Pipeline gets OK from Salt Lake City Council

The Salt Lake City Council approved an ordinance change Tuesday, clearing the way for a pair of oil companies to construct a 400-mile pipeline through Utah.

The UNEV Pipeline, owned by Holly Corp. and Sinclair Transportation Co., will run underground from the oil refineries in North Salt Lake, through 2,300 feet of Salt Lake City's Lowlands Conservancy Overlay District, and on to distribution centers in Southern Utah and Nevada.

Prior to Tuesday's unanimous vote, utility infrastructure was not allowed in the conservancy district near Salt Lake City International Airport.

The pipeline will create about 150 jobs and help eliminate trucks on Utah's highways, council members said.

— Aaron Falk