Washington County HCP Section 6 Land Disposal and Acquisition of Replacement Lands

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the proposed disposal of 47-acres from the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources’ (UDWR) 579-acre property located within the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve (Reserve) in Washington County, Utah. The Service, in part, funded the acquisition of the UDWR property, therefore, the disposal and subsequent acquisition of replacement lands constitute a federal action subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.

The UDWR property within the Reserve is located approximately 4-miles northeast of St. George and is managed for the desert tortoise and other wildlife species. The Service has received UDWR’s notice proposing the disposal of the 47-acres to provide the Utah Department of Transportation with a permanent right-of-way for the Northern Corridor Highway.  

The UDWR property was acquired in 2001, in part, with Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation funds (Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act [ESA]).  As property acquired with the assistance of the federal grant funding, its disposal would require repayment. To meet this requirement, UDWR will acquire a 450-acre parcel from Washington County, therefore, the proposed disposal will not result in a cumulative loss of suitable desert tortoise habitat.

The Draft EA prepared by the Service and UDWR directed contractor analyzes the environmental effects of the disposal and provides an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to review and comment on the proposed action. In the Draft EA, the Service concluded that the proposed action would not have impacts to wetlands, floodplains, or farmland, and would not affect historical and cultural resources. Regarding the ESA Section 7 Section 7
Section 7 Consultation The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.

Learn more about Section 7 consultation for the proposed disposal, the Service is preparing a biological opinion that is anticipated to be completed in November 2025.  

Public comments will be accepted for a 30-day period which ends December 24, 2025. Copies of the Draft EA and Appendices, which include details of the proposed action and the alternatives considered, are available online by clicking on the title of the document at https://www.fws.gov/media/washington-county-hcp-section-6-land-disposal-and-acquisition-replacement-lands. Comments will be accepted until December 24, 2025, and can be sent by email to: FW8washcountylanddisposal@fws.gov.