SALT LAKE CITY — The Division of Facilities Construction and Management announced Friday a portion of the land being considered for a new state prison has been eliminated as an option.
The east portion of the land was ruled out because of concerns relating to the environment as well as site costs and considerations regarding a nearby abandoned landfill.
The DFCM states going forward they will focus solely on the west parcel, which was within the site selected by the Prison Relocation Committee last summer. A map provided by the DFCM details the boundaries of the east and west parcels.
“The elimination of the east parcel represents our commitment to constructing the new prison in a manner that balances community and environmental interests while meeting the needs of the Department of Corrections’ staff, volunteers and inmates,” stated Eric Tholen, DFCM Division Director. “The focus on the west parcel ensures the best use of state resources for this critical project.”
The DFCM anticipates they will finalize the site and boundary considerations and make a property purchase later this year. Once the site is purchased, construction is expected to take four years.
