Even under their best-case scenarios, opponents of Utah’s inland port — which has been billed as the state’s largest-ever economic development project — say it will likely worsen air quality and damage the Great Salt Lake’s already fragile ecosystem.
Without an environmental impact study, it’s hard to say what, exactly, the effects could be of the planned 20,000-acre distribution hub in Salt Lake City’s westernmost area, which is expected to bring increased rail, truck and air traffic along with tailpipe emissions.
Advocates point out that, even without the port, the state has struggled to meet federal limits for ozone, an airborne pollutant that is particularly harmful to children.