From Deseret News archives:

Salt Lake County leaders band together to clean up air

Published: Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 12:18 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Salt Lake County leaders are banding together to clean up the county's air quality.

On Thursday, a council made up of all the valley's mayors and a member of the Salt Lake County Council unanimously approved 11 recommendations to start the cleanup process. The Salt Lake County Council of Governments Air Quality Subcommittee's recommendations are just the beginning of a massive push to turn things around, air quality-wise, in Salt Lake County, Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said.

"This is basic, common-sense stuff, and I think collectively we really could move a lot on this and make a difference," said Wilson, who proposed the idea of starting the subcommittee. "This is just the beginning."

The state's air quality was so bad this winter that residents had to breathe unhealthy air and were asked to limit their driving and wood burning for an all-time high of 28 days, according to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Utah and Weber counties also saw a record number of "red" or poor air-quality days during the annual Winter Air Quality Alert program, which started in 1992 and runs from Nov. 1 to March 1 every year, according to a report released in March by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

Story continues below
The subcommittee recommended that local leaders work with the Utah Transit Authority to provide free or reduced fares on red quality air days, as well as post one-day advance notification of red air quality days on electronic message boards on Utah's highways.

"I want to know what's happening tomorrow so I can plan better," said Wilson, who also is running for Salt Lake City mayor. "Planning in the community will really make the difference."

Leaders also want to work with local weather broadcasters to not only inform the public if there is a red air-quality day, but also educate people on how to minimize pollution.

West Valley City government has tried to reduce its vehicle emissions by cutting down to a four-day work week, City Councilman Russ Brooks said.

"It's the right thing to do, as stewards of our planet Earth," West Valley City Mayor Dennis Nordfelt said of the recommendations.

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said the county is currently working on several solutions to reduce air pollution in the valley: downsizing the county fleet, using hybrid vehicles, and using zoning laws to plan new communities where people can live, work and play without driving as much.

"There is not one magic bullet to solve our air pollution problems," Corroon said. "There are a lot of different little things, and they all add up to a big difference."


Recommendations on Utah air quality

• Encouraging county municipalities to adopt "green" building standards.

• Research the ability to offer incentives for residents and companies to convert white-colored roofs and green-colored roofs.

• Discuss the possibility of securing grant funding to sponsor a countywide expo promoting public awareness on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Encouraging Salt Lake County cities to use flex schedules to reduce vehicle emissions.


E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com

Recent comments

Will Jenny Wilson now not drive one of her SUV's? I love someone who...

Douglas | Sept. 10, 2007 at 7:58 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Letters: Liberal because LDS

In response to the 9:41 post: No where is it taught that an individual is...

Aggie 'D' holds BYU to season low

Not enough quick ball movement on offense. That is BYU's problem. They were...

re -- true conservative | 9:07 a.m ["Abortion should not be legalized,...

"The Utes can stop with their "holier than thou" attitude. It gets annoying."...

Aggies shoot past Cougars

The reason why YBU's home streak was so good is because everytime someone...

Letters: Liberal because LDS

My Grandmother was born and raised in Orderville, UT, where she practiced...

Thank you Jerry. We are lucky to have such a great coach. It will be sad to...

N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage

"I sincerely hope that we can learn to live with a situation in which gays...

Sloan gets 1-year extension

Who in their right mind would take Byron Scott over Jerry Sloan - what has...

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest...

Advertisements