The founders of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment and Utah Moms for Clean Air told the Utah Valley Sierra Foundation on Wednesday that proposed coal-fired power plants, combined with the growth the region is experiencing, will make air pollution matters much worse, possibly killing thousands of people over time.

"Utah County is uniquely positioned in the cross-hairs of the the coal plants," said Brian Moench, of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. "You are near the five coal plants that are already built." Eventually, the valley could find itself downwind of 14 coal-fired plants contributing to fine particulate and ozone pollution in the valley.

Moench said Provo, Salt Lake and Logan rank among the top cities in the nation for periodic spikes in air pollution levels, even though the annual levels of key pollutants such as carbon monoxide and PM10 have decreased.

Robert M. Dalley, director of the state Division of Air Quality's Air Monitoring Center, said the last time the PM10 standard was violated in Utah County was in 1993. But in response to studies showing links between fine particulate pollution and illness, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drafted new standards for fine particulates - PM2.5 - and ozone. The EPA's PM2.5 standard is 65 micrograms per cubic meter. Dalley said an area is deemed to be in violation if the upper 2 percent of air quality readings over three years exceed the standard.

"Based on what we are evaluating, Utah County will be in violation of the new PM2.5 standard," Dalley said.

And that fine particulate, Moench said, is the major threat posed by additional coal plants and increased traffic on the roads.

"The Utah Department of Transportation says vehicle traffic is expected to double in the next two years. Imagine the air quality when you have twice as many cars going twice as many miles, and add to that the effects of 14 coal-fired plants and hotter temperatures in the summer," Moench said.

Cherise Udell, founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air, said while coal plants are a significant threat, automobiles account for 65 percent of the air pollution generated. Projects like the Mountain View Corridor only expose more people to air pollution because pollutants are concentrated along transportation corridors. With several schools in close proximity to the highway's proposed route, Udell said the project puts children at risk of lung disease.

"I don't see it any different than the Mayan sacrifices when we are sacrificing our children for the economy," Udell said.

Moench said people usually do not realize the economic costs of air pollution, which he said negate any savings from using coal power. He said the EPA estimates that each death from air-pollution-related illnesses reduces economic productivity by $6 million to 7 million.

Moench said his hope is that people in Utah County will get elected officials to reject new coal plants.

dmeyers@sltrib.com