Lawmaker questions air-quality program

There was a quick complaint by Sen. Margaret Dayton before a committee of lawmakers voted Wednesday to keep Utah's current state-run air-quality program around for at least another five years.

Dayton, R-Orem, said she is "agitated" by too many regulators and regulations costing too much taxpayer money to monitor and control emissions in Utah.

"It's frustrating to me," she said. Dayton criticized state and federal regulators for placing too little confidence in letting people solve air quality "issues" on their own.

The full Legislature will have the final say next session, but the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee's vote Wednesday was a recommendation to reauthorize the Utah Air Conservation Act.