Utah Valley Times

Utah's congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, along with Representatives Celeste Maloy, John Curtis, Burgess Owens, and Blake Moore, has written a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, urging her to consider the concerns raised by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Washington County regarding the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) decision to implement a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Northern Corridor highway plan in Washington County.

The Northern Corridor highway, which aims to connect Red Hills Parkway to Washington Drive Parkway, is seen as a crucial infrastructure project due to the rapid population growth in Washington County. The highway would alleviate east-west traffic congestion between I-15 and SR-18. In 2021, the BLM and FWS authorized the project, but have now decided to revisit its environmental impact.

In their letter, the delegation emphasized two key points. First, they urged that the scope of the SEIS be narrow, focusing solely on reanalyzing the impacts of the 2020 wildfires. They cited a court order that upheld the sufficiency of the previous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and emphasized the need to avoid unnecessary delays.

Second, the delegation called for meaningful participation from UDOT and Washington County in the SEIS process, as required by federal law. They expressed concerns about the timeline proposed by the BLM and FWS, which they believe does not allow for thorough consideration of the comments submitted by UDOT and Washington County. They also highlighted the need for UDOT and Washington County to be afforded proper engagement, as mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant regulations.

The Washington County Commission expressed gratitude for the delegation's support throughout the process. "On behalf of the Washington County Commission, we appreciate the support of the Utah Delegation throughout this process and their effort to elevate the issues raised by state and local stakeholders," said Commissioner Gil Almquist, Chair of the Washington County Commission.

UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras also expressed appreciation for the attention given to the SEIS. "We appreciate the urgency being placed on this important SEIS by Utah's Congressional Delegation and by BLM and FWS," said Braceras. "The Northern Corridor is vital to a successful transportation system - today and in the future - for this growing part of our state."

The delegation's letter to Secretary Haaland called for careful consideration of the concerns raised by UDOT and Washington County, given the significance of the approvals under review. They emphasized the importance of regional planning, transportation, land use, and conservation objectives.

It is now up to Secretary Haaland and the relevant federal agencies to address these concerns and ensure that the SEIS process is conducted in a thorough and transparent manner, taking into account the input of UDOT, Washington County, and other stakeholders. The Northern Corridor highway plan is a critical infrastructure project for Utah, and its successful implementation will contribute to the state's continued growth and development.