Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park.

"Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."

The news conference was one of four held at national parks around the country - including Utah's Capitol Reef National Park - to bring attention to the revised standards being proposed by the EPA. The two Utah parks were among 10 national parks identified by the National Parks Conservation Association earlier this year as being in the greatest danger of seeing their vistas sullied by pollution from proposed coal-fired power plants that would be built nearby.

Larry McKowan, owner of Flannigan's Inn in Springdale, also worried that weaker air-quality standards could hurt the tourist-based economy that provides 2,100 local jobs and infused $98 million a year into the economy.

He said that business owners and city leaders have worked hard to build businesses that cater to tourists without developing an "amusement park atmosphere."

McKowan praised the shuttle system that ferries visitors through the park in order to cut down on automobile emissions that is used as a model by other national parks around the country.

Even so, McKowan said the air already is being degraded.

"In spite of our efforts, Zion's air quality is rated only fair," he said. "Air monitors were installed in the park in 2000 and used in developing a database for further study . . . We must actively oppose anything that will degrade the air,"

Bill Swenson who heads the Clean Air Task Force for neighboring St. George, urged residents of Washington County to get involved with the task force in bringing attention to the public the importance of clean air.

He said the city is developing a three megawatt solar power farm in the city to start generating power by 2011 and said the city and county are negotiating with the county on developing a biomass plant that would use methane from the county landfill to generate power.