This proposal is nothing new.
Originally proposed in the early 1990s, the Book Cliffs Highway has been repeatedly introduced and defeated for more than thirty years. As of 2021, it is back and Utah bureaucrats want built at taxpayer’s expense.
Timeline of the Highway
Nov. 1988
After a controversial proposal to create a toxic waste incinerator in Cisco, two of the three county commissioners promoting the incinerator were ousted from office by substantial margins.
Nov. 1988
A citizen’s initiative blocked the toxic waste incinerator.
During the Lame Duck session, the three county commissioners created the Grand County Special Service Road District. The sole purpose of the district was to construct Grand’s portion of an 83-mile paved highway through the Book Cliffs. All mineral lease funds that Grand County was to receive for decades to come were committed to the roads district.
Moab City Council voted to reverse its support of the Book Cliffs Highway
1992
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources opposed the Book Cliffs road.
Sept. 1992
Draft EIS on the project (Ouray to Interstate 70) was released, preferring the alternative that did not widen any existing right-of-ways and simply paved sections as they were. Many unresolved issues were outlined including significant threats of rockslides, significant impacts to stream channels, big game populations, and cultural resources.
Fueled by the actions that created the Special Service Road District, a voter initiative changed the Grand County Commission from a three-person commission with administrative authority to a seven-member council that is strictly legislative.
Feb. 1993
The newly elected council immediately dissolved the road board’s administrative authority, preventing the board from spending more money.
After that, another citizen’s initiative forced the recall of six of the seven new council members.
November 1993
All six members were re-elected
The mineral lease funds were redirected to the recreation, the hospital/extended care facility, and the solid waste special service districts.
2013- 2016
The Book cliffs Highway was at the center of controversy in Rob Bishop’s public lands bill, labeled a "public utility corridor" which ultimately fell apart.
October 2014
The Grand County Council joined the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition
January 2015
Newly-elected Grand County Council rescinded the previous council's resolution to join the regional Seven County Infrastructure Coalition over concerns involving the Book Cliffs Highway
April 2020
SCIC submits a Right-of-Way Application to the BLM for construction through BLM administered lands.
Private landowners of a section of the proposed route ask BLM to deny permitting.
Grand County Council asked to abandon County rights-of-way along the route by the SCIC. Grand County refuses.
December 2020
SCIC halts project and withdraws Right-of-Way application
May 2021
SCIC relists Book Cliffs Highway as “active project”, targets INVEST in America Act as funding source
September 2021
SCIC approves $2.7 million contract to provide supporting environmental analysis to the Bureau of Land Management in preparation for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
December 2023
Anticipated completion date for the supporting environmental analysis contract
Facts and unresolved issues from the 1992 Environmental Impact Study
44,000 feet of stream channel realignment
The Brusher/East Canyon Alternative would result in decreases in habitat use on 17,600 acres of important (high value, critical value) mule deer range, 17,600 acres of important (substantial value, high value, critical value) elk range, 17,600 acres of potential mountain lion range, and 17,600 acres of potential black bear range. The East Canyon Alternative would result in an estimated annual road kill mortality of 138 mule deer, 5 elk, 1 mountain lion, and 1 black bear.
Existing and potential landslide areas were identified in Brusher and East Canyons as part of a geological investigation of the Proposed Route
19 known cultural sites occur within the 200-foot-wide study corridor along the Brusher/East Canyon Alternative. These 19 cultural sites include 1 lithic scatter, 3 lithic scatter/campsite combinations, 1 campsite, 4 rock art sites, 6 rock art/rock shelter combinations, 3 rock shelter occupations, and 1 Ute burial site.
The proposed highway would increase the potential for future flooding at the ranch (confluence of Hay and East) by increasing flood elevations.
The Brusher/East Canyon Alternative would be located on approximately 11 miles of flood-prone areas along the floor of East Canyon. These areas are managed such that flood prone areas are not disturbed unless other reasonable alternatives to disturbance are not available.
The total value of big game animals lost to road kills annually would be approximately $269,406.
