WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Utah Withdraws Flawed Particulate Matter Pollution Plans for Wasatch Front

Move Ensures Utah Develops Real Clean Up Plans to Really Protect Public Health
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 573-4898 x 1303

Salt Lake City—In the face of ongoing violations of particulate matter air quality standards and the threat of sanctions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State of Utah has withdrawn three flawed air pollution plans for the Wasatch Front.

“This move is a recognition that Utah must do better if it has any chance of truly protecting clean air and public health,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians.  “It’s time for Utah to start getting serious about putting people before polluters.”

In 2005, the State of Utah submitted air pollution plans for Utah County, Salt Lake County, and Ogden.  It was claimed the plans would maintain compliance with federal air quality standards limiting particulate matter pollution, or PM₁₀.  PM₁₀ includes particles that are 1/7^th the width of a human hair or smaller and come from fossil fuel combustion, road dust, and land disturbance.  If approved, the plans would have rolled back clean air safeguards for much of the Wasatch Front.

In 2009, the EPA proposed to disapprove those plans as inconsistent with the Clean Air Act.  The EPA found that, despite Utah’s claims that the plans would effectively limit particulate matter pollution, or PM₁₀, both Utah and Salt Lake Counties have continuously violated federal air quality standards for PM₁₀ for several years now.  A number of other flaws were also identified.

Facing the prospect of a final EPA disapproval, Utah instead withdrew its air pollution plans.  The move ensures air quality regulations are not rolled back and also ensures Utah develops truly effective PM₁₀ clean up plans. 

This effort was given a boost last week when WildEarth Guardians formally petitioned the EPA to order to State of Utah to more quickly clean up its air pollution or face sanctions.

Utah’s move also calls into question the validity of recent Utah decisions allowing Kennecott Utah Copper to increase its production rates at its Bingham Canyon copper mine in western Salt Lake County.  The most recent production increase was premised upon claims that the Salt Lake County area was in compliance with PM₁₀ standards, and that the EPA would approve Utah’s PM₁₀ clean up plan.