Today, Rep. Chris Stewart’s (R-Utah) bill, the Washington County, Utah, Public Lands Management Implementation Act (H.R. 2423) passed out of the Natural Resources Committee.  

 “This is a big win for my constituents in Washington County,” Stewart said. “This bill will finally allow for further transportation development to accommodate growth in one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Thank you to Chairman Bishop and the Natural Resources Committee for passing this bill. I am looking forward to it being brought to the House Floor.”

"We are very pleased that Congressman Chris Stewart's bill was passed today by the House Committee on Natural Resources,” Mayor Jon Pike of St. George said. “It is critical for the transportation needs of St. George and Washington County to have a northern corridor designated. Our beautiful hillsides, bluffs and wildlife can be sensitively protected while also allowing for another east/west route for people to utilize in the near future as growth continues to increase the pressure of existing roads."

The Washington County Commission said that H.R. 2423, “is a great first step to reaching a resolution on this issue, which is of vital importance.”

Specifically, H.R. 2423 designates what is known locally as the northern corridor. This corridor will bypass the bottlenecks to accommodate existing and future transportation needs. It also authorizes the development of utilities in accordance with the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan. The bill reflects the compromises the County negotiated with the federal government to minimize impacts on the desert tortoise and to allow the City of St. George to grow sustainably.

The full text of the bill can be found here.