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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature requests that the Utah Department of
10 Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources conduct a joint study of the
11 feasibility of creating a scenic loop through Antelope Island.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 ▸ recognizes the opportunity and value of creating a scenic loop through Antelope
15 Island that utilizes and connects the impassable remnants of an existing road to the
16 existing island access from the Syracuse area, and loops back through Salt Lake
17 City, entering near the airport and the new prison site;
18 ▸ requests that the Utah Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural
19 Resources jointly study the feasibility of establishing the scenic loop;
20 ▸ addresses the elements that the joint study should include; and
21 ▸ requests that the results of the joint study be presented to the Transportation Interim
22 Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
23 Committee by September 2021.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
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27 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 WHEREAS, many years ago a road provided southern access to Antelope Island;
29 WHEREAS, the remnants of this road can still be seen on Google Maps;
30 WHEREAS, there is opportunity and value in reestablishing a southern access road to
31 Antelope Island;
32 WHEREAS, a scenic loop could be created that connects the impassable remnants of an
33 existing road to the existing island access from the Syracuse area, and loops back through Salt
34 Lake City, entering near the airport and the new prison site;
35 WHEREAS, this scenic loop would provide access to bird watchers, cyclists, outdoor
36 enthusiasts, and many others;
37 WHEREAS, the Utah Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural
38 Resources should jointly determine the feasibility of establishing the scenic loop;
39 WHEREAS, this feasibility study should include determining whether some state entity
40 owns a legal, public right-of-way across private lands that would access the sovereign lands,
41 evaluating soil issues, identifying potential issues involved to building a causeway or similar
42 structure related to the road, and environmental, financial, or other challenges that may arise as
43 they conduct the joint study;
44 WHEREAS, the Utah Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural
45 Resources should report on the findings of their joint study to the Transportation Interim
46 Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee by
47 September 2021; and
48 WHEREAS, studying the establishment of this scenic loop would be of great benefit to
49 the citizens of the state of Utah:
50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
51 recognizes the opportunity and value of creating a scenic loop through Antelope Island that
52 utilizes and connects the impassable remnants of an existing road to the existing island access
53 from the Syracuse area, and loops back through Salt Lake City, entering near the airport and the
54 new prison site.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the Utah Department
56 of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources jointly study the feasibility of
57 establishing the scenic loop, including determining whether some state entity owns a legal,
58 public right-of-way across private lands that would access the sovereign lands, evaluating soil
59 issues, identifying potential issues involved to building a causeway or similar structure related
60 to the road, and environmental, financial, or other challenges that may arise as they conduct the
61 joint study.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the Utah Department
63 of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources report the findings of their joint
64 study to the Transportation Interim Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
65 Environment Interim Committee by September 2021.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
67 Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources.