"We think we have left no stone unturned," Col. Ronald Light, district engineer for the corps' Sacramento district, told the Deseret Morning News editorial board Friday. "We have gone back and reviewed these issues and reaffirmed the rest of the issues in that (environmental) document."

Light said the public comment period for the supplemental environmental impact statement was extended until March 4 at the request of the Sierra Club. The corps will take those comments into consideration, evaluate any new information and likely issue its record of decision — allowing UDOT to go forward with the project — this fall.

"I think we've made a very concerted and deliberate effort to include the Sierra Club and others in the process," Light said. "We believe that the alternative UDOT has selected to this point meets the 'least environmentally damaging practicable alternative' criteria."

UDOT has narrowed the median of the proposed parkway from 66 to 50 feet, which allows one acre of wetlands to be preserved. The 2,100-acre Legacy Preserve has been established by UDOT to help mitigate the impact to the Great Salt Lake environment.

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com; zman@desnews.com