Stop The Polluting Ports
Stop the Polluting Ports is a grassroots coalition of community organizations working to protect the environment around the Great Salt Lake and the state of Utah. Working to protect our air, water, land, and people and provide safe habitat for millions of birds.
Cedar Valley inland port set to harm Great Salt Lake Basin water, air 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, 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 the fastest 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.
Read our report "A Tax Payer Boondoggle: The Utah Inland Port Authority's impact on taxpayers
Join the coalition of concerned citizens, communities and organizations in asking Utah's elected leaders to stop the polluting port.
How You Can Help
Educate Yourself
Learn about the issue and get involved – people power works and the good news is that we are having an impact on this disastrous project. Read our fact sheet (PDF) and check out our Issues & Information page to learn more about what the proposed Utah Inland Port is. Also check out the Utah Inland Port Authority official website.
Show Up
The Port Authority Board meets quarterly and allows for general public comment, as well as comment on action items. See when the next meeting is on our Events page. By testifying before the Port Authority Board, community members are creating a public record of concern. You can also register your concerns through written comments.
Sign Up
Help us grow our coalition by signing up for our mailing list and join one of our coalition organizing meetings. (Contact us for meeting details.)
Speak Up
Tell your elected officials and candidates for office what you think – local elected officials need to hear our concerns loud + clear that this issue is important. Reach out to your state legislators, county and city representatives and candidates for office.
Write a Letter to the Editor or Op-Ed – getting a letter or op-Ed published in your local newspaper can help raise community awareness and influence decision makers. Also, if you use social media help spread the word there.
Don't know what to say? Read our fact sheet (PDF) and check out our Issues & Information page to learn more about what the proposed Utah Inland Port is.
For more information or to get involved contact Deeda Seed, at the Center for Biological Diversity, at dseed@biologicaldiversity.org