PROJECT UPDATE

A status update of activities on the EIS through November and what to expect in coming months.

Schedule Update

We plan to publish the Draft EIS, including identification of the preferred alternative, on Jan. 7 on our website. The 60-day formal public comment period will begin on Jan. 9, which is when the Draft EIS is published on the Federal Register, and run through Mar. 9. 

We will also host a virtual public meeting on Jan. 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and an in-person public open house on Jan. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Wasatch High School Library, with a presentation and hearing from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the same location. 

The project team will present the Draft EIS and preferred alternative to the Wasatch County Council Work Session at 4 p.m. on Jan. 14 and the Heber City Council Work Session at 4 p.m. on Jan. 20.

Once the Draft EIS is published in January, we will share information via the following methods on how to review materials and submit formal public comments:

• Study website
• Email
• Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News
• Community newsletters
• Social media (Study Facebook Group)
• Social media ads
• Mailed postcards 

How your comments will be used

• Once the Draft EIS is published, there will be a 60-day formal public comment period (this is the maximum amount of time allowed by law)
  • Public comments submitted during the public comment period are not considered a vote.
  • Comments are one input among many that we will use to make final updates and decisions regarding the project. 
  • Comments will be used to consider things that may have been overlooked, such as property or environmental impacts.
• Guidelines to submitting a comment:
  • Clearly identify the issue or resource you’re concerned about.
  • Reference specific sections or topics in the Draft EIS.
  • Include data, citations, observations, or personal experiences that support your comment.
    • Comments like “I don’t like this project” or “This will ruin Heber City” are noted but are more helpful if they include specific reasons based on the analysis. A better comment could be “I don’t like this project because it impacts…” or “I support this project because…”
  • Comments are more impactful when they are solution-oriented.
  • Comments may also be in the form of a question, in addition to statements.
• For more info on the environmental process and how your comments are used, UDOT has prepared this informational EIS Video. Specific information regarding comments is found at timestamp 3:32.

What to expect at the public meetings

UDOT will host two public meetings during the formal public comment period.

• A virtual public meeting will be held first and will provide a presentation and Q&A session. 
  • Formal comments will not be taken at this meeting
• An in-person public hearing, held second, will include several options for making a comment, including a public format for community members to make a live comment so others can hear them. 
  • UDOT will be present and listen to the public comments and the comments made will be recorded by a court reporter. 
  • All comments will be responded to in the Final EIS, not during the meeting.
  • Those who wish to speak will be encouraged to sign up for a spot in advance of the public hearing. More details on this will be available once the Draft EIS is published.
  • There will also be an open house concurrent with the public hearing where community members may speak directly with and ask questions to project team members and UDOT ROW agents.

As a reminder, we are allowing two additional days for public review of the Draft EIS, but the formal public comment period begins on Jan. 9 and ends on Mar. 9. To submit a formal comment, please submit them via phone, email, website comment, comment drop off box, or comment form or court reporter at the public hearing.

More detailed information on the previously proposed alternatives and the analysis published to-date is available on the study website: https://hebervalleyeis.udot.utah.gov/alternative-screening/.