Recently I was able to catch a news report featuring Jack Hedge, executor director of the Utah Inland Port Authority. He was again — I have seen him do this before — touting how green the inland port will be. His main point appears to be that the rail transloading facility will replace 300 trucks. I, and others, question where this data is coming from. It may in fact replace 300 trucks, but are these trucks coming to Salt Lake City in any event? Or, are these trucks a result of the inland port, which is the most likely answer. If the inland port is positioned to process goods from Oakland, there will be a need for massive transportation. If this transportation is supplied by trucks-or rail — it will still be a massive increase in goods — and pollution — coming through Salt Lake City.
There is no “green port” at this time, and the infrastructure for an all-diesel trucking system is not yet in place. Most importantly, how many trucks will be needed to carry the goods away from Salt Lake and the proposed satellite ports? There will be a need for massive transportation. If this transportation is supplied by trucks — or rail — it will still be a massive increase of goods — and pollution — coming through Salt Lake City. These questions are ongoing, and yet there has been no attempt on the part of UIPA or the state to answer them.
I attended the last UIPA board meeting in hopes of getting more information. Instead, after a long pause because of technical difficulties, I was confronted with a beautiful presentation of scenery in southern Utah, touting the advantages of a “green environment,” which had nothing to do with Salt Lake City’s Inland Port.
So, as the taxpayers of Salt Lake City are now to be on the hook to pay for this massive boondoggle, are we not important enough to get answers — about costs, infrastructure and potential pollution? Given our environment, EPA and NEPA should be required to do assessments at a minimum.
If all looks OK and “green,” there can be discussion about the parameters of the project. Otherwise, perhaps the people of Salt Lake City and Utah should rebel and refuse to subsidize the inland port through their taxes.
Jan Ellen Burton, Salt Lake City
