Trustees Open 30-day Public Comment Period on Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Addendum for the Sharon Steel Site, Salt Lake County, Utah

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in coordination with the State of Utah is seeking public comment on its Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Addendum (RP/EA Addendum) proposing alternatives to restore natural resources injured by hazardous substances released from the Sharon Steel, Midvale Slag, and Portland Cement Sites pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and the Department of the Interior Natural Resource Damage Assessment regulations (43 C.F.R. Part 11). The Draft RP/EA Addendum updates the original Sharon Steel Natural Resource Restoration Plan (RP).

The proposed preferred alternative presented in this Draft RP/EA Addendum is an update to the City of West Jordan Natural Habitat Restoration Project (Big Bend Project), first described in the original RP. The Big Bend Project will create a 68-acre nature park located adjacent to the Jordan River Trail. This park will feature a 4-acre urban fishery, nature trails, wildlife viewing platforms, and interpretive exhibits. The site will be bisected by about one mile of newly constructed meandering river channel set within a broad floodplain. The new channel will restore hydrologic function to the area, which will improve water quality and support a riparian floodplain forest of cottonwood and box elder trees and other native vegetation. This will in turn restore high quality and resilient foraging and nesting habitat for migratory birds. The eastern half of the site between the new and old river channels will be managed as a limited access bird and wildlife reserve. A Story Map summarizing project history and planning can be viewed.

Today’s announcement opens a 30-day public comment period, which ends on October 20, 2018.

View the Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Addendum for the Sharon Steel Site.

Learn more about Restoring the Jordan River, or find out a little more about the Big Bend Project.

Comments may be sent by e-mail to Chris_Cline@fws.gov, or by mail to: