Impacts of a Shivwits Reservation Airport

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The new private airport Reef Capital Partners and Black Desert Resort plan to build on the Shivwits Band Reservation just 3.5 miles away from Shivwits and Ivins residential neighborhoods is a part of their 1,250-acre, 4 golf course luxury development. 79% of Shivwits voters oppose Reef's development project, which includes the airport. Unfortunately, Reef/Black Desert and its partners have disenfranchised the Shivwits of their federal right to vote so they have no say in the matter.

Reef/Black Desert want this airport for the ease and comfort of ultra-wealthy private jet setters who might otherwise, like everyone else, have to drive the 25 miles from the St. George regional airport (SGU) to the Shivwits reservation. Air traffic from the new airport is expected to fly at low altitudes when landing at this proposed resort airport--over the reservation from the west and over St. George and Ivins from the east. 

Neither the Shivwits people nor residents of Ivins, Santa Claira, or St. George want this airport. Nor will they stand for the noise, air pollution, health risks, and loss of property values caused being under the flight path of an airport serving the convenience of wealthy non-resident resort guests, golfers, celebrities, and television personnel. 

Health & Environmental Impacts of Reef/Black Desert Shivwits Reservation Airport

1. Air Quality Degradation from Reef/Black Desert Shivwits Reservation Airport: 

• Localized air quality issues are measurably worse near small airports such as the one planned by Reef Capital/Black Desert due to increased emissions from frequent takeoffs and landings and because many smaller planes are less fuel efficient and burn more pollutant-generating emissions. The air quality in neighborhoods surrounding small airports is also significantly degraded due to unburned hydrocarbons from small airplanes and jets. Measurable air pollution levels of sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds are higher closer to airports. 

• Small airports produce higher pollution emissions due to less efficient older engines, increased fuel burn, and a higher concentration of emissions due to frequent takeoffs and landings. These small planes generate more pollution from CO2, nitrogen oxides, and unburned hydrocarbon emissions than larger aircraft with more efficient engines. Emissions from small planes located in areas like SW Utah with high levels of sunlight cause photochemical reactions producing even greater amounts health-harming hydrocarbons, which are then expelled into the environment, especially during take-off and landing.  

2. Negative Health Impacts of Reef/Black Desert Shivwits Reservation Airport

• The incidence of respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD has been found to be 17% higher and cardiovascular problems 9% higher in those who lived within 6.2 miles of an airport. Ultrafine particulate matter, unburned hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and lead have been associated with increased neurological issues, kidney and liver disease, lymphoma, and other types of cancer. 

• Ultrafine particulate matter from black carbon is one of the most concerning health issues related to small airport proximity. Ultrafine particulate matter has been shown to penetrate deeply into lungs, and is correlated with asthma and cardiovascular problems, including increased ER visitation near airports for heart attacks and asthma. A review of 70 studies gleaned from 3,301 articles found ultrafine particulate matter near airports to be identified with adverse health impacts, including “increased rates of premature death, pre-term births, decreased lung function, oxidative DNA damage, and childhood leukemia." 

• Ground level ozone and unburned hydrocarbons from small airports are associated with negative health impacts, with children and seniors at greatest risk. Long term exposure to ground level ozone has been correlated with reduced lung function, chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and increased risk of cardiac problems.

• The EPA published an official "endangerment finding" for the leaded aviation gasoline Reef/Black Desert will stock at its new airport and identifies lead in piston engine aircraft fuel as an "urgent public health issue."  Also, according to the EPA, “Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant source of lead emissions in our air." Unlike Jet aircraft used for commercial transport which don't operate on leaded fuel, 170,000 small piston engine airplanes in the US use a fuel called Avgas which contains dangerous levels of lead. The fuel is so hazardous to small airports and surrounding neighborhoods that the EPA's hopes to outlaw Avgas by 2030. Unfortunately, the prohibition of Avgas is unlikely as no feasible alternative fuel yet exists for piston aircraft. The EPA compared the severity of the health hazards of lead exposure from the Avgas used in piston engine aircraft to the lead exposures which occurred in Flint Michigan when thousands of children were exposed to toxic lead in the water supply and evidenced increased incidence of developmental delays, behavioral issues, and permanent neurological damage. Per the EPA in 2023, "there is no evidence of a threshold below which there are no harmful effects on cognition from lead exposure." Despite these clearly articulated dangers and the EPA's endangerment finding, Reef/Black Desert airport plans include storage facilities for lead-containing fuels and use lead-based Avgas to fuel small piston planes. Shivwits and Ivins residents living within 5 miles of the airport, especially children, along with air, soil, and water, will be at increased risk for lead contamination. See the adjoining site plan picture illustrating the Reef/Black Desert airport plans for a fuel farm for lead-containing Avgas.

4. Noise pollution generated by small planes and jet traffic will negatively impact human health and disrupt wildlife, especially since the Shivwits reservation airport planes be taking off and landing within 4 miles of Shivwits and Ivins neighborhoods. Chronic exposure to noise pollution has been linked to cardiovascular problems, sleep disturbances, and a range of other health issues on people. Studies reveal wildlife to also be adversely impacted by increased noise levels of airports which causes habitat displacement, decreased reproduction in some bird species, and lower breeding rates in birds and animals. Since the Shivwits Reservation lands host four endangered species and an intact ecosystem of other flora and fauna, the impact of placing a small, busy airport will be harm these the entire ecosystem.  

5. Chemically toxic water pollution from small private airports occurs when toxic run-off leaches into area streams and wells, causing surface water or groundwater pollution. Airport runoff water contains hazardous pollutants and contaminants including heavy metals, lead, glycols, detergents, PCBS, pesticides, formaldehydes, and phenols. The risk to the Santa Clara River, which is downhill from the planned Reef/Black Desert Shivwits reservation airport, is significant, especially with seasonal downpours cascading polluted water from the airport into the river and downstream into wells and groundwater. Airport pavement is contaminated by toxic chemicals used for refueling, fuel storage, transportation, airplane repair, and de-icing. These groups of pollutants are highly toxic and carcinogenic and will also flow downhill, causing further health and environmental harms. 

6. Night Sky Light Pollution from airport and airplane lights will occur in night sky communities of Ivins and the Shivwits Band Reservation. Lights from the airport and incoming and outgoing planes flying low will negatively impact night sky visibility and adversely affect and disorient animals dependent on the desert night for survival.  

7.  Decreased property values occur near small airports: Because small airports adversely impact health, the environment, and quality of life, research indicates that property values in nearby neighborhoods are decreased. Not only do increased noise levels deter potential buyers, but air quality and health related concerns are implicated in property value reductions. 

Please see the accompanying sections on the Environmental Impact, Health Consequences, and effect on the regions Water Resources of the Reef/Black Desert resort on Shivwits Band of the Paiute Tribe Trust Lands.