Air and Climate Demand Action
Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
Published May 07 2013 05:05 pm

If, 10,000 years from now, visiting archeologists wonder just what it was that caused the residents of the soaring culture of the Wasatch Front to suddenly abandon their homes just when the community seemed to be thriving, a simple look around won’t do much to explain the riddle.

But if they excavate the archives of the Utah Division of Air Quality, those future explorers of the past will find that the technological success of our region was so incompatible with the natural lay of the land that, eventually, people couldn’t live here any more. And so, as with the mysterious abandonments of Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and Troy, a civilization at the peak of its power just ceased to be.

Two maladies — one acute, the other chronic — threaten the future of not only Salt Lake City, but also of human civilization throughout the Southwestern United States. And even though there are panels and reports, it is still far from clear that the larger society fully grasps the situation.

The more acute threat is the one that becomes obvious, if not downright hazardous, to anyone who breathes along the Wasatch Front. In the winter and in the summer, the shape of our landscape and the behavior of our atmosphere traps and bakes airborne pollution to create even more bothersome forms of pollution.

The most troublesome factor is the periodic high concentration of what’s called PM2.5, a kind of microscopic soot that comes from auto exhausts and other sources, gets mixed up with other bad chemicals, and makes itself painfully obvious during periods of high atmospheric pressure called inversions.

The DAQ learned recently that its plans to cut down on this kind of pollution are likely to fall well short of a federally imposed standard, and that many tons more of pollutants must be eliminated from the air. And, officials say, most of the easy targets, such as industrial smokestacks, have already been addressed. That means the only other places to look for pollutants not to spill are in individual and household sources, from driving to the use of paint and cleaners.

The greater long-range threat to our region is a climate change so severe that, even in our traditionally arid environment, so much of what we have will dry up and blow away.

More specific and ominous information has been put forward by the congressionally ordered Southwest Climate Assessment. It predicts an era of droughts, wildfires, decaying forests and dwindling water supplies unless the causes of global climate change — which overlap in so many ways with the causes of Wasatch Front air pollution — are addressed.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gary Herbert announces Clean Air Month, then drives across the street. And he appoints a committee to study the future of water in Utah, and appoints Division of Water Resources Director Dennis Strong, the most vocal advocate for giant boondoggle water projects and pipelines, to sit on that panel.

We have been warned. But are we listening?

Thank you to all who participated in the “Love your Mother” Earth Day Poster Contest. It was difficult to decide when so many charming posters were submitted, but the winners are:

5th Grade: Sar Sar Lwin (Ellis Elementary)

4th Grade: Grace Kirk (Rowland Hall)

3rd Grade: Sam Russell (Bonneville Elementary)

2nd Grade: Anna Lopez (Ellis Elementary)

1st Grade: William Theurer (Bonneville Elementary)

Each of the 1st place winners will receive $100 and all are invited to a picnic on May 4th, where the grand prize winner will be announced. The winners will also receive a certificate signed by two pro-skiers from Utah (Caroline Gleich and Forrest Shearer), plus Senator Pat Jones.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the winners!

Grace Kirk, 4th Grade

*We are having technical difficulties uploading the winning posters, so pls check back later.*

The American Lung Association just released their annual State of the Air Report and Utah once again earned an “F” grade for air quality in all of it’s major population centers across the state. Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber all received F grades for particulate pollution. Our State fared better in the ozone category, except for Salt Lake and Uinta Basin, which also both received F grades for this colorless but toxic pollutant.

Since air pollution is a solvable problem, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report is grading Governor Herbert as much as it is grading our air – and it is abundantly apparent, both get F grades.

The Uinta Basin stands out in the report for having a unique wintertime ozone problem due to intensive fossil fuel production in the valley. A recent comprehensive study reported that oil-field operations created about 99 percent of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and about 70 percent of the nitrogen oxides emitted in the basin. In 2011, ozone parts per billion reached 139, nearly twice the federal health standard. Approximately, 1,100 wells were drilled that year alone.

Overall, Utah claimed two of the top ten spots for worst acute air pollution spikes in the nation. Our infamous inversions, which received national attention from all of the major television networks this past winter, put the corridor from Weber County to Salt Lake County in position number 6, while Cache Valley claimed position number 10.

