural, agricultural area, the amount of air pollution generated will be significant and unlikely to meet Clean Air Act attainment goals.” Kristin Famula and Chalice Gustaveson from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden wrote in the Salt Lake Tribune.
In her op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune, Ann Florence called attention to residents sounding the warning bells about what the port will entail.
Other Weber County residents spoke out against the exploitation of land in their communities and financial concerns with the Utah Inland Port at the May 20th rally. UPHE board member Dr. Courtney Henley also spoke at the rally, citing issues with the Salt Lake City port as a warning to Weber County, “The Utah Inland Port Authority has promised Salt Lake City a Human Health Risk Assessment for six years now, and what have they done? Nothing. They’ve made no progress whatsoever. The same thing is deserved to Weber County, they also deserve a Human Health Risk Assessment.”
The Weber County “listening session” allowed ample time for the port to defend their “plans” for Weber County, where they cited wetlands protection, responsible building, and increased job opportunities. UIPA and Weber officials claim that development will happen regardless, however, there’s a reason wetlands aren’t developed yet – it’s expensive. Without using residents’ tax dollars, many developers wouldn’t fit the bill to develop there. The warehouse jobs the port will likely bring often don’t even pay living wages.
Rally/Project Approval Coverage:
Salt Lake Tribune coverage (UPHE quoted)
KSL TV coverage (UPHE quoted)
Utah News Dispatch (UPHE quoted)
KSL.com coverage
Fox 13 coverage
Standard Examiner coverage
“Listening Session” Coverage:
See KSL’s coverage of the Weber County “listening session” here
Standard Examiner’s coverage of the “listening session”
Op-Eds:
As leaders of our church, we can’t support a Weber County Inland Port that exploits the environment
Many questions remain about inland port, Patty Becnel
Utah Inland Port wants 9K acres in Weber Co. You should weigh in, by Ann Florence