Advocates for the West, Partners Applaud Plan Signaling Denial of Northern Corridor Highway Right-of-Way

Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released a 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.

“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,” said Todd Tucci, Senior Attorney at Advocates for the West. “Threats from residential development remain to rock climbing, mountain biking, and other recreation on state-owned lands outside Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, but BLM should be commended for keeping protected lands within the National Conservation Area protected.” 

At Issue

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.

Background

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 by Advocates for the West, representing Conserve Southwest Utah, Conservation Lands Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, The Wilderness Society, and WildEarth Guardians. The lawsuit, 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 U.S.

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.

About Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

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 NCA 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.