This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It was great to see that Salt Lake's recent poor air quality garnered national attention on NBC's "Today" show. The whole situation makes me sick.
I have been in the environmental engineering business for 40 years and am now retired. I remember meetings with consultants, engineers, manufacturers and end users (polluting industries) regarding the installation of equipment to reduce these detrimental emissions.
Everyone had their own agenda, but the end users' bottom line was: What do we have to do to comply with the minimum requirements without being fined?
How much money more than the cost of compliance was directed into lobbying, political action committees and perks to keep the lax, status-quo regulations?
After observing our legislators, in Utah and Washington, it is obvious nobody wants to rock the boat. If somehow the funding used for keeping the same emission standards in place were directed at lowering emissions, who would benefit and who would not?
The valley pollution is now slowly clearing out, and we will again breathe somewhat better air. Until next year, when the cycle returns — same old, same old.
Bob Hanford
West Jordan