This is not the place.

HF Sinclair has announced plans to build a new refined gasoline pipeline from refineries in Wyoming to markets in Nevada and California, directly through Emigration and Upper Parleys Canyons.

emigration canyon not the place sinclair

If you live in, recreate in, or just drive through Emigration Canyon, you may have seen survey crews out in recent weeks. That’s because Dallas-based oil company HF Sinclair has announced plans to build a new refined gasoline pipeline from Wyoming to markets in Nevada and California, directly through Emigration and Upper Parleys Canyons.

Sign the Petition

Sign to voice your opinion on the proposal and to sign up for updates. This petition will be sent to City Councils for each of the jurisdictions impacted by the proposal.

This proposal, dubbed Project Westline Connect, would transport an additional 35,000 barrels (~1.47 million gallons) per day, with a targeted completion date in 2028. The proposal has not received the approvals needed to proceed, though we know there are powerful forces attempting to advance it through the planning and regulatory processes.


This is a quickly evolving situation that we are watching closely, we will continue to keep this page updated with information and action steps that you can take to help preserve the watershed and wildlands of Emigration Canyon.


A few things we know:

  • Refined gasoline is different from crude oil. In addition to being harder to clean up, it is significantly more volatile and flammable. 
  • This pipeline will not deliver gasoline to Utahns, yet we have to live with the environmental and public health risks that come with the project. It has not been demonstrated that this gas line would lower fuel prices for those impacted by the project.
  • No specific alignment has been published, though HF Sinclair survey crews have been active in Emigration Canyon. If an alignment were to be placed in Emigration Canyon, it would clearly need to extend through, or above Salt Lake City to continue westward.

Risks associated with this project:

  • Severe Wildfire Hazard: This proposal travels through areas rated as “Extreme” wildfire danger rating by the state of Utah. A pipeline rupture could ignite a fire with potential to travel long distances at high-severity, risking not only Emigration and Parley’s Canyons, but the entire Wasatch Range. A significant portion of Emigration Canyon also lies within the High Risk Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) boundary. As taxpayers and homeowners work to reduce wildfire risk in response to H.B. 48 (2025), this proposal would increase wildfire risk in the very same area. 
  • Single Access & Evacuation Route: Emigration Canyon Road is the sole access and evacuation route for the entire canyon. A spill or fire along this route could block emergency vehicles and trap residents with no alternate egress. Constructing a fuel line alongside or underneath the only roadway could create severe emergency response and access risks.
  • Watershed Risks: To access Emigration Canyon from the East, an alignment would likely need to cross protected Salt Lake City Watershed in Parley’s Canyon. An accident in this area could severely impact hundreds-of-thousands of downstream water users. Though surface water in Emigration Creek is not widely diverted for culinary or irrigation uses, this project risks the water in private wells, along with downstream impacts to the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake. 
  • Urban Fire and Spill Hazard: To extend westward towards the end destination, one can assume that this pipeline would need to continue through or above Salt Lake City. A spill in this region could be a significant public safety risk for residents within urban areas.

Ways you can help:

Our local public officials have been elected to speak for us. This project will possibly be discussed at the following public meetings, and they provide the perfect venue to help these public officials understand your concerns. We encourage you to wait until agendas for the meeting are public. Links to specific meeting pages with agendas will be updated as they become available.

If you cannot attend these meetings, please fill out the petition.

As our climate reaches unprecedented temperatures, and the rest of us work towards a renewable transition, we must ask why a proposal to expand fossil fuel infrastructure at this scale is being considered. We must also ask why residents who don’t even see a financial benefit must face the immense risks associated with the proposal. Help us show HF Sinclair and our elected officials that this is not the place.

For questions, or to share additional information you have, please contact us at info@saveourcanyons.org.

Additional Resources: