Environmental impacts explored in road project

Public comment is being accepted on a new report analyzing potential environmental impacts that could result from a project to upgrade the Bitter Creek Road and its cutoff in Uintah County.

The roads are 37 "air" miles south of Vernal and are used year-round for commercial and public travel, to move livestock and for recreational purposes.

As part of its master plan adopted in 2007, Uintah County is proposing to widen, realign and gravel the roads, which necessitates road closures and expansion of the county's rights of way.

The Bureau of Land Management released an environmental assessment on the project exploring possible impacts to area vegetation, rangeland and wildlife, including migratory bird species, and what steps the county would take to mitigate those impacts.

Comments on the assessment are being accepted through Dec. 8. The report can be viewed at tinyurl.com/yzt99j7.

— Amy Joi O'Donoghue