Second Lawsuit Filed Against
Legacy Highway

Feb. 2, 2001-- The Legacy Highway will actually be good for air quality. That's the argument of state transportation planners.

But opponents aren't buying it.

More Info Details From AP More From The Sierra Club Plain English Guide To The Clean Air Act From the EPA Legacy Parkway Web Site Stop Legacy Highway Web Site Virtual Tour of Proposed Highway Artist's Renderings Recent Past Stories Opponents Sue To Stop Legacy Highway Jan. 17, 2001 Army Corps Grants Permit For Highway Jan. 10, 2001 Gov Says EPA Won't Stop Highway Jan. 5, 2001 Weber Cities Plan For Legacy Highway Jan. 4, 2001 Little Enthusiasm For Northern Part of Highway Jan. 2, 2001 Army Corps Will Okay Highway Permit Dec. 21, 2000 New Report Questions Need For Highway Apr. 24, 2000 Will Highway Solve or Create Traffic Trouble? Apr. 25, 2000

And now, the Sierra Club has filed a new lawsuit in federal court, saying the road will violate the Clean Air Act.

News Specialist John Daley reports.

In the war over the proposed Legacy Highway, there are two battlefronts. One is along the pristine shores of the Great Salt Lake.

Opponents first filed a lawsuit against the road on environmental grounds, arguing that the Federal Highway Administration and Army Corps of Engineers violated rules protecting wetlands.

Now they've opened up a new front, by filing a new lawsuit contending that the road violates the Clean Air Act, and will only worsen our often poor air quality.

Marc Heileson/Sierra Club: "AIR POLLUTION IS A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT. IT TAKES SOMEONE TO JUST LOOK OUT THE WINDOW THIS WINTER JUST TO REALIZE WE HAVE A SERIOUS AIR QUALITY PROBLEM. IT IS PROVEN TO BE A SERIOUS RISK TO HEALTH, PARTICULARLY OUR ELDERLY AND OUR CHILDREN."

Joro Walker/Attorney for Sierra Club: "WE DON'T WANT TO BE BUILDING PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO HAVE SAFE AIR IN THE FUTURE OR PREVENT US FROM CLEANING UP OUR AIR WHEN IT EXCEEDS FEDERAL STANDARDS."

Dr. Hugo Rodier/Utah Physicians for Clean Air: "WE HAVE MORE HEART ATTACKS WHEN THERE'S POLLUTION, OUR BLOOD PRESSURE GOES UP. OUR LIVERS ARE AFFECTED AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DETOXIFY POLLUTANTS AS WELL, WHICH CAUSES IMMUNE PROBLEMS AS WELL. WE START HAVING AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES."

John Daley/Eyewitness News: "A CENTRAL QUESTION IN THIS CASE: DOES A MAJOR NEW HIGHWAY MEAN MORE AIR POLLUTION? OPPONENTS SAY 'ABSOLUTELY.' UDOT SAYS 'NO.'''

State transportation planners argue Legacy will reduce congestion, thereby improving air quality.

Byron Parker/Legacy Highway Team: "INVERSIONS ARE A WAY OF LIFE HERE. WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE BETTER QUALITY OF AIR BY BUILDING THE ROAD."

Those against Legacy are for more transit. But they need a ruling from a judge to help them win the fight to stop the road.

A third Legacy lawsuit is expected to be filed in the next few weeks. The main issue of that suit is also air pollution, and is likely to be filed by the group Utah Physicians for Clean Air.