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Duchesne County hears study tying oilfield traffic to road damage; industry says proposed fee is unaffordable
Summary
Consultants told Duchesne County commissioners a per‑well transportation mitigation fee is legally defensible and tied to measurable pavement impact; industry representatives called the county’s $41,400 per‑well‑per‑mile example unaffordable and urged further negotiation. Commissioners scheduled a follow‑up work session for Oct. 7.
Duchesne County commissioners on Sept. 30 heard a technical presentation proposing a transportation mitigation fee to cover road damage caused by heavy truck traffic from new oil and gas wells. Consultants from Jones & DeMille and county advisers said the fee links projected truck traffic to pavement life reduction and would fund a dedicated road‑repair account.
"The court found that this is a fee that can be charged," consultant Cody said, summarizing a 2016 Utah Supreme Court ruling the presenters said authorizes such fees when there is a clear link between the demand for a service and the charge. Jones & DeMille’s simplified estimate, the consultants said, used core pavement data and industry traffic projections…
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