“These are not just abstract numbers on a spreadsheet, says Cherise Udell, founder of Utah Moms for Clean Air, “these are numbers with real life consequences, as every year between 1000 and 2000 people die prematurely in Utah due to our toxic air. Thousands more are hospitalized, countless days are missed from work and school, and for the majority of Utah citizens, our quality of life is simply diminished.”

Utah Moms for Clean Air believes it is the birth right of every child to breathe clean air.

Utah Moms for Clean Air believes it is the birth right of every child to breathe clean air and the fact that this fundamental right is taken away, year after year, from nearly every Utah child is unacceptable. Solutions are available, but the majority of our political leaders refuse to act. In response to a petition signed by over 8,000 people earlier this year, Governor herbert and his staff said the public needed to provide solutions and cannot rely just on government to solve the problem. Utah Moms for Clean Air responded within a month with a well-researched proactive plan entitled Path to Improving Air Quality in Utah. In the plan, we clearly outline a number of major steps that can be taken, however months have passed and we have yet to see any meaningful action from the Governor’s office.

Moms do not accept failing grades on their children’s report cards and equally, we do not accept failing grades by our government. Since air pollution is a solvable problem, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report is grading Governor Herbert as much as it is grading our air – and it is abundantly apparent, both get F grades.

We have extended the poster contest deadline to April 26th. Winners will be announced by April 30th, and our awards picnic will still be held May 4th.

If your child’s school did not participate in our contest, your child can send us a poster, and it will be considered with others in his or her grade category.  Click here for contest details Utah Moms For Clean Air Earth Day Poster Contest Details.

In an effort to offer an alternative to the Fossil Fuel Industry’s Earth Day Poster Contest, Utah Moms for Clean Air is now hosting an Earth Day Poster Contest – one that actually honors the intent of Earth Day. The rules will be the same with the exception of the theme and deadline.

The Utah Division of Oil, Gas & Mining’s Earth Day poster theme is “Where Would We Be Without Oil, Gas, & Mining?” Students are asked to describe the benefits of coal, oil and natural gas, but not the impacts associated with burning fossil fuels.

Utah Moms for Clean Air’s alternative theme is “Explore the Economic, Environmental and Health Costs of Fossil Fuels.” Exploring the impacts of burning fossil fuels is encouraged.

Utah Moms for Clean Air’s alternative theme is “Explore the Economic, Environmental and Health Costs of Fossil Fuels.” Exploring the impacts of burning fossil fuels is encouraged.

As is the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining’s contest, the Utah Moms for Clean Air contest will be open to all K-6th grade and Special Education students throughout Utah. Homeschool children are also encouraged to participate and will be judged as one “school.” Contact Ingrid Griffee (supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org) for more information about home schooler submissions.

The deadline for the Utah Moms for Clean Air contest will be later than the Utah Division of Oil, Gas & Mining’s competition since our contest was just announced today:

April 17, 2013: School contests should be completed by this date and the school should have selected one winner for each grade level.

April 19, 2013: Schools must email PDFs of their winning entries with a electronic postmark date of April 19th, as well as, send the original artwork by mail also with a postmark date of April 19th, 2013. Drop-off locations in Salt Lake City may be offered.

Winners will be announced on Earth Day (April 22nd) and CASH PRIZES (TBA, but at least $100) will be awarded to the Grand Prize Winner and State-wide Grade Winners (one per grade) for a total of eight prizes.

Winners, their parents, teachers, and principals will be honored at a Real Earth Day picnic on Saturday May 4th hosted by Utah Moms for Clean Air. The GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be announced at the award’s picnic.

In an effort to match the $500 per grade award money being offered by the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, Utah Moms for Clean Air is currently raising prize money. The actual cash award amounts will be officially determined by April 10th, but will be at least $100 per grade. The Grand Prize will be at least $300.00. If you would like to sponsor the contest with a cash donation, please contact us at supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org.

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Contest Details:

• Explore the Economic, Environmental and Health Costs of Fossil Fuels. You may focus on just one of those areas or include them all.

