The Alliance for Unity has inserted itself into the issue of natural resource protection.

The alliance, a group of Utah religious, civic and business leaders that has weighed in on issues including Main Street Plaza and radioactive waste coming to Utah, released a statement Friday supporting "protection and preservation of clean water, clean air and critical lands in Utah."

"We understand," the statement read, "that it is up to the citizens of the state to decide how best to assure the preservation and protection of these vital natural resources. But we must do so with a sense of urgency, recognizing that failure to act promptly and decisively risks endangering the quality of life that makes Utah a great place in which to live."

Executive Director Alexander Morrison, an emeritus member of the Quorums of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said alliance members in their meeting last week decided to publicly address the issue. (Their support of the statement was unanimous.)

"It's very much in the public eye and public concern right now . . . ," Morrison said. "If we wait another 20 years until we decide as a people to protect critical (resources) then we'll never be able to do it — or we'll pay through the nose to do it."

The statement is a departure from the alliance's original purpose: Industrialist Jon Huntsman (father of the GOP gubernatorial candidate) and Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson formed the group three years ago to bridge the divide between Utah's religious communities, political parties and ethnic groups.

As time has gone on, the group has branched out into other areas. Its condemnation last November of bringing more potent radioactive waste into Utah, for example, factored in Utah waste company Envirocare's losing that fight.

Morrison said at the time that the alliance planned to continue forays into areas lying beyond its original purpose, but that it would not "get into partisan politics."

As regards Friday's statement on natural resources, an issue that can and does become partisan in the extreme, "We wanted to say something about the principle, but we wanted to stay away from the procedure," Morrison said. "We've said what we want to say; how (people) do that is up to them."

The statement noted that Utah's population is projected to increase by 1 million people in the next 20 years. "That will inevitably result in increased development, more traffic, enhanced pressures on our parklands and recreation areas, and threats to our clean air and clean water. We must act without delay to protect the unique natural beauties and vital values which all Utahns treasure."

The alliance also commended the Community Services Council, which provides services to needy Utahns, on its 100th anniversary.

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