Letter: Don't expand refineries

Published: Monday, June 11 2012 12:00 a.m. MDT

Tesoro oil refinery

Ashley Lowery, Deseret News archives

Summary

I am a retired school teacher and taught kindergarten for many years at Orchard and Adelaide Elementary schools in North Salt Lake. There were days when the air coming from the refineries looked and smelled so bad that our school would have to keep the students in from recess.

Some of my students suffered from asthma and were required to stay inside more often. The Utah Department of Health has found that more than 16 percent of children in North Salt Lake and Woods Cross have asthma, while the statewide average is 5 percent. Both cities are located close to five refineries. Also, Forbes magazine ranks the greater Salt Lake City as the ninth most toxic city in the country.

I strongly object to the current expansion plans of the Tesoro and Holly refineries on behalf of the children in our state who cannot speak for themselves but who will suffer the effects of polluted air caused by refinery expansion.

Joan Robison

Bountiful

Featured Comments

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ljeppson

Salt Lake City, UT

I remember the days of the so-called I-15 emergency, when I-15 was rebuilt fast prior to the Olympics. The gravel pits south of North Salt Lake ran 24/7. We literally ate dirt 24/7. By legislative design dust and chemical pollution regulations are More..

1:53 a.m. June 11, 2012
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one old man

Ogden, UT

This is just another letter from some socialist who feels entitled to everything. Clean air is not for the masses. That's why wealthy folks build their McMansions high on the mountainsides.

Clean air! Bah.

Next thing you More..