It’s time for a comprehensive audit of the Utah Inland Port Authority

UPHE member and partner, Katie Pappas, wrote an excellent letter to the Salt Lake Tribune addressing concerns which we share about the transparency and alleged benefits of the Utah Inland Port Authority. 

Thanks to Leia Larsen for a revealing article about the Tooele Valley inland port in the March 15 Tribune.

Most people are unaware of the Utah Inland Port Authority’s activities over the last few years. Since the Port Authority’s creation in 2018, a lot has changed.

Fourteen more project areas around the state have been added and the focus has moved from logistics and warehouses to pretty much anything, including fossil fuels.

A pandemic, worsening drought conditions statewide, a record low level for the Great Salt Lake, loss of environmental protections and a federal government that considers climate change a “hoax” have added new challenges to the way we should look at economic development. There are a lot of concerning impacts in other project areas that haven’t received the attention Tooele Valley has.

We don’t have a good sense of the long-term impacts because none of the needed studies have been done and UIPA hasn’t always been transparent.

I suggest it’s time for a comprehensive audit, including a performance audit.