London-based Rio Tinto, who owns Kennecott Cooper, made record profits last year — over $15 billion! Unfortunately for Utahns some of this golden profit is because Rio Tinto CEO, Tom Albanese, made a choice between cleaning-up his company’s messes or making more money – and like a Scrooge, he chose to make more money.

The fact is, Rio Tinto/Kennecott is thrusting millions of dollars in costs — in the form of air pollution — unto the people of Utah and expecting us to pay their tab. We pay with our health and diminished quality of life. Some Utahns tragically even pay with that which is most precious — their own lives.

Every year between 1000 and 2000 Utahns die prematurely due to our chronic air pollution problem. There is no way around the fact that this is cheating, as well as deeply unethical and immoral.

Making money is obviously a fully acceptable endeavor, but NOT at the expense of innocent others, such as the children of Utah.

All we are asking of Rio Tinto, who is currently responsible for about 30% of the particulate air pollution in our valley, is that they adhere to the Federally mandated Clean Air Act and pay the true costs of doing their business. Is this too much to ask? We think not.

For coverage of yesterday’s press conference where Utah Moms for Clean Air and the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment announce the filing of a law suit, please see:

KCPW Radio

KSL Television

Salt Lake Tribune

Deseret News

Dr. Packham, my daughter adores your grandson, so I hate making this personal, but your recent dismissive comments about air pollution — especially when made from a trusted position of authority — really STINK!

Your “don’t worry, be happy” comments about air pollution completely contradict the well-established positions of the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Thoracic Society that air pollution is deadly.

Please, Dr. Packham, stop being an industry apologist and stand up instead for the children of Utah. But, if you don’t I will not hold it against your grandson.

If you agree that Dr Packham, as an employee of the Utah Department of Public Health, is too dismissive of air pollution, please send him and his boss an email. They need to hear from you.

Get ready to hold your breath, winter’s first serious inversion along the Wasatch Front is well on its way. Cache Valley is also suffering from poor air quality — so much so that a local doctor was quoted as saying: “Don’t Breathe.” Obviously, easier said than done. The dirty air is here and we are all forced to breathe it.

Today the PM2.5 moved into the 20’s zone and as each day passes it will only get worse and worse and worse until Mother Nature is kind enough to send a cleansing storm our way. Thus far, no smog-busting storms are on the radar…so expect throat-tightening yellow air until at least next Wednesday.