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ST. GEORGE — A major highway proposed to cut through the protected Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in Southern Utah is subject to new scrutiny following pending litigation by conservation advocacy groups.
The Bureau of Land Management announced Wednesday that it and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "are gathering public input to inform a scientific analysis of the proposed Northern Corridor highway in Washington County."
The new analysis, or "supplemental environmental impact statement," follows a decision made by federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson connected to the lawsuit brought against the Interior Department in June 2021.
The new analysis is meant to build on the original one and will address procedural matters identified in court documents where the federal agencies fall short on compliance.
"BLM takes seriously our responsibility to protect natural and cultural resources, including those resources in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, alongside our commitment to support local communities," Gloria Tibbetts, BLM Color Country District manager, said in a press release. "We encourage everyone to provide input so that every voice is heard, acknowledged and considered in the decision-making process."
