Utah Inland Port Authority Poised to Approve Project Area in Utah County’s Water Strapped Cedar Valley
Will Harm Water, Air Quality and Wetlands
Using taxpayer resources, the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) is poised to incentivize industrial development in Utah County’s Cedar Valley, an area facing serious water problems. It’s also in serious nonattainment of federal air quality standards for PM 2.5 and ozone, and contains significant wetlands. UIPA is holding a board meeting to vote on approval Thursday, June 26 at 10 am.
In response, the Stop the Polluting Port Coalition and hundreds of community members have signed a letter to the UIPA Board opposing approval of fast-tracked publicly subsidized industrialization in this vulnerable area.
The Cedar Valley, on the western side of the Lake Mountains in Utah County, is experiencing rapid growth dominated by Eagle Mountain, one of thefastest growing cities in the state. But big questions loom about where the water to support this growth will come from.
A 2007 study by Utah Geological Survey scientists found that the Cedar Valley aquifer is likely to be significantly depleted due to projected development with large areas of the valley experiencing over 100 feet of drawdown. This is an area already experiencing a water crisis, the last thing it needs is UIPA sponsored taxpayer incentivized industrial development that will make that crisis worse.
In addition, air quality in Utah County is already unhealthy, and this taxpayer subsidized industrial development will bring a significant amount of new car and truck traffic which will add more pollution.
Finally, as Fairfield City, one of the municipalities that will host inland port project areas, notes in their general plan, “a significant portion of Fairfield has been designated by the United States Geological Survey as Wetlands.” These are some of the last remaining wetlands in the Great Salt Lake Basin and will be impaired by major industrial development next to them.
“Once again, the port authority is fast-tracking and using taxpayer subsides for unsustainable growth for industrial development,” said Jonny Vasic, Executive Director of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. “Utah faces enormous challenges due to our rapid growth and the Cedar Valley in Utah County is ground zero and now will face environmental harm to water resources, air quality, wetlands, and residents.
