(KCPW News) At the beginning of the legislative session, air quality emerged as a major concern for Utahns and a top priority for lawmakers. But 18 days into this session, despite agreement that air pollution problems need to be addressed, there’s not a clear consensus on the remedies. Governor Gary Herbert is in favor of…
(KCPW News) At the moment, Utah law stipulates that the state’s clean air standards cannot surpass federal standards in stringency. However, given the unique air quality concerns in Utah, many clean air advocates say relying on broad, nationally-imposed federal regulations for Utah’s air doesn’t make sense. For that reason, Democratic Sen. Gene Davis proposes SB 164,…
(KCPW News) Governor Gary Herbert delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday night. He gave a roughly 25-minute address to the assembled Utah legislature, a far cry from the 65 minutes of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address the night before. But the Utah governor covered most of the topics on the…
(KCPW/ Explore Utah Science) The public has made it’s voice heard when it comes to air pollution in the state. Regulators and government officials say they are developing a Utah solution for air quality. This year, there are plenty of people ready to hold them accountable. Kim Schuske from Explore Utah Science has the story.
(KCPW News) At a press conference on Wednesday, a bipartisan team of Utah legislators were looking to put air quality on the agenda for the upcoming legislative session. The group, dubbed the Clean Air Caucus, unveiled new bills aimed at tackling the inversion problem plaguing much of northern Utah. Representative Patrice Arent is a co-chair…
(KCPW News) Decked out in holiday apparel and wearing masks to protect their lungs from pollution, about a dozen protesters gather on the sidewalk along 700 East, one of the busiest streets in Salt Lake. A man dressed as Santa Claus waves to the constant stream of traffic, holding a sign that says, “Breathing clean…
Segment 1: For the past decade, air quality alerts in Utah have mirrored a traffic light, with green meaning clean skies, yellow meaning voluntary no-burn days and red meaning mandatory no-burn days. This week, the state announced it’s replacing the traffic light model with the EPA’s six-color index. Air quality alerts will also recommend…
The Salt Lake City metropolitan area is the seventh worst in the country for short-term particle pollution, according to a new American Lung Association report card, called “State of the Air.” That’s a slight improvement from last year, when it ranked fifth.
Segment 1: In December, a coalition of environmental groups sued Kennecott Utah Copper for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The environmental groups claim Kennecott exceeds the dust limits allowed by their state-issued permits. Last month, Dr. Brian Moench of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment joined us to discuss the allegations and the…
Segment 1: Gray skies during December don’t always mean snow is on the way. Particulate matter from car exhaust, coal power plants and other businesses gets stuck in Utah valleys for days and weeks on end. What are the health consequences of extended exposure to dirty air? Guest: Dr. Brian Moench, president, Utah Physicians for…
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