Download the press release here.

ADVOCATES FOR THE WEST

CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

CONSERVE SOUTHWEST UTAH 

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION 

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE 

SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE 

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY

WILDEARTH GUARDIANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Local and national organizations applaud plan signaling denial of highway right-of-way

Federal agencies to release record of decision in 30 days

St. George, UT – Today the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released its final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), indicating BLM’s intent to deny a right-of-way for the proposed four-lane Northern Corridor Highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) in southwestern Utah near Zion National Park. The Utah Department of Transportation’s proposed Northern Corridor Highway route would have violated five bedrock environmental laws and threatened critical habitat for the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise, recreational opportunities and scenic vistas.

According to the final SEIS, the Northern Corridor Highway is a poor option for the St. George community, as it would increase fire probability and frequency, result in permanent loss to designated critical tortoise habitat, spread noxious weeds and invasive plants and adversely impact the highest number of cultural and historical resources of all considered alternatives.

The agencies identified the Red Hills Parkway Expressway option as its preferred alternative over the Northern Corridor Highway, as it addresses the east-west transportation needs of the greater St. George area, while protecting the resource values of the NCA. Washington County’s recent traffic models demonstrate that the Red Hills Parkway Expressway alternative is both more cost-effective and more efficient at alleviating traffic congestion than the rejected Northern Corridor Highway. The alternative modifies the existing Red Hills Parkway to function as an expressway between I-15 and Bluff Street, and final design details would need to consider local needs and be coordinated in close partnership with the community.

Below are statements on behalf of Utah-based and national conservation organizations Conserve Southwest Utah, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Conservation Lands Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, The Wilderness Society, and WildEarth Guardians. 

“Today’s announcement marks a critical step toward ensuring lasting protections for Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. We anticipate the BLM’s final Record of Decision will once and for all put to rest this ill-conceived highway proposal,” said Holly Snow Canada, executive director of Conserve Southwest Utah. “The initial push to route a highway through this national conservation area was rushed, relying on an Environmental Impact Statement that overlooked critical, scientific information. Now, with a more comprehensive review, it is even more clear that this cherished landscape should be left intact for our community’s quality of life. We urge elected officials to seize this opportunity to adopt smarter traffic solutions that better support the long-term health of our local economy and safeguard our irreplaceable public lands, creating a legacy of responsible growth for future generations.”

“BLM’s proposed denial of a four-lane high-speed highway through BLM-managed public lands eliminates the primary threat to the desert tortoise and recreation within Zone 3 of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Todd Tucci, senior attorney with Advocates for the West, which represented the conservation groups. “To be sure, however, the threats from residential development remain to rock climbing, mountain biking, and other recreation on state-owned lands in and around Moe’s Valley. The ball is firmly in the State of Utah’s court to protect these treasured recreational lands, and the State can expect a fight if it seeks to develop Moe’s Valley. We are ready.”

Final Plan Reflects Decade-Long Community Fight to Keep National Conservation Lands Intact

This SEIS is a result of a settlement agreement reached in November 2023 between the federal government and plaintiffs of a lawsuit filed in 2021. The lawsuit, brought by the groups listed above, challenged a 2021 decision by the BLM and FWS to approve a highway right-of-way through the Red Cliffs NCA. The lawsuit cited violations of five federal environmental protection laws (the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act). Shortly after the settlement agreement was signed, a U.S. District Court remanded the 2021 approval of the right-of-way, confirming that the highway would fragment sensitive wildlife habitat for threatened species, reduce outdoor recreation access to the area, and set a dangerous precedent for protected public lands across the US.

The BLM and FWS issued their draft SEIS on May 9, 2024, which initiated a 45-day comment period for public feedback as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The BLM also held a public meeting and extended the comment period, providing an opportunity for questions and feedback. 

Since 2006, local residents and concerned citizens across the country have voiced opposition to the highway, pointing out transportation alternatives outside of Red Cliffs NCA that would do a better job of relieving traffic congestion, supporting economic growth and protecting wildlife, scenic beauty, and local access to trails.

Background on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA): 

The 44,724-acre Red Cliffs NCA is part of the larger Red Cliffs Desert Reserve that is collaboratively managed by the BLM, the FWS, the State of Utah, Washington County, and other municipalities. The Reserve was established under the 1995 Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as part of a “grand compromise” to protect ~61,000 acres of public lands for the Mojave desert tortoise (listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act), while opening 300,000 acres of state and private lands for development. The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was established in 2009 by Congress to “conserve, protect, and enhance…ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources” of the public lands within the unit. 

The region is home to important populations of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise and other at-risk plants and animals including the Gila monster, burrowing owl, and kit fox. The Mojave desert tortoise is on a path to extinction according to leading researchers and its habitat in Southwest Utah is especially vulnerable given recent and anticipated growth in the region. The NCA is 45 miles from Zion National Park, and includes 130 miles of trails, two wilderness areas, heritage public use sites, Native American cultural artifacts, several threatened/endangered species, and one of Utah’s most popular state parks, Snow Canyon State Park. People from all over the state, country, and world visit to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, horseback ride, photograph and marvel at the expansive red rock landscape. 

Additional Information and Resources: 

1. Petition to Permanently Protect the Greater Moe’s Valley Area including Moe’s Valley, Green Valley Gap, Zen Trail & Bearclaw Poppy Trail in Washington County, Utah.
2. Conservation Organizations Respond to Washington County’s Continued Attacks on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area – August 7th, 2024
3. Federal Agencies Release Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on a Highway Right-of-Way Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area – May 9th, 2024
4. Court Order Granting Voluntary Remand, November 16th, 2023
5. Opinion Granting Voluntary Remand, November 16th, 2023
6. BLM’s National NEPA Register website for the Supplemental EIS 
7. BLM and FWS Press Release, November 15th, 2023 
8. Relevant court documents
9. The Protect Red Cliffs Petition, with 35,828 signatures from people around the world advocating for the protection of the Red Cliffs NCA from the Northern Corridor Highway. 
10. The Protect Red Cliffs Zine—Art and Narratives of a Threatened Place
11. Red Cliffs Photo Gallery
12. Red Cliffs Video Galley
13. Presentation – Washington County at a Crossroads: An analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor Highway project in Southwest Utah
14. Report – Washington County at a Crossroads: An analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor Highway project in Southwest Utah

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Contacts: 

• Holly Snow Canada, Executive Director, Conserve Southwest Utah, 435-200-5838, [email protected]  
• Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (435)259-5440 ([email protected]) 
• Kris Deutschman, Chief Communications Officer, Conservation Lands Foundation, 970-670-0193, [email protected] 
• Chris Krupp, Public Lands Attorney, WildEarth Guardians, 206-417-6363, [email protected]
• Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney, Advocates for the West, 208-342-7024, [email protected]
• Hawk Hammer, Communications Specialist, Defenders of Wildlife, 202-772-0295, [email protected]
• Lisa Belenky, Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity, 415-385-5694, [email protected]
• Jose Witt, Mojave Desert Landscape Director, The Wilderness Society, 702-203-1720, [email protected]

Download the press release here.