• Artwork should be created using a color medium such as paint, crayons, markers, colored pencil, computer art and/or pen and ink. Collages are welcome, but keep in mind that the poster must be flat in order to be scanned for reproduction. Only hand lettering will be accepted. DO NOT USE GLITTER. Reproducibility of the poster will be a factor in the judges’ decisions, so use good lettering, high contrast and rich colors! Utah Moms for Clean Air reserves the right to enhance artwork for better print results.

• The entry should focus on how our over-reliance on fossil fuels is impacting our health, the environment and our economy. We encourage kids to be Utah-specific, but a global perspective is also great. For example what will our world look like in the future if we continue to burn fossil fuels at current rates? What will happen to the polar bears? The forests? Our oceans? Air pollution is one of the biggest problems associated with the use of fossil fuels: How does air pollution from fossil fuels impact your health? How do you feel when the air is clean versus dirty? What does it feel like to have an asthma attack on a red air day? What are the economic costs of burning fossil fuels? What are the health costs to Utahns? What would our world look like if we embraced solar, wind and other forms of non-fossil fuel energy? What are the possibilities? How does this make you feel? What kind of world do you want to live in?

• Students should choose their own artwork content, although verbal guidance from parents/guardians and/or teachers is acceptable.

• Each poster must be the original work of one student.

• Please complete the official entry form and tape it to the back of each poster entered. You may copy the form as needed. Students can enter up to five original art pieces each. The entry form will be available on the Utah Moms for Clean Air Facebook page and by emailing us:

supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org

• Each entry must be a two-dimensional drawing or painting size 11” x 17”. Entries smaller or larger than 11” x 17” are not eligible. Electronic entries must be in Adobe PDF format. This submission method is especially appropriate for computer-generated artwork. When you scan a physical piece of artwork, be sure the PDF file you send is high resolution and high quality. A poor quality or low-resolution file may affect the score your entry receives.

• School contests should be completed by April 17, 2013 with the school selecting one winner for each grade level. Those winning entries should be emailed as noted above by April 19, 2013 to:

supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org

The original artwork should also be mailed with a postmark date of April 19th, 2013 to:

Utah Moms for Clean Air
P.O. Box 58446
Salt Lake City, UT 84158

Drop-off locations in Salt Lake City may be offered.

• All entries will become the sole property of Utah Moms for Clean Air and may be reproduced by UMFCA for educational purposes and in any form. One grand prize winning entry may be published on a Utah Moms for Clean Air’s 2013 Earth Day poster for distribution to schools, the media, mining companies, oil & gas companies, industry groups, Governor Herbert and other outlets statewide and possibly nationwide. Bright colors, dense colors, clear lettering, and good spelling are thus important.

For the full list of rules, prizes and picnic details, please contact us at supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org.

Most importantly, have fun, use your imagination and love your mother!

Press Advisory
For Immediate Release
March 8, 2013

UTAH MOMS FOR CLEAN AIR DELIVERS BOLD AIR QUALITY PLAN TO GOVERNOR HERBERT

Today, Utah Moms for Clean Air will release PATH TO IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IN UTAH, a bold plan by Utah Moms for Clean Air that calls upon Governor Herbert to exercise his executive powers and immediately create an Air Quality Task Force that will undertake the following:

a. Commission an independent baseline analysis of the air pollution problem for the Wasatch Front, Cache Valley and the Uinta Basin.
b. Commission a report that examines the health consequences of Utah’s air pollution.
c. Commission a report that examines the economic costs (including health costs) of Utah’s air pollution.
d. Commission a report that catalogues what other cities, states and countries have done to clean-up their air pollution.
e. Visit two cities where successful air pollution abatement programs have been implemented.
f. Establish workgroups based on sources of pollution (point, area, etc.) and another workgroup solely on HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants).
g. Study the political and economic feasibility of implementing Airshed User Fees.
f. Suggest substantial clean air legislation for the 2014 session.

Following the commissioning of these reports, we request that the Task Force should create a blueprint with clearly delineated clean air targets that are both voluntary and mandatory for government, business, industry and the citizenry to attain over the coming decade. We request this blueprint be completed by the end of 2013.

In addition to calling upon the Governor to create a Air Quality Task Force, Utah Moms for Clean Air offers a list of approximately sixty air pollution reduction strategies, some of which have been implemented elsewhere, others that the Governor and DAQ are already considering and some of which are new to the conversation.

In assembling these aforementioned recommendations, we recognized that substantial additional regulation reform would be required for their implementation. For that reason, we strongly suggest the serious consideration of an alternative – Airshed User Fees, an innovative pollution solution conceived by Utah Moms for Clean Air. As with our garbage and sewage, the public cost of harmful airborne pollution releases needs to be recouped in proportion to its production. An Airshed User Fee represents a fair, free market, libertarian solution to our air pollution problems. (see plan for further detail). In addition to providing financial incentives for the public and private sector to pollute less, Airshed User Fees will also provide a stream of dedicated funding for community pollution abatement and public health programs (see Plan for further detail).

WHY:
Last month Utah citizens, led by Margie McCloy, presented Governor Herbert with a clean-the-air petition signed by over 8,000 people. In response to the petition’s demanded that immediate action be taken on our air pollution problem, the Governor’s office, along with Amanda Smith (DEQ) responded by saying that the public needs to get involved and make suggestions. Alan Matheson was quoted as also saying “lets put all ideas on the table.” The plan, PATH TO IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IN UTAH, is our response to these requests.

WHEN: March 8th at 1:30pm.

WHERE: 1st Floor, Hall of the Governors (east side) inside the Capitol.

CONTACT:
Cherise Udell: supermoms@utahmomsforcleanair.org
Terry Marasco: 775-293-0189

Deseret News
By Ingrid Griffee, Board Member, Utah Moms for Clean Air
Published: Tuesday, March 5 2013 12:00 a.m. MST

As a concerned mother and a law-abiding citizen, I listen closely to the messages coming from our state leadership about the filthy air. I want to do my part. Unfortunately, the shamelessly befuddled messages coming down obfuscate the issues, confuse the citizenry and reveal a hopeless lack of any coherent plan. The following is a list of some of the most nonsensical messages from our state leadership:

I should leave my minivan at home, yet the HollyFrontier oil refinery in Woods Cross should expand and bring its increased crude supply into our valley with semi-trucks. Right, because diesel big rigs are so much cleaner than my minivan?

Gov. Gary Herbert has asked us all to drive less, yet he wants the oil refineries to expand and produce more gas, which we are then not supposed to buy. No comment necessary, so heavily weighs the absurdity.

We are all familiar with this notorious irony: the governor asks us to consider walking or biking, but the Division of Air Quality tells us all to avoid outdoor exertion. I think I will play it safe and go with the DAQ’s suggestion.

We are all familiar with this notorious irony: the governor asks us to consider walking or biking (especially if we intend to participate in a rally or press conference at the Capitol), but the Division of Air Quality tells us all to avoid outdoor exertion. I think I will play it safe and go with the DAQ’s suggestion.

According to the DAQ, Particulate Matter 2.5 readings above 55 are unhealthy for everyone, but the Utah Health Department says its fine for students to play outside until the PM 2.5 reaches 90. health.utah.gov Evidently Utah’s students develop some sort of smog immunity on the playground. If only that were true.

Kennecott Utah Copper should expand, despite Utah’s failure to meet minimum air quality standards because, after all, industry is only 11 percent of the problem. Well, my personal contribution is a vanishingly tiny percentage of the overall problem, so I should pollute much more to get my piece of the pie, just like Kennecott. Am I wrong in finding this logic counterproductive and unethical?

Kennecott has generously offered free transit passes to use on “red” air days. kennecott.com That’s nice, but by the time the air is “red,” even if the entire population rode Utah Transit Authority for the day, we would still be stuck with smog until Mother Nature finally took pity on us. I don’t know, how about transit passes on the “green” air days so we avoid getting to “red?”

Finally, although all of us regular citizens are supposed to be leaving our polluting cars at home, the Utah Department of Transportation has just proposed a new freeway called the West Davis Corridor, that runs within a couple hundred yards of the Farmington Bay Wildlife Management area. www.ksl.com If the state really hopes we will all leave our smoggy cars at home, what are the new freeways for?

These messages are about as murky as the view was throughout most of January. It is time to stop leading with the motto: Do as I say, not as I do.

For the health of Utah families, it is time for lawmakers to embrace a coherent plan, to pass proposed air quality legislation this session and demonstrate to the citizens that they can walk the walk better than they can talk the talk. I really want to do my part — but our leadership is lost in the smog.

Well, my personal contribution is a vanishingly tiny percentage of the overall problem, so I should pollute much more to get my piece of the pie, just like Kennecott. Am I wrong in finding this logic counterproductive and unethical?

Kennecott has generously offered free transit passes to use on “red” air days. That’s nice, but by the time the air is “red,” even if the entire population rode Utah Transit Authority for the day, we would still be stuck with smog until Mother Nature finally took pity on us. I don’t know, how about transit passes on the “green” air days so we avoid getting to “red?”

Finally, although all of us regular citizens are supposed to be leaving our polluting cars at home, the Utah Department of Transportation has just proposed a new freeway called the West Davis Corridor, that runs within a couple hundred yards of the Farmington Bay Wildlife Management area. If the state really hopes we will all leave our smoggy cars at home, what are the new freeways for?

These messages are about as murky as the view was throughout most of January. It is time to stop leading with the motto: Do as I say, not as I do.

For the health of Utah families, it is time for lawmakers to embrace a coherent plan, to pass proposed air quality legislation this session and demonstrate to the citizens that they can walk the walk better than they can talk the talk. I really want to do my part — but our leadership is lost in the smog.

By JUDY FAHYS | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Oct 04 2012

A DOLLAR SPENT ON CUTTING AIR POLLUTION SAVES $10, SAYS BYU ECONOMIST, C. ARDEN POPE

C. Arden Pope, a Brigham Young University economist, said that for every dollar spent on cutting air pollution there are around $10 in savings — because health care costs go down, premature deaths decrease and other measurable savings are realized. Pope noted that he could not quantify the costs and benefits of clear air in Utah.

“But what I do know is responsible efforts to clean up the air can make large contributions to human health, and they can reduce pollution-related health costs,” he said. “I also know that given the desire to live in healthy environments, efforts to control air pollution in Utah also can help to contribute to responsible economic growth and development.”

The lawmakers and industry representatives who are part of the Legislature’s Economic Development Task Force had lots of questions for Pope, whose studies on the links between pollution and health form part of the foundation of the nation’s air-pollution regulations.

The panel wrapped up its second day of presentations Thursday on how pollution hurts the state’s quality of life and drives away prospective businesses.

Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek, said she wants the panel to suggest ways lawmakers can help clean up Utah’s air, whether it be with incentives, regulations or a combination of strategies. Arent originally proposed air quality for a stand-alone task force, but it has been elevated in recent months to a high-priority quality-of-life issue linked to the state’s economic fortunes.

Several industry representatives told the panel what they are doing to address pollution and why reducing it matters to northern Utah’s business community.

Craig Wagstaff, executive vice president of Questar, discussed his company’s successful efforts to expand the use of natural gas by cars and heavy-truck fleets. The addition this week of a new fueling station at Weber State University in Ogden raised the number of natural-gas stations to 100, he said. And, thanks in part to incentives and a growing market, the cost of converting a vehicle to natural gas has been cut nearly in half, he added.

“We do feel some incentives are a good thing,” Wagstaff told the panel.

Lee Peacock, director of the Utah Petroleum Association, told how Utah refineries have invested $1 billion in improvements that have helped cut their pollution impact. He urged lawmakers to make sure that air-quality regulators have the money they need to get their jobs done. “A well-funded agency helps both them and us,” Peacock said.

And Jonathan Johnson, president of Overstock.com, told how his company has lost employees and prospective employees because of the periods of high winter pollution. “We see this as an economic development issue,” he said.

Steve Sands, director of external affairs for Kennecott Utah Copper and chairman of the Air Quality Board, said his company is spending $2 billion on projects during a five-year period that impact air quality. He told how many improvements have helped the company save money — along with cutting pollution.

“We all have a role to play,” he said, “in protecting and preserving our environment.”

Twitter: @judyfutah