LWVUS and LWVUT Support the Preservation of Utah’s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Reserve

The League of Women Voters US and the League of Women Voters of Utah wrote a letter to Sec. Deb Haaland urging the reversal of the previous administration’s decision to allow the Northern Corridor highway to be built through Utah’s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Reserve. The League believes that although environmental protection and pollution control are responsibilities shared by all levels of government, it is essential that the federal government provide leadership. 

League of Women Voters of Utah
P.O. Box 1680
Salt Lake City, Utah 84110

The Honorable Deb Haaland
Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Haaland,

The League of Women Voters of Utah supports reversal of the previous administration’s January, 2021 decision allowing the Northern Corridor to proceed through Utah’s Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Reserve, in agreement with the letter you received from Congressman Raul M. Grijalva, Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, and other members of Congress on April 14, 2022.

Our organization has an interest in protecting our environment and holds a specific position on preserving significant wildlife habitats, such as that of the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise within Red Cliffs. The intent of the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Act requires protection of Red Cliffs National Conservation Area:

The creation of the preserve was controversial and expensive. The land is critical for the survival of the tortoise, a strangely charismatic but often unnoticed reptile. Unfortunately, the area is also prime habitat for human development both for its stark beauty and its immediate proximity to the rapidly expanding city of St. George. The expense to the taxpayer for purchasing private property within the preserve was criticized both by proponents and opponents of the preserve, another reason that the value of these public lands that now belong to all of us should not be threatened by a major highway.

We believe that you have the discretionary authority to reverse this decision that dismissed the concerns raised above.Thank you for your consideration of our views.

Sincerely yours,

Catherine Weller
President,
League of Women Voters of Utah

Virginia Kase Solomón
CEO,
League of Women Voters