This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is committed to working with all interested parties to improve Utah's air quality. Utah residents have already made a difference. We need their ongoing involvement to ensure continuing progress.
At its March 2 meeting, the Air Quality Board reviewed three rules proposed by environmental advocates. Proposing the rules required significant effort and represented a constructive approach to advance our collective air-quality goals. Division of Air Quality (DAQ) staff carefully reviewed each proposal and prepared a detailed evaluation. Following more than two hours of discussion, the Air Quality Board decided not to proceed with the rules. The advocates, understandably, were disappointed, as reflected in their Salt Lake Tribune op-ed ("Utah air-quality regulators deny the public a chance to be heard," March 13).
I can't speak for the board, but I can share some of DEQ's rationale for this difficult decision.
First, there are practical problems with the proposed rules. One would require technology that is not yet available. One would require 24-hour emission limits, which DAQ already requires of sources, where feasible. Another rule raises the unintended consequences of discouraging sources from upgrading to cleaner equipment and preventing business and critical facilities from locating in non-attainment areas. Second, implementing new rules is a significant undertaking. With limited resources, DEQ must target its efforts. We don't have the luxury of pursuing all good measures. To clean our air quickly and effectively, we must be selective and focus on the best strategies.
Finally, we believe there is a better approach for assessing new air-quality strategies. In the coming months, DAQ will begin developing a new state plan (PM2.5 State Implementation Plan, or SIP) as required by the Clean Air Act. DAQ will gather public input and identify dozens of potential strategies to improve our air, including elements of the advocates' proposed rules. Experts will evaluate each strategy to determine its cost and impact on air quality, people's lives, and the economy. Through a public process, we will select strategies that create the most benefits for the least cost and allow us to attain health-based air-quality standards.
At the board meeting, DAQ shared good news about air-quality trends along the Wasatch Front. We have reduced total emissions by about 35 percent in the last decade. In 2004, we had "good" air quality (Air Quality Index in the "green" range) about 70 percent of days. That number has trended up since then, reaching 94 percent last year. Peak pollution levels during inversions are declining. Our per capita emissions are among the lowest nationally for metropolitan areas.
This progress reflects stricter controls on industrial sources, our cleaner vehicle fleet, the impact of 30 new state pollution-control standards adopted two years ago, and the collective actions of Utah residents.
Of course, as the recent inversion reminded us, the task of improving our air is not complete.
Our drive to improve the health and well-being of Utah residents is stronger than ever. Broad participation is critical in developing the new PM2.5 SIP, and we are committed to a public process that is more robust than past planning efforts. As a community, we can develop common-sense solutions to achieve what we all want — cleaner air and a healthier Utah.
Alan Matheson is executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.