A ban on the hauling of hazardous materials through Provo Canyon satisfies Wasatch Front water officials, but it could deflate local trucking companies.
"We think it's unjust," said Reed Reeve, executive vice president of the Utah Motor Transport Association. "It could put them out of business."The Utah Transportation Commission adopted a resolution last week prohibiting transportation of hazardous substances on U.S. 189 from Olmstead Junction to Heber City. The resolution allows trucks with destinations in the canyon or Heber City to travel the canyon by special permit.
"We thought the potential impact on the water made it worthwhile to do," said commission vice chairman Wayne Winters.
Reeve said people don't realize what such a ban does to the trucking industry and the economy in general.
"Anytime you thwart transportation, you thwart economic stability and economic growth," he said.
Longer alternate routes will force transportation costs up. Some haulers might be able to pass the added expense on to customers. Those working on contract, however, would have to absorb the costs.
"They're stuck for whatever the length of the contract," Reeve said.
The Central Utah Water Conservancy District and the Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District urged the state to better regulate hazardous materials haulers after a June 8 accident in the canyon. A tractor-tanker rig carrying ammonium nitrate plunged into the river, spilling 528 gallons of the viscous substance.
"We're quite pleased that they're thinking this would be an important step toward minimizing the risk," said David Pitcher, Central Utah district engineer. The river supplies culinary water through the Jordan aqueduct to some 750,000 people in Utah and Salt Lake counties.
The commission's resolution must go through the state rule-making process before it becomes enforceable, which is expected to take 30 days. Reeve said the association is undecided on whether it will call for a public hearing on the issue.
Julie Mack, a longtime opponent of non-destination truck travel through the canyon, agrees that the water supply and the blue-ribbon trout fishing needs to be protected.
"It doesn't make any sense to have truck travel near such a precious natural resource," she said.
Reeve said the Provo Canyon ban sets a bad precedent.
"If you start with one area, where does it end?" he asked. Reeve wondered if Weber Canyon or Parleys Canyon are next. In addition, he said, if trucks are a potential hazards in canyon, so are trains and cars.
Furthermore, Reeve said the truckers partially fund highway construction and maintenance through the fuel tax.
"They're denied of being a user of the very roads they're paying for," he said.