Utah Gov. Gary Herbert plans in the next few weeks to roll out a statewide clean air campaign.
Its goals? Make Utah’s air more breathable and avert new pollution controls that could be mandated by Washington.
—
Memo: The upcoming Utah clean air campaign
1 » The governor will show “strong leadership” on an issue of broad importance and interest, demonstrating a Utah solution to a Utah problem based on Utah values.
2 » The campaign will have a “positive tone,” avoiding language or actions that could be used against Utah in business-recruitment competition.
3 » State agencies and private entities are “acting aggressively” to meet regulatory requirements. This campaign, however, is a non-regulatory complement to these efforts, focusing on public education and voluntary actions that will “help us achieve our goals.”
4 » Our efforts will be based on “sound science.” We will target actions that truly make a difference.
5 » We recognize the good work being done by many other groups to improve air quality. This initiative will help coordinate and supplement — not usurp — those important efforts.
6 » Because we each convtribute to the air-quality problem, each individual and business should take some ownership of the problem and commit to do something to help clean our air.
Source » Memo on plans for statewide clean air
 |
Join the Discussion |
 |
Post a Comment |
The guiding principle behind the campaign, which will focus on voluntary actions by business and individuals, is that meeting air-quality standards is critical to public health and the economy.
"If we are not able to meet Clean Air Act standards soon, many areas of the state will be subject to federal sanctions, including restrictions on expanding or attracting businesses and a loss of federal transportation funding," says a memo outlining the plan. "Most importantly, failure to meet air-quality standards may affect the health of Utah residents, especially our most sensitive populations."
The campaign is being crafted by Amanda Smith, director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and Herbert’s energy adviser, and Alan Matheson, the governor’s new senior environmental adviser. Herbert spokeswoman Ally Isom said details of the plan are still being finalized.
"It is something that’s a priority for the governor," Isom said. "And we want to make sure it’s a responsible and citizen-oriented plan."
The memo outlining the campaign notes that poor air quality is not only an urban issue, given problems seen in recent years in the Cache Valley, the Uinta Basin, Summit County and Washington County.
"We must continue to improve our air quality," the memo says, "and we all — government, business and residents — need to do our part."
Kathy VanDame, a member of the Utah Air Quality Board and the Wasatch Clean Air Coalition, said she likes the idea of the governor using his bully pulpit in the search for solutions to the state’s air-quality problems.
"The Wasatch Clean Air Coalition has high hopes for this effort," she said. "The solution will require all of us working together. It won’t be easy. If it was easy, we would have done it long ago."
Utah regulators are currently working on a cleanup plan for particulate pollution — which is generally a problem during winter inversions — and a maintenance plan for ozone, generally a problem in the summer in urban Utah.
In addition, ozone has emerged as a significant problem in the rural Uinta Basin, where emissions from oil and gas operations are suspected as a big contributor to the unexpected surges in wintertime ozone. Herbert has organized a panel of government and industry organizations to understand the problem and look for solutions.
Bryce Bird, director of the state Air Quality Division, said the governor’s efforts will help Utah make meaningful improvements in advance of federal mandates that might be years away.
"This recognizes that doing the right thing sometimes goes beyond the regulatory standards," he said.
Karen Hevel-Mingo, spokeswoman for the advocacy group Breathe Utah, applauded Herbert for recognizing how important the issue has become in the community.
"I’m waiting to see the details," she said, "and hopefully Breathe Utah can help inform the process as it goes along."
Twitter: @judyfutah
Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
