[1] It has been the subject of controversy over concerns about increased pollution and environmental degradation, and loss of local control of the land by existing municipalities, primarily Salt Lake City.

Per Utah Code, eight board members are appointed, and seven hold their post ex officio[3] The current board chair is Utah House of Representatives Chief of Staff Abby Osborne; its previous chairs include World Trade Center Executive Director Miles Hansen, West Valley Assistant Manager Nicole Cottle, Salt Lake City Councilman James Rogers, and President and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Derek Miller.

At the time, he stated that "despite anti-trade, isolationist rhetoric at the national level, Utah remains committed to promoting international trade.

[12] In September 2022, the Port Authority announced it would “pause… all major capital projects” until it develops a “Northwest Quadrant Master Development Plan.”[13] Also in September, a third-party analysis sponsored by activism group Stop the Polluting Port concluded that the proposed transloading facility on Salt Lake City's west end would be uneconomical and fail to provide expected benefits.

[22] The Inland Port is located in non-attainment zones for several airborne pollutants, meaning that current air quality standards are not met.

[23] Critics argue that the presence of an inland port would increase diesel truck traffic in the area and therefore further exacerbate poor air quality in Utah.

[27] Similar warehouse complexes in central California's Inland Empire area have seen increased truck exhaust, being colloquially dubbed "diesel death zones" and leading to additional regulations on emissions.

"By way of comparison, the total number of daily vehicle trips on I-80 between downtown and the [Salt Lake City International] airport was about 42,000 in 2017," the report states.

"[29] The Great Salt Lake is currently at half of its historical size; the shrinkage can be attributed directly to withdrawals for industrial, agricultural and economic activities.

Additionally, the ecosystem surrounding the lake is considered to be under severe stress due to the falling water levels and other human activities.

[26] (Joliet, IL, the site of America's largest inland port, is estimated to be less than a decade from running out of water completely.

[32] The bill establishing the Inland Port was passed by the Utah Legislature with broad changes from earlier versions with little time for public comment and review.

[34] Greg Hughes, who was the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives when HB 234 was passed, appointed himself as an Inland Port board member.

Less than a week later, he resigned from this position, after it was discovered that he owned property which was close enough to the port boundaries to have legally disqualified him from being on the board in the first place.

[48] On September 20, 2021, Protestors gathered outside of the 111 main office of the Port Authority and managed to postpone a meeting designated to create a Public Infrastructure District (PID).