QUALITY - The Salt Lake Tribune

Potentially dangerous wildfire day shaping up for parts of Utah

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:06 MDT

Potentially dangerous wildfire day shaping up for parts of Utah

By Janelle Stecklein The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 18, 2013 07:36AM MDT

Tuesday was shaping up to be a potentially dangerous day for wildfires. The southern and eastern halves of Utah were under a red flag warning that starts at noon Tuesday and runs until 10 p.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City said sustained winds of up to 25 mph, gusting to 35 mph, were expected to sweep through those parts of the state through Wednesday. The relative humidity is expected to drop as low as 7 percent. Combined, the high winds and low humidity will make for...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Guv hands keys to nonprofit to drive air-quality improvements

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:21:27 MDT

Guv hands keys to nonprofit to drive air-quality improvements

By Judy Fahys The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 11, 2013 11:21PM MDT

West Valley City • Gov. Gary Herbert formally spun off the state’s air-quality improvement campaign Tuesday into an independent, nonprofit organization. His year-old Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) will harness the best practices of business, industry, government and other nonprofits to drive innovation and educate people about what they can do to improve Utah’s sometimes “gunky” air, the governor said. “We all have an opportunity,” said Herbert at a news conference at Fairbourne Station Plaz...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Grass-roots group tripped up in fight against Sigurd power plant

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:01:04 MDT

Grass-roots group tripped up in fight against Sigurd power plant

By Judy Fahys The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 11, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Dick Cumiskey isn’t exactly sure what’s next, now that the state’s top environmental regulator snubbed his group’s latest effort to derail a power plant planned for Sigurd. He’s certain about one thing, though. His Sevier Citizens for Clean Air and Water is not about to quit fighting the Sevier Power Plant. To Cumiskey, a boat designer who retired to Sevier County, it’s beyond ridiculous for state regulators to sign off on a massive industrial facility — such as the 580-megawatt gas-fired power ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Orem company fined over air-quality violations

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:27:47 MDT

Orem company fined over air-quality violations

Updated Jun 10, 2013 11:27PM MDT

Amico-Klemp Co. in Orem has agreed to a $90,200 penalty to settle repeated air-quality violations. Jay Morris, of the Utah Division of Air Quality, told the Air Quality Board at its June meeting that the company, which manufactures industrial grating, was cited for violating its volatile organic compounds (VOC) limits in 2009 and paid a $7,000 fine. “During the 2012 compliance inspection, the company reported they had exceeded the VOC limit significantly for over 39 straight rolling 12-month pe...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Free UTA passes offered, for those who are quick

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:27:47 MDT

Free UTA passes offered, for those who are quick

By Lee Davidson The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 10, 2013 11:27PM MDT

The first 2,500 people who pledge to help reduce summer air pollution by riding transit during July will receive a free seven-day pass to ride Utah Transit Authority buses and trains — a $50 value. Zions Bank and the UTA teamed up to create the program, called Ride Clear, to help reduce pollution that can be bad during the dog days of summer. The first 2,500 people who register at utarideclear.com will be mailed a free seven-day pass good on TRAX, FrontRunner and UTA buses. They are electronic ...

Clean-car standards win Utah air board endorsement

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:34:57 MDT

Clean-car standards win Utah air board endorsement

By Judy Fahys The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated Jun 6, 2013 06:34AM MDT

Utah’s air-pollution hot spots stand to benefit more than anywhere else in the nation from a federal clean-car proposal. And, with that in mind, members of the Utah Air Quality Board voted 6-2 Wednesday to send a letter voicing support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed “Tier 3” standards. “As we are seeking other [pollution reduction] benefits,” said Robert Paine, a board member and pulmonologist, “this could be important.” The letter won’t be sent unless a board majority